PRIME Minister Andrew Holness has left the island for Trinidad and Tobago, where he will participate in the inaugural Regional Security Conference.

The Caricom conference comes as the region grapples with heightened transnational criminal activities.

Holness, who departed Jamaica on Sunday, has said crime should be treated as a health emergency and that regional leaders should collaborate to tackle the problem.

The security summit will address crime and violence as a public health issue ad will be staged under the theme, ‘The Crime Challenge: None of us is safe until all of us are safe’.

This regional meeting was announced following the recently held 44th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community during February in The Bahamas.

The two-day event will be hosted by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in the capital Port of Spain from April 17-18.

Ahead of his departure Prime Minister Holness said: “Organised crime is primarily committed by transnational groups involved in the drug trade, advanced fraud, and other illicit money an drug trading activities. It is therefore very important that Caricom countries begin to show a high level of collaboration and cooperation by sharing information an best practices.”

The prime minister will return to the island on Wednesday, April 19. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang, will be in charge of the Government while Holness travels.