THE security partnership between Jamaica and the United States has been described as strong by one of America’s senior Government officials.

At the same time, given the persistence of drug, arms, and human traffickers, US Undersecretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya says both states cannot relax their efforts to combat illegal activities.

“We have strong co-operation, but the scale of the problem is such that we cannot be complacent, we have to deepen it,” Undersecretary Zeya told the Jamaica Observer last Tuesday during a working visit to the island.

Reiterating that both the USA and Jamaica have a commitment to ensure the safety of their citizens, Zeya said she found “strong resolve…on the real centrality of our co-operation on this issue” in meetings with Prime Minister Andrew Holness and his Cabinet, as well as with Opposition Leader Mark Golding.

“It’s a strong partnership and it’s getting even deeper. It’s also a whole of government partnership…and we are very proud to support efforts on building the capacity of Jamaican law enforcement to fight narcotics trafficking, trafficking in guns, trafficking in drugs, trafficking in people,” Zeya said in a short interview packed into a tight schedule that included her inaugurating, alongside Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson, Jamaica’s 10th child-friendly space for child victims.

The child-friendly spaces have been established under a partnership involving the US Government, the Ministry of National Security and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) which started in 2018. They are designed to help children who are victims of crime to feel safe while interacting with professionals, including law enforcement officers, social workers, health-care professionals, and prosecutors.

The JCF explained that the spaces provide counselling, emotional support, crisis intervention, court preparation, and victim advocacy for child victims of crime, including human trafficking.

Additionally, they offer activities that promote healing, resilience, and positive interactions.

“Through play, art, and counselling, children can express their feelings and find comfort. Trained staff in these spaces offer personalised support and assist children with rediscovering their self-worth as well as coping with trauma,” the JCF said in a news release.

On the burning issue of illegal guns being shipped to Jamaica from the US, Undersecretary Zeya, when asked to respond to calls for Washington to do more to stop the flow, said there is clear need for a multi-pronged response.

“We recognise that there is a very important critical role for us to play and President [Joe] Biden and Vice-President [Kamala] Harris have really prioritised elevating the fight against arms trafficking throughout the Caribbean,” Zeya said.

She pointed to the appointment of Associate Deputy Attorney General Michael Ben’Ary as the first-ever US coordinator for Caribbean firearms prosecutions as a signal of Washington’s resolve to combat the movement of illicit arms and ammunition.

Ben’Ary, along with Deputy Assistant Attorney General Arun Rao of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, visited Jamaica earlier this month and engaged Prime Minister Holness, as well as senior Government officials, in discussions on security and law enforcement challenges. They also explored strengthening US-Jamaican cooperation in those areas.

The visit was Ben’Ary’s first in his new role, Zeya said.

“We’ve also taken steps to create a Caribbean-wide intelligence support unit in Trinidad [in] which Jamaica has an important presence,” she said

“Another very important element of our commitment and our action to fighting arms trafficking in this region was the adoption of bipartisan legislation, the Safer Communities Act. This legislation is increasing dramatically the penalties for criminal traffickers who are smuggling these arms that are causing so much human suffering here in Jamaica and in the region,” Zeya said.

“It is also legislation that has toughened the penalties for ghost guns
— this is another phenomenon where we have to be vigilant and action-oriented
— and straw purchases where an individual, under a false pretence or identity, is buying weapons for criminal actors through duplicity. So those are part of our commitment,” Zeya added.

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022 was enacted after the May 24, 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in which a former student at the school, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, killed 19 students and two teachers. Seventeen other people were injured in the deadly rampage.

The Act, described as the most sweeping gun violence Bill in the US decades, was signed by President Biden on June 25, 2022. It created two criminal statues prohibiting firearms trafficking and straw purchasing and allows for stronger prison penalties, in particular for straw purchases.

According to Zeya, it is important that both states “look at the drivers” of arms trafficking and take a holistic approach to deepening the fight against that activity.

“Here I want to emphasise the importance of US-Jamaican efforts to fight the scourge of financial scamming [which are] causing incredible damage
— tens of thousands of elderly Americans victimised, but also billions of dollars in illicit revenue, ill gotten gains that are being used to fuel the illicit arms market,” she said.

“So, there are absolutely steps on all sides that have to be taken, and we are very committed to furthering and strengthening this partnership with our Jamaican partners through Plan Secure Jamaica, but also in a whole of government effort,” Zeya added.