Holness to attend regional security summit in Trinidad and Tobago
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness leaves the island on Sunday to participate in the inaugural Regional Security Conference in Trinidad and Tobago.
The Office of the Prime Minister said that the conference, which will involve other CARICOM countries, comes as the region grapples with heightened transnational criminal activities.
The two-day event runs from April 17-18 and will address crime and violence as a public health issue. It will be staged under the theme, ‘The Crime Challenge: None of us is safe until all of us are safe’.
Holness said crime should be treated as a health emergency and that regional leaders should collaborate to tackle the problem.
“Organised crime is primarily committed by transnational groups involved in the drug trade, advanced fraud, and other illicit money and drug trading activities. It is therefore very important that CARICOM countries begin to show a high level of collaboration and cooperation by sharing information and best practices,” the prime minister said ahead of his departure.
The regional meeting was announced following the recently held 44th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in February in the Bahamas.
The summit will be hosted by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain.
Holness is expected to return to the island on Wednesday, April 19.
In the meantime, Deputy Prime minister and Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang will be in charge of the government.
