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By Nelson A. King
WASHINGTON, Mar 10, CMC – The United States says while some Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries have done a lot to deal with the illegal drugs trade, there is still room for much concern.
In its 2012 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), released here this week, the US Department of State said some countries like Belize and Jamaica, still have a long way to go in dealing with all aspects of the trade.
Washington said that Belize, in 2011, took “incremental steps” in addressing the growing threat of narcotics-related crime within its borders, “it must make greater strides toward improving citizen security and disrupting the flow of illegal drugs if it is to reverse the new wave of corrosive criminal activity.
“Without action and redress, Belize’s security environment will continue to deteriorate,? it warned, stating that reports indicate that drug trafficking and drug-related violence rose in Belize, and that those figures will continue on an upward trend.
“The United States encourages Belize to strengthen its public security and law enforcement institutions through more effective anti-corruption legislation, comprehensive background checks and vetting for new and existing personnel, and better training and continuing education programs,” The State Department report noted.
It said Belize should strengthen its border security through better management and leadership, increased training, and augmenting the border management staff.
The INCSR said Belize’s criminal justice system will be more effective when the government provides adequate funding and training for prosecutors in the Director of Public Prosecution’s (DPP) office, as well as for police prosecutors.
“Belize will be more capable of successfully confronting illegal drug trafficking by placing a greater emphasis on institution and capacity building,” it said, adding that the US will “maintain its strong partnership with Belize,” and assist in its drug fight.
Washington said that through essentially solid democratic institutions and the efforts of strong leaders within the government Jamaica is “making slow, but steady progress” in combating the criminal scourges that plague the country’s political, economic and social well-being, namely the illicit trafficking of narcotics and firearms, violent crime, corruption, gangs and organized crime.
It said “carefully targeted” US support, combined with efforts from other international partners, in particular Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union, is helping to make a difference in that battle in Jamaica.
The report said success stories can be found in the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) efforts to root out corruption through its Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), by its initiative to inoculate communities from crime and gang influence using community -based policing, and with specialized JCF vetted units attacking narcotics and gangs.
In addition, the report said “successes are found” within other drug enforcement offices, such as the Financial Investigation Division and the Contractor General, “where competent, dedicated and vetted personnel are struggling with limited resources to turn the tide against police killings, financial crime and government corruption”.
But the report said despite “encouraging signs” within Jamaica’s law enforcement agencies, “progress is less evident within Jamaica’s criminal justice system as a whole,” stating that the judicial branch “remains ill-equipped to handle a large number of criminal cases and prosecutorial efficacy is also lacking”.
As a result, the INCSR said there are “ large number of government corruption cases for awaiting prosecution, and convictions are few as the cases may be put off for years without result.
“Future US efforts should continue to sustain the momentum gained within Jamaica’s law enforcement agencies, particularly in the areas of maritime security, corruption, gangs and organized crime,” the INCSR said.
“The United States should focus enhanced support and pressure for demonstrable progress by prosecutors and the courts in moving criminal suspects through the criminal justice system,” it added.
The United States urged Suriname to continue its efforts to pursue major narcotics traffickers, to dismantle their organizations, and to build and strengthen its regional and international cooperation.
It said the Government of Suriname should continue to strengthen its focus on port security, specifically seaports, “which are seen as the primary conduits for large shipments of narcotics exiting” the country.
“A concerted effort by the Government of Suriname to increase the number of police and military boats and to create an operational Coast Guard, capable of patrolling the border rivers and coastal areas would also enhance counternarcotics efforts,” the report said.
Similarly, the US urged Suriname to continue capacity-building efforts for its counternarcotics-focused units, as well as to “monitor and protect its porous borders and interior with a radar detection system and adequate air support.
“To enhance its interdiction capabilities at the principal airport and border crossings, the Government of Suriname should invest in an automated exit and entry system to identify and record people travelling to and from Suriname.”
The report said the US and The Bahamas “remain steadfast partners in the fight against drug traffickers,” adding that the strong working relationship between law enforcement agencies in both countries “serves as an example for other joint operations in the region”.
It said the recently-launched Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) framework will further improve this relationship.
“Reducing the long delays in extradition requests will help transition the success of operations through to prosecutions and address the continuation of traffickers’ activities when they are out on bail,” the INCSR said.
“The overburdened Bahamian legal system may receive a reprieve once a newly announced expansion of the Prosecutors Office takes effect. More aggressive investigation and prosecution of money laundering will weaken drug trafficking networks and defend against the corrosive influence of drug money.”
The State Department said while Trinidad and Tobago’s 2011 drug-control performance has “improved in some areas,” better surveillance coordination and increased maritime patrols could reduce drug trans shipment.
It said improving passenger and cargo screening, including targeting and automating inspections, could increase seizure rates and that continued legislative reform and implementation should improve detection and conviction rates.
“Implementation of this year’s anti-gang legislation could discourage gang activity if strategically implemented,” Washington said, adding “plea bargaining, dedicated drug courts and better utilization of forensic evidence could streamline judicial processes and improve the credibility of the criminal justice system.
“Increased resources for investigating fraud and bribery could serve to enhance public confidence in law enforcement institutions,” the report added.
The INCSR urged the seven nations of the Eastern Caribbean – Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines- to “participate proactively” in the CBSI and to fulfill their monetary commitments to sustain the Regional Security System (RSS).
It also encourages sub-regional governments to make full use of the RSS vetting programme “to ensure the integrity of personnel in sensitive positions and promote confidence in information sharing”.
In addition, the US recommended that the seven nations pass legislation in their parliaments to implement “modernized criminal codes” that makes use of regional best practices in fighting transnational organized crime.
“The US draws special attention to the need to implement civil forfeiture provisions to turn the proceeds of crime into a weapon against traffickers.
“The US is also encouraged by the commitment of the Government of Barbados in securing resources to complete the integrated coastal radar system and invest in both maritime and air assets to achieve a new level of domain awareness that will benefit the entire region,” it said.
The State Department, which, over the years, has been highly critical of the Guyana government’s efforts in addressing narco-trafficking, said Georgetown has shown “strong interest in furthering collaboration under CBSI, and the United States encourages the Government of Guyana to deepen these mutual efforts.
“US agencies look forward to tangible progress on extraditions, security sector and judicial capacity enhancement, the engagement of at-risk communities, and enforcement of laws against money laundering and financial crimes,” it said.
On Haiti, the INCSR said the new Martelly administration has “demonstrated a willingness to work with the US government on improving structural weaknesses in the HNP ((Haitian National Police) that impact its effectiveness on the counternarcotics front”.
It described as a “positive step” the presence of new leadership at la Brigade de Lutte contre le Trafic de Stupéfiants (BLTS), the HNP’s dedicated counternarcotics unit, as US officials have pressed the HNP to be “more proactive and independent regarding drug enforcement.
“Another positive development is the presidential appointment and parliamentary approval of a new Supreme Court President “ a step that could energize Haiti?’s chronically stressed judicial sector and result in a greater number of convictions of those accused of trafficking and other narcotic related crimes,” the report said.
“Other institutional challenges will require considerable time, effort, and resources to resolve,” the report said.
CMC/nk/pr/2012