Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago: The Government of Trinidad and Tobago, The CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Organization of American States and the Central American Integration System (SICA) joined forces at the First Expert Group Meeting of the Santo Domingo Pact and Managua Mechanism (SDP/MM) for the Caribbean to discuss New Responses in the Fight against Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking for the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico.

This is UNODC’s most comprehensive initiative for this part of the world to date and is intended to harness the potential of integrated inter-regional Cooperation meet the needs of people on both sides of the Caribbean Sea. It will promote the coordination of technical assistance through the use of an internet-based automated donor assistance mechanism, more commonly known as ADAM and provide expert advice and training focused on implementing existing international legal instruments pertaining to drugs and organized crime.  Additionally, it will strengthen analysis capacities in the region by posting Research Officers in pilot countries, who will liaise with law enforcement agencies to collect, harmonize and analyze data on drug trafficking and related organized crime. UNODC and IMPACS will also be partnering to implement a Sub-Programme “Rule of Law and Organized Crime” which is part of UNODC’s strategy for the Caribbean under the Santo Domingo Pact.

 Mr. Keith Renaud, the Director of the Office of Law Enforcement Policy at the Ministry of National Security in Trinidad and Tobago gave the feature address emphasizing the centrality of drug trafficking to the issues of crime affecting the Region. UNODC Regional Representative Antonio Mazzitelli stated the UNODC’s commitment to assist the Caribbean in this fight and emphasized the “importance of Member States setting their priorities on these issues with assistance from the UNODC. He joined United Nations Resident Coordinator Marcia De Castro and Luis Torres from SICA in applauding the new platform for inter-regional cooperation that the initiative represents.

 Acting Executive Director of CARICOM IMPACS Earl Harris, elaborated on several of IMPACS’ initiatives in the area of regional security and affirmed the Agency’s support to the SDP/MM as well as its commitment to working with the UNODC and other strategic partners in the best interests of the peoples of the both regions.

For further information please contact –

Shabaka Kambon

Communications Officer

CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS)

Ground Floor, Sagicor Building

16Queens Park West

Port - of - Spain

Trinidad and Tobago

Telephone: 1-868-628-3311

Cell:1-868-472-1386

Fax: 1-868-628-9795

Email:skambon@carimpacs.org