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OAS HEAD WARNS OF SERIOUS LEVEL OF VIOLENCE IN REGION, PROPOSING MEASURES TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM

According to Organization of American States Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, our hemisphere’s governments and their public security authorities need a special approach to tackling violence and crime, mindful that this scourge has made Latin America and the Caribbean the second most violent region in the world. "Violence and lack of security are beginning to penetrate our societies as a whole, undermining citizens’ quality of life,” said Insulza, warning of the real extent of the problem.

Insulza’s remarks came as he addressed the Fifth Meeting of Ministers of Security and Public Order, in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, chaired by Trinidad and Tobago’s National Security Minister Martin Joseph. He took the opportunity of the meeting to also invite top security officials from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to participate in the OAS’ First Conference on Crime and Violence that will be held in Mexico in October.

Secretary General Insulza said the OAS has been providing governments with increasing assistance in their efforts to tackle the problem. He said the OAS conference on crime and violence, which could be held every two years, should become a forum for in-depth technical and political examination of violence as it affects Latin American and Caribbean societies. He stressed the importance of exchanging knowledge and experience in tackling this problem, and of sharing best practices in public policy and improving the quality of information technology—issues that call for in-depth consideration of the major security-related issues.

Secretary General Insulza told the ministers that the primary objective of the Mexico conference is to agree on an action plan wherein governments—and top security authorities in particular—commit to working to improve justice systems through better public policies and information systems, and through better technical training for professionals. This could be achieved by establishing an inter-American academy for policy, he argued.

Insulza noted that "given the complexity, seriousness and urgency of the security situation, coordination at the highest level is imperative,” stressing as well the fact that a hemispheric meeting of public security officials has never been held before. The OAS Secretary General noted that the ministerial meeting slated for Mexico in October is important as it will discuss crime prevention strategies and programs to promote integration into society, educational opportunities, and training for the poorest segments of society. He urged discussion on how to strengthen the justice systems in our countries and police academies.

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning welcomed the OAS Secretary General. They discussed among other matters the country’s preparations for the Summit of the Americas that it will host in April 2009. The Secretary General renewed the Organization’s commitment to doing its part in organizing next year’s summit of the hemisphere’s heads of state and government—through the Summits Department working directly with the OAS General Secretariat.

Commenting on hemispheric agenda issues of interest, the Trinidad and Tobago leader expressed concern about the Colombia-Ecuador situation, calling for it to be speedily resolved. Prime Minister Manning also praised the role that the OAS has played in seeking resolution of that conflict.

Other OAS officials participating in the Port-of-Spain ministerial meeting are Carol Fuller, Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE), and Christopher Hernandez-Roy, Director of the Department of Public Security.

Reference: E-110/08