Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Exhorts Security Ministers to Preserve Peaceful Caribbean Lifestyle

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning exhorted national security ministers, police heads and other officials at a CARICOM meeting in Port of Spain on Thursday, April 3 to work towards preserving the peaceful Caribbean lifestyle enjoyed and aspired to in the region.

Prime Minister Manning, who was officially inaugurating the meeting at the Trinidad Hilton, is the lead Prime Minister of a quasi-Cabinet created by CARICOM to address crime and security.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning

The Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister who will chair a follow-up meeting of Caribbean Heads of Government on Saturday said that one of the outcomes from the two meetings will be, “a re-affirmation of the commitment and determination of the countries of the Caribbean to take steps, and to preserve the steps already taken to ensure that we continue to enjoy the level of protection and security to which we aspire and which we now know is well within our grasp.”

He hailed the security arrangements put in place during the last Cricket World Cup held in the West Indies as an example of fruitful cooperation and praised the security ministers for “some of the things we were able to stop and prevent.”

He warned against “the scourge of drugs” that perpetuates and finances crime in the Caribbean, saying that if not effectively combated, could take over.

“It is our determination as Heads of Government to confront these issues,” he told the regions ministers.

Prime Minister Manning said, “All of you are called upon to take important steps in preserving the integrity of the people of the Caribbean.”