Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness left the island on Sunday for Trinidad and Tobago to participate in the inaugural Regional Security Conference.
The theme of the security summit, “The Crime Challenge: None of us is safe until all of us are safe,” will address crime and violence as a public health concern.
According to a release from the Office of the Prime Minister, the CARICOM conference comes as the region deals with heightened transnational criminal activities.
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago will host the two-day event on April 17–18 in the nation’s capital, Port of Spain.
Holness stated that regional leaders should work together to address the issue of crime and that it should be handled as a health emergency.
He further said that organized 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,” he added.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness is expected to return to the island on Wednesday, April 19.
During his absence, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. Horace Chang will be in charge of the government.
