Dominica to receive additional assistance to fight drug trafficking
The Dominican.net Newsdesk
The Obama Administration has requested $79 million to continue support for the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) in 2011 along with the $45 million that was pledged last year.
Last May at a ceremony in Washington DC, CARICOM countries and the Dominican Republic jointly signed the CBSI with the United States.
CARICOM leaders along with US secretary of state Hillary Clinton.
The CBSI is being promoted as the latest pillar of a U.S. security strategy focused on citizen safety throughout the hemisphere. The agreement is focused largely on joint collaboration on security matters between the countries and the United States as a partner.
Emphasis will be placed on reducing illicit drug trafficking, advancing public safety and security and promoting social justice. With regards to social justice, programs will be designed to promote justice sector reform, combat government corruption, and assist vulnerable populations at risk of recruitment into criminal organizations.
Dominica was slated to receive $1.7 million in the first year and is also expected to benefit from approximately $3.7 million for the Regional Security System (RSS), as well as $7.4 million for USAID-administered initiatives that will be divided among the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
The US support is expected to take the form of interceptor boats, radio equipment, command and control systems, and remedial education for youth to facilitate workforce entry.
This latest initiative comes in the wake of increasing drug activity in the region and an upsurge of violent crime throughout the Caribbean islands.
