EDITORIAL: Jamaica should lead security initiative

Happily, the foreign ministry has, at least in part, accepted our suggestion to prevent incidents of the type that occurred last month when our coastguard fired on a Honduran fishing vessel, and if they happen, to settle them via quiet diplomatic channels, without the muscular posturing of a well-oiled war machinery.

However, Kingston needs to go further, for the issues highlighted by last month's tiff have implications for economics and broader regional security.

That is why we again propose that Kingston:

Engage in delimitation talks with the Hondurans;

Drive the creation of a framework for it and its regional neighbours to exploit the resources in the northern Caribbean Sea and contiguous Atlantic Ocean in accordance with the provisions of the United Nations Law of the Sea; and

Lead the effort for a security arrangement for the region.

Jamaica, it is widely accepted, has a problem of fishing vessels from neighbouring countries, especially Honduras, poaching in its waters. Honduran fishermen are regularly taken before our courts.

But things escalated last month when the Jamaica Defence Force Coastguard vessel fired on a Honduran vessel, killing its captain and wounding two other crewmen.

As Tegucigalpa accused Jamaica of using inappropriate force in the confrontation, the situation would not have been helped with the suggestion by Jamaica's national security minister, Dwight Nelson, that what happened was a signal that "we are going to get tough on persons who encroach on Jamaica's territorial waters".

face-to-face meeting

Nearly as bad was the five days it required for Jamaica's foreign minister, Dr Ken Baugh, to talk by telephone to his Honduran counterpart, Mario Canahuati.

That discussion led to last week's visit to Jamaica by a Honduran diplomatic delegation, comprising officers based in the United States, for talks with their Jamaican counterparts.

The details of these discussions have not been disclosed, but the visit was an important start. It is, however, not sufficient.

We believe that the situation opens an opportunity, which is why we had suggested that Dr Baugh invite Mr Canahuati to Kingston for a face-to-face meeting on a broader range of issues.

Having received appropriate mandates from their respective governments, Dr Baugh and Mr Canahuati would sketch the outline on an agreement for dealing with those irritants that consistently crop up in the relations between Jamaica and Honduras. Their technocrats would also seek to draft the limits of their exclusive economic zones under the Law of the Sea.

But things shouldn't end there.

Both countries, as well as their several neighbours, inhabit an area that is among the busiest and strategically important sea lanes in the world. Jamaica and Honduras are themselves important trans-shipment points for narcotics and other contraband.

In other words, Jamaica, Honduras, Colombia, Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, The Bahamas, and others in the neighbourhood share real security issues. They are vulnerable to narco-terrorists, or others who would wish to upset the relative stability of the region.

These issues transcend ideology or political differences. It would make sense, therefore, that these countries act cooperatively to protect their interests.

Jamaica, a small island state with porous borders, is particularly vulnerable. It should, therefore, drive the initiative.

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