Regional border security officials head to Jamaica

Jamaica is to play host to several regional border security officials who will be in the island for the CARICOM Joint Standing Committees of Chiefs of Immigration and Comptrollers of Customs (CICC) meeting, starting tomorrow.

The 19th staging of the CICC conference will see border security officials reviewing the immigration processes, determining the current status of regional security structures, and assessing the need for modification in view of new and emerging trends.

The meeting will also address security challenges being faced by CARICOM member states that are contributing to the rising levels of criminal activities such as the illegal drug trade, trafficking in firearms, human trafficking and smuggling, gang warfare, the deportation of criminals, unemployment, and corruption.

CEO of the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency Andrew Wynter says that the agency and Jamaica Customs will be hosting the conference to facilitate several sessions to exchange best practices, to enhance the regional fight against crime, and to strengthen the security agenda.

"The meeting brings together all the heads of immigration and Customs across the region to review and update existing MOUs and legislation relating to deportation of criminal offenders and the strategies to deal with deportees.

"We will also look at the issues affecting CARICOM nations and the movement of persons and illegal migration," said Wynter.

"The meeting will also evaluate the laws and regulations on human trafficking and smuggling and mass migration vis-‡-vis transnational organised criminal activities," added Wynter.

He said that the officials would also consider technological improvements in border security and immigration and how these could be introduced to countries that are lagging behind.

REGIONAL STRATEGIES

According to Wynter, at the end of the meeting, participants will be able to determine regional strategies that can be implemented to harmonise operations and to improve travel across borders.

He said that another anticipated outcome of the CICC meeting would be the recommendations that would "be presented to the Council of National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE), an entity with all the ministers of national security in the region".

The CONSLE will be responsible for the implementation of actions agreed on relating to crime and security and collaborate with national and international crime-prevention and control agencies to determine trends, methodologies, and strategies for crime prevention and to enhance security.