U. S. pleased with Caribbean political initiatives on counterterrorism

The United States said on Friday, August 19 the political will of Caribbean countries to counterterrorism remained strong, despite limited resources and capabilities.

It said that primary counterterrorism objectives for the Caribbean included preventing terrorists or terrorist organisations from entering or transiting the Caribbean en route to other countries, particularly the United States; increasing countries’ awareness of the potential threat from terrorists or terrorist organisations; and preventing terrorists or terrorist organisations from operating or developing safe havens in the Caribbean.

In its 2011 report released here, the U.S. State Department Office of the Co-ordinator for Counterterrorism noted the Caribbean’s efforts at increasing capabilities to prevent terrorists from attacking targets of opportunity.

Making reference to Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago specifically, Washington said Jamaican-U.S. counterterrorism cooperation included the container security initiative and law enforcement cooperation. “Jamaica also worked closely with the immigration and security agencies of countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom, both of which have sizeable Jamaican émigré communities and serve as transit points for travellers to Jamaica from many world regions.”

It said that Jamaica is a member of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force and other regional and international organisations, and is an active member of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism. “Jamaica also actively supports efforts to improve regional security through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. The Caricom Council of Ministers of National Security meets regularly to discuss regional threats to security, including terrorism.” With regards to Trinidad and Tobago, the U. S. State Department said that country faced a number of challenges related to border control and limited law enforcement capacity. “A small number of Trinidadians also have connections to radical elements outside the country. The government of Trinidad and Tobago continued to partner with U. S. law enforcement authorities, making efforts to improve its ability to detect, deter, and investigate acts of terrorism.”

The report noted that Port of Spain has cancelled the purchase of certain offshore patrol vessels, and is now seeking to increase domestic security though improved radar and aerial capacity and more effective coastal patrols in an effort to counter transnational trafficking and bolster border security.

“Although the mandate of Trinidad and Tobago’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), established in late 2009, covered terrorist finance, the FIU was not fully operational in 2010 because it lacked supervisory powers, and thus did not successfully pursue any terrorist finance cases.

“With respect to the most recent Caribbean Financial Action Task Force progress report on Trinidad and Tobago, the government was urged to take immediate action to implement adequate procedures to identify and freeze terrorist assets.

“Additionally, effective implementation of new measures dealing with both listing terrorists and their entities and freezing terrorist properties was required.

“Another key recommendation was implementation of adequate procedures permitting the confiscation of funds derived from money laundering.” Like Jamaica, the report notes, Trinidad and Tobago is a member of Caricom and the OAS Inter-American Committee against Terrorism, and has received funding through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.