Guyana’s Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Hon. Khemraj Ramjattan on Monday, 21 November, zeroed in on the need to address Community citizens’ perception of the security and law enforcement sector. The Minister was delivering remarks to the official opening of the Seventeenth Meeting of the Council for Security and Law Enforcement at the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana.
According to him, it was necessary to change the perception that “the security and law enforcement sector is populated purely for predatory purposes”. Recommending programmes to create champions on the ground as an approach, the minister said –
“We have to lead our people out of that negative habit which teaches that crime and corruption is culture… they are bad choices that must never be condoned and for which citizens must speak out against…”.
The minister called on the CONSLE to construct projects of hope and trust and to secure freedom from violence and fear. This he noted would provide an opportunity for our people to flourish and thrive and to do so in peace.
The one-day meeting, being chaired by Barbados’ Attorney-General and Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Adriel Brathwaite, Q.C. MP, will consider for approval the CARICOM Cyber Security and Cyber Crime Action Plan (CCSCAP). This plan provides a framework through which all initiatives of cyber security and cyber crime in the Region will be developed, implemented and managed.
Member States Citizenship by Investment Programmes (CIPS), including measures to ensure that national and regional security is not compromised by such programmes; among other issues, will also engage the attention of the Region’s Ministers responsible for national security.
“The Council for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE) is responsible for the coordination of the Region’s multi-dimensional security agenda , to ensure a safe and stable Community”.