ln February 1996, a report issued by the UN International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) noted with concern that "drug traffickers are gaining, a strong foothold in the Caribbean and pose a real threat to political stability in the region". Significantly, this report pointed to the particular vulnerability of countries in the eastern Caribbean to this growing threat. And if interdiction on the Mexico-US border becomes nore effective, the Caribbean region may again become a frontline for drug trafficking.
The United States government, for quite a while now, has sought reassurances from Caribbean countries that they would develop and maintain a unified effort to fight drug trafficking in the region. On March 4th last, US Secretary of State Warren Christopher and Prime Minister Basdeo Panday of Trinidad and Tobago signed three agreements aimed at combatting drug trafficking through the twin-island republic. These agreements are the Maritime Drug Interdiction Treaty, which will permit US drug enforcement personnel to work aboard Trinidad and Tobago coastguard boats and vice-versa; the Mutual Assistance Treaty, which will authorize exchanges of inforrnation on drug searches and seizures; the Extradition Treaty, which will streamline existing extradition procedures between tbe two countries.
CARICOM states, because of their fragile economies, geographical location, and inadequate security-capabilities, are vulnerable to narco-trade. Generally, the regional states have been attempting to respond to drug trafficking on an individual basis, by using their very scarce resources primarily for interdiction and for the eradication of marijuana which is cultivated in a relatively large quantity in a number of Caribbean countries. Even though foreign assistance, primarily from the United States and the United Kingdom in the area of interdiction, has been rninimal, it has been very useful since it has provided vessels, vehicles, equipment and training to aid the process. At present also, Inter-American Commission for Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) and a number of other international agencies render assistance to the region in the fight against the illicit trafficking and the use of narcotics.
In Guyana. cultivation of marijuana takes place in the heavily forested and river areas, which are difficult and very costly to access. The borders of Guyana like the coastlines of many other CARICOM states, are difficult to patrol. As a result, in the effort to reduce the cultivation of illegal drugs, as well as to prevent illegal importation of drugs via their borders, these poor countries have set aside large sums of money for fighting the drug menace in those areas.
Whether the Caribbean countries are considered producing states or transit ones, the efforts of their law enforcement agencies play a major role in preventing drugs from reaching the lucrative markets in North America and Westem Europe. In fact it is generally recognized that these consumer countries benefit considerably from the efforts of CARICOM countries to combat drug trafficking.
Apart from the high demands placed on the limited-financial resources of CARICOM countries, there are also adverse effects on the available human resources. Thus, these countries in the present economic circumstances need all-round assistance in conducting enforcement and interdiction tasks and for rehabilitation programs to reduce demand.
The heavy foreign debt repayment coupled with the high expenditure incurred in the fight against drugs cannot be sustained by the fragile economics of CARICOM states. Thus, economic and social development and sustained growth are stifled once these states continue the drug war for the developed countries, without the required Ievel of international assistance. In this context, consumer countries must be persuaded to provide the necessary level of funding to CARICOM states for programs which will provide tbeir antinarcotic capabilities and enhance their economic viability. Debt relief to CARICOM countries should also be renegotiated in order to promote developrnent and provide alternative employment for those involved in the drug trade.
Faced with the growing pressures brought about by the drug trade what must the regional states do? For a start, they should set the machinery in motion to harmonize drug legislation within the region, and even within the hemisphere. Currently, many regional countries fight the drug war with antiquated laws which were formulated when the drug problem did not exist. These laws must be adjusted to suit the present situation to give powers of arrest to new drug fighting agencies established by governments to supplement the efforts of the police.
At the same time, training for law enforcement officers must be intensified, and increased efforts must be made for the improvement of the capabilities of the law enforcement agencies to detect and interdict illegal drugs, and to prosecute offenders.
Finally, and of great importance, it is absolutely necessary for countries which are beneficiaries of the anti-narcotics activities being pursued by CARICOM states to provide greater financial and technical assistance to the region. The governments of the region will have lo work assiduously to convince the counlries of the North of this necessity.
(Dr. Odeen Ishmael is Guyana's Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative to the OAS)