Marlon Vickerman, Features Writer

Professor Emeritus Daphne Douglas (right) is congratulated by Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning (left), while his wife Hazel looks on, at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Commemoration Dinner, held at Mona Visitors' Lodge, UWI, last Friday night. - Collin Hamilton / Freelance Photographer

Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) Prime Minister Patrick Manning last Friday night called for greater regional cooperation to successfully combat the burgeoning problem of crime across the Caribbean.

The prime minister was delivering the keynote address at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Commemoration Dinner held at the Mona Visitors' Lodge.

Manning fingered the illegal drug trade among the root cause for the spiralling levels of criminal activity in the Caribbean, and urged regionwide collaboration.

"Many of us in the Caribbean today are challenged by the unacceptable levels of criminal activity in our country, most of which are now spurred by the global traffic in illegal drugs. The trade in illegal arms and gang warfare lead to an unacceptable level of homicide in our main urban centres," said Manning.

He added: "This situation is exacerbated by both growing illegal migration and deportation to the region of criminal elements from some metropolitan countries. What is certain, as far as I am concerned, my dear friends, there is the need to intensify cooperation among the law enforcement agencies of our nations, as well as collaboration with the international community, particularly the wider Caribbean region, Latin America, United States and Europe."

Manning lobbied for a pan-Caribbean law enforcement unit, extremely well-trained, equipped and empowered to legally operate in any CARICOM country.

Soaring murder rates

Three of the regional bloc's major members - Jamaica, Trinidad and Guyana - have been afflicted by soaring murder rates in recent years. Jamaica, last year, recorded more than 1,500 murders while Guyana has seen a spate of murders in the last two weeks, as well as an assault on a police station.

The T&T prime minister urged CARICOM heads of states to spearhead the process of greater cooperation in the sharing of intelligence among police forces to head off migratory drug smugglers.

The dinner, which culminated the university's Commemoration Celebrations and Alumni Week 2008, was held in honour of Professor Emeritus Daphne Douglas, distinguished librarian and educator.

marlon.vickerman@gleanerjm.com