The United States at the CARICOM Ministerial: Security and Law Enforcement

Security and Law Enforcement are key issues to be discussed at the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) Ministerial in The Bahamas, March 21-22, 2006. The Caribbean is the third border of the United States. As neighbors, the United States and CARICOM countries work together to stem the flow of illegal drugs and to promote security in the Western Hemisphere. Caribbean and U.S. leaders recognize that narcotics and small arms trafficking, money laundering, and illegal migration affect us at home and in the region.

OPBAT
Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) is a $30 million per year multi-agency counter-drug initiative involving the Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of State, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs Service, and the Governments of The Bahamas and of the Turks and Caicos. OPBAT has dramatically reduced the flow of drugs through The Bahamas to the U.S. since its inception in 1982.

The Third Border Initiative
The Third Border Initiative will strengthen the ability of Caribbean institutions to address social and economic problems, combat transnational crime, and promote regional security. Much of the nearly $6 million in Fiscal Year 2005 funding for the initiative was used to help establish more secure border measures. Recent programs include:
 • Border Management Assessments to enhance capacity in the region;
 • Aviation Safety Oversight/Security Training to provide assessments and training;
 • Training and assistance to Customs and Border Officials; and
 • Tourism Infrastructure Disaster Preparedness.

Preparing for Natural Disasters
In preparing for disasters in the Caribbean, the U.S. has:
 • Provided significant funds for hurricane recovery programs in Grenada, Haiti, and Jamaica;
 • Helped local emergency management agencies to reduce response time;
 • Expanded earthquake and tsunami monitoring in the Caribbean in partnership with several CARICOM nations; and
 • Helped improve border control systems and improve coastal zone and watershed management in the Dominican Republic.

New Challenges
The United States remains committed to cooperating with our Caribbean partners to respond to emerging threats to personal safety and national security. We will continue to fund the development of a Regional Information and Intelligence Sharing System. We understand the security challenges Caribbean countries face in preparing for the Cricket World Cup 2007. We will provide counterterrorism training and offer additional assistance.

The U.S. and CARICOM countries also jointly recognize the threat that illicit trafficking in arms poses to the security of the Western Hemisphere and have pledged to enhance regional cooperation in concrete and practical measures to prevent, combat, and eradicate the illicit trafficking in arms in the region. They urge other states in the hemisphere to join in their initiative.