The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie has led a delegation to a CARICOM session in Haiti where officials plan to address regional security matters, including human trafficking.

The inter-sessional meetings of the Committee of the Heads of Government in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince opens today and ends on Tuesday. 

While the Bahamas continues to be challenged with crimes, such as the trafficking of firearms, illegal narcotics and humans in

addition to human smuggling, National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage said the meeting seeks to formulate a strategy to combat those issues. 

Dr Nottage is the Chairman of the CARICOM Council of National Security Ministers.

Last week, Chevanese “Sasha” Hall, 23, of Kingston, Jamaica was in the Magistrate’s Court on human trafficking and other related charges. Hall is accused of recruiting, transporting, transferring, receiving and/or facilitating the arrivals of Crystal Menns and Traviece Mundell into the Bahamas by means of deception or fraud.

Dr Nottage said: “CARICOM is concerned about National Security and law enforcement issues and their development of corporate strategies between its members in their approaches to various National Security issues.”

The Council is expected to review national security issues among CARICOM countries. Recommendations to fight various crimes related to gangs, drug shipments and humans will be presented.

CARICOM is also seeking advice from the US on combating the matters. US Attorney General Eric Holder will address delegates.

“Those of us who are National Security Ministers expect to have a discussion with him on matters related to (the) United States and national security (as it relates to) CARICOM countries,” Dr Nottage said.

Accompanying the Prime Minister are National Security Minister Dr. Bernard J. Nottage; Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell; Financial Services Minister Ryan Pinder and CARICOM Ambassador Picewell Forbes.

Clifford Scavella, Director of the National Intelligence Agency, Foreign Affairs Officers and ministry aides complete the delegation. 

They are expected to return to Nassau on Wednesday.