ASSISTANT Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS) Albert Ramdin says crime and violence can be stemmed when all stakeholders come together to find solutions. Ramdin made the comment in his closing address at the Third Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Public Security (MISPA) in the Americas. The meeting took place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain on November 18. Among those attending were National Security Minister/Chair of MISPA 111 John Sandy and former CNC3 presenter Shelly Dass-Clarke. Over two days, leaders and ministers gathered to share knowledge and evaluate national, regional and international strategies on police management and security issues.
Ramdin said: “The third path is to reach out to our neighbours, friends, communities, partners regionally and internationally to collectively implement effective and realistic public security policies to overcome a common threat (crime and violence).” Ramdin added: “We have seen the value of coming together to compare notes, share experiences, synchronise technologies and find more effective solutions.” He identified two other responses which would not effect change. The first was turning inward to protect ourselves, our interests and adopting a policy of each man or country for itself. Ramdin said the second was a spirit of defeat. “The other was throwing our hands up in despair and saying there was nothing we could do about it. It’s beyond our control,” Ramdin said.
Address public insecurity
He said crime and violence test and defy public security—ranging from gang and drug-related crimes, rapes, intimidation and murder to gun running, kidnapping and human trafficking. He noted the challenge lay in addressing the feeling of public insecurity. From his observances, Ramdin looked at some of the interventions citizens were making to protect themselves. He said: “We lock our doors at night, buy alarm systems and some even carry firearms.”
Ramdin further challenged leaders to play a decisive role in ensuring the safety of adults and children. He said: “The buck stops with us as leaders. It is our responsibility as officials appointed or elected to deal with public security, to be accountable and responsible, for all of our citizens’ security.” He added: “As ministers and stakeholders, we have seen the impact of criminality on whole communities, countries and regions. Crime and violence threaten democratic stability and pose real obstacles to human, social and economic development.”
Best practices
Reviewing the dialogue which took place over the two days, Ramdin said he hoped the ministers would maximise their efforts in the following ways by adopting the Recommendations of Port-of-Spain on Police Management:
• Leaders were committed to achieving concrete, measurable and sustainable results by focusing on police management
• Inter-ministerial dialogue addressed the main aspects that must be contemplated if we are to improve the institutional capability of the police service
• Support for capacity development, modernisation and professionalisation of police institutions within a democratic framework
• Accountability in security institutions throughout the region
• Need for community participation and continuous dialogue
• Citizens will soon see the impact of education, training, evaluation, promotion processes to ensure a professional police service and personnel provided with adequate working conditions
• Citizens will deliver on the promise to strengthen co-operation among the police information systems and foster use of technology.
Invest in young people
Interviewed after his presentation, Ramdin commented on the need to reach out to young people. He said: “We have to invest in young people to make sure they do not become part of this crime and violence. “The tangible solution is to create jobs for our young people, educate them and give them a proper social environment. Many of them feel isolated. “As a consequence, they become part of gangs and gang-related activity,” he said. Asked about his sentiments on the Colour Me Orange programme which employs a large majority of youth, Ramdin added: “Youth at risk should always be addressed. OAS has several projects focusing on youth at risk. We have to give them a skill and an ongoing training of young people.”
Zeroing in on Africa which has a huge youth population, Ramdin said: “The underlying causes are similar in Africa to the Western Hemisphere.” He proceeded to outline them: “Limited education. Many of them live under poverty-stricken conditions. Family life is not good. They move to the cities and become part of the cycle of gangs and violence.” He identified education and housing as two key means of alleviating their problems. “It is about giving them an education…not only knowledge reproduction, housing, but providing them with a skill to be able to survive.”