THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has committed to working in close collaboration with all concerned to crack down on illicit drug trading activities in Guyana. In a statement issued last Monday, the ruling party hailed the Government of the United States of America (USA) on its decision to establish a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) office in Georgetown; a move which will see Guyana being ably supported with increased capacity to deal with narco-traffickers, smuggling, and distribution of illegal drugs. Talks with the US to have the DEA establish a branch in Guyana were successfully concluded last week. With the support of the US Congress, equipped DEA personnel will be based in Georgetown at the US Embassy in Duke Street, Kingston, but the exact date when this office will become operational is not yet known. Previous cooperation between Guyana’s law enforcement and the US was done through a DEA office based in neighbouring Trinidad. The PPP statement said, “We believe the establishment of this office will complement ongoing efforts of the Government to tackle the illicit drug trade, and will see more coordinated action between Guyana and the United States, as well as the rest of the Caribbean and South America. “…while successive PPP/Civic-led governments have been waging a battle against drug trafficking through training of personnel, increased resources — both human and physical — based on the National Drug Strategy Master Plan, we have always maintained that fighting the illicit drug trade is not a one-country/one-region task, but a battle that needs to be fought by all countries of the world.” The ruling party maintained that it has always taken the front position for greater collaboration against the drug trade, not only in Guyana, but also in the Caribbean Region. The PPP recalled that it was due to the stand taken by former President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo in April 2009 that the establishment of the DEA office in Guyana is now a reality. “It could be recalled, in April 2009, when former President Bharrat Jagdeo and other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders met with US officials, it was Dr. Jagdeo who asked the US to expand its Mérida Initiative for Mexico and Central America to the Caribbean, and his argument then was that the crackdown in Mexico could push drug traffickers into the Caribbean, which lies directly between the South American source of many illegal drugs and the US, the world’s top consumer,” the party said. In response to the Mexican Government’s request for increased cooperation and assistance, in October 2007, the United States and Mexico proposed the Mérida Initiative, a package of US counterdrug and anti-crime assistance to Mexico and Central America. As proposed, the Mérida Initiative would provide some $1.4B in assistance, largely in the form of equipment and training. The Mérida Initiative is not only the largest foreign aid package for the Western Hemisphere since Plan Colombia, but according to its proponents, it is a new kind of regional security partnership among the United States, Mexico and Central America. Additionally, the statement pointed out, it was the ruling party which, only last week, reiterated the call for the US to establish a DEA office here. “It was the PPP which, only last week, reiterated the call for the US to establish a DEA office here. Now that the US has answered our call, we at the local level must not be complacent; we must do what is necessary to ensure that we tackle this issue on all fronts,” the PPP urged. The DEA is the US’ lead agency for domestic enforcement of federal drug laws, and for coordinating and pursuing US drug investigations abroad.

(By Sandy Agasen)