By Derwayne Wills

CRIMINALS who flee between CARICOM sister countries would find no safe havens, since Caribbean leaders are looking to activate an Arrest Warrants Treaty by the end of this year, which could see criminals repatriated to the original countries of their criminal activities.“The Arrest Warrant Treaty would enhance law-enforcement ability to address cross-border crime,” Dominica Prime Minister and CARICOM Chairman Roosevelt Skerrit said.
Skerrit was speaking at the closing press conference for this year’s Caribbean leaders’ summit in Guyana.
“If someone from Dominica would have committed a crime in Dominica and move [sic] to St Vincent, then the Vincentian authorities would be able to have him arrested and repatriated to Dominica to face charges,” Skerritt added.
The CARICOM Chairman that there will be enhanced cooperation and collaboration between law-enforcement agencies across the 15 member states, as regional security remains a priority.
The only complication to the treaty has to do with Suriname, as PM Skerritt explained.
“In Suriname, there is a constitutional challenge. If a Surinamese were to commit a crime in Jamaica and flee to Suriname, he could be prosecuted for that crime… in Suriname.”
CARICOM has sought legal advice while engaging with Surinamese authorities “to better appreciate the constitutional provisions or the limitations of the Constitution in respect to Suriname’s ability to engage in the treaty,” Skerritt continued.
He, however, recognised the possibility that Suriname may not be a full party to the treaty.
There are other such arrangements such as the floated-arrest warrants treaty including the mutual legal assistance agreement which all bolster CARICOM’s crime and security strategy.