Crime Reduction Requires Multi-Dimensional Approach – Senator Macmillan

The CARICOM Council of Ministers responsible for national security and law enforcement, has introduced mechanisms to effect a reduction in crime levels and an enhanced capacity among member states, to treat with the issues of crime, violence and public security.
This was disclosed by Minister of National Security, Senator Colonel Trevor MacMillan, at the opening ceremony for the Third Inter-American Forum on Violence and Prevention and Citizen Security, at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston, today (Jan. 19).
Senator MacMillan, who is also a member of the Council of Ministers responsible for national security and law enforcement in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), informed that the Council of Ministers is working in conjunction with other arms of CARICOM, such as the CARICOM Secretariat, which has been mandated by the Council of Human Social Development, to collaborate with international organisations and third states in developing a regional crime prevention initiative, to complement national and bilateral developments.
He stated that, “this regional crime prevention initiative complements the work of the Council of Ministers. Reduction in violence and improved public security is our compelling goal”.

Minister of National Security, Senator Colonel Trevor MacMillan speaks to participants at the opening ceremony for the third Inter-American Forum on Violence Prevention and Citizen Security today (Jan.19) at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston.

He pointed out further that security and crime reduction are “cross-sectoral, public private and community-based phenomena” that require a multi-dimensional approach. “They demand cross-fertilisation of efforts among all social actors, significant institutional reform to facilities, a holistic response, and it requires us to see beyond the limitations of our institutions and deliberately seek to build across and beyond the lines of bureaucracy,” he continued.
In this regard, he noted that the Government has begun to increase partnership among all key stakeholders – the public sector, the private sector, inter-governmental, non-governmental and other civil society organisations, in order to improve the levels of co-operation and collaboration across sectors. Colonel MacMillan noted too that some states like Jamaica, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago, have partnered with the IDB in implementing citizen security programmes that integrate crime and violence prevention in community and sectoral programmes.
“Our ultimate purpose is not only to eradicate criminal organisations or to curtail the drug trade, but to build a strong sustainable culture of peace and lawfulness, where individual and communal well-being flourishes and where a respectful life is affirmed,” he emphasised.
The forum, themed: “Addressing Crime and Violence in the Caribbean Region,” which is being held from January 19 to 20, will seek to strengthen the capacity among Latin American and the Caribbean nations to design and implement violence prevention and citizen security programmes, in order to promote social and economic growth, increase foreign direct investment, achieve greater social cohesion, and strengthen democracies and democratic values.