EU Commits to Helping Jamaica Combat Transnational Crime

The European Union (EU) has committed to remaining a key partner with Jamaica in combatting transnational organised criminal activity.

Head of the EU Delegation, Malgorzata Wasilewska, said that the organisation’s support to the country includes the provision of technical assistance in the implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) under Phase II of the EU ATT Outreach Project.

She noted that this has enabled training and capacity building for local experts in critical areas such as raising awareness, enforcement capabilities, licensing and customs best practices and inter-agency cooperation to combat illicit trafficking and diversion of conventional arms.

She was speaking at the opening ceremony of the National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons (NATFATIP) International Human Trafficking Conference on Wednesday (July 25) at the Meliá Braco Hotel in Trelawny.

Ms. Wasilewska said the EU has also been active in supporting efforts to implement a Counter Terrorism Strategy for CARICOM through funding of the Airport Communication Project, being delivered by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

“In this regard, Jamaican police, customs and immigration staff have received training that will help them spot and help trafficking victims,” she noted.

She informed that an additional grant of $3 billion was provided to Jamaica by the EU to advance the reform agenda and support citizen security.

Ms. Wasilewska said the funds will be used to support implementation of the newly adopted National Security Policy for Jamaica.

“One of the key actions of the policy is to remove the profit from crime. An important way to do this is to develop the means to prevent penetration by transnational criminal networks, including human traffickers,” she pointed out.