Caricom reaffirms maintaining region as a Zone of Peace; Trinidad abstains

With the exception of Trinidad and Tobago, leaders within the Caribbean Community (Caricom) reaffirm maintaining the region as a zone of peace.
This position was taken when Caricom Heads of Government recently met to discussed various issues on the regional agenda including the increased security build up in the Caribbean and the potential impacts on Member States.
According to a statement from the Caricom Secretariat on Saturday, save in respect of Trinidad and Tobago which “reserved its position”, regional leaders came to several agreements.
“They reaffirmed the principle of maintaining the Caribbean region as a Zone of Peace and the importance of dialogue and engagement towards the peaceful resolution of disputes and conflict. Caricom remains willing to assist towards that objective,” the missive detailed.
The Caricom Heads of Government also reiterated their continued commitment to fighting narcotrafficking and the illegal trade in small arms and light weapons which adversely affect the Region.
“They underscored that efforts to overcome these challenges should be through ongoing international cooperation and within international law,” the Secretariat noted.
Moreover, the regional leaders further reaffirmed unequivocal support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries in the Region and the safety and livelihoods of the people of the Region.
This position of the 15-member regional bloc came amidst heightened tension in the region as the United States carry out military operations off the Venezuelan shore to combat transnational crime and the illicit drug trade.
Only Friday, President Dr Irfaan Ali said that countries within the Caribbean have nothing to fear with the US operation near the Venezuelan coast. In fact, Dr Ali reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to working with the regional and international partners to ensure the protection of the country and its citizens,
“Our priority is the protection of Guyana, the citizens of Guyana and the territory of Guyana. And we will do everything necessary to ensure that our country is safe and our people remain safe. We will do everything necessary to contribute to the region remaining a zone of peace and we will do everything in support of combating transnational crime and illicit drugs,” the Guyanese Head of State told local reporters.
Washington has about 10,000 troops in the Caribbean, either on ships near the Venezuelan coast or in the US territory of Puerto Rico, as part of efforts to combat transnational crime and the illicit drug trade coming out of Caracas. The military assets in the region includes eight Navy ships, F-35 fighter jets and MQ-9 Reaper drones.
In fact, the US has conducted at least six strikes on suspected drug-carrying vessels in the Caribbean, killing some 27 people.
Asked what support is being offered to the US in this operation, President Ali noted that Guyana will always work with its allies to ensure safety within the region.
“We have a responsibility to the citizens of this region and the people globally to support and to work with our allies as we have been doing for decades. Be it Brazil, Colombia, the U.S., Suriname – the entire region, we have been collaborating for decades. We’ve been supporting each other for decades in the fight against drugs and illicit activities but my priority as Commander-in-Chief is to ensure the safety of this country, the people of this country and our territorial integrity,” he posited.
According to President Ali, “Guyana has been working with our allies. We have a joint training program. We have joint activities that are all publicly known. So, whatever we pursue and whatever partnership in the form of our partnership, once it does not compromise the security of the operation or personnel, of course the public will be aware… In the spirit of cooperation, the U.S. has said that they have all the verification that these were drug-carrying vessels.”
The Trump Administration has stated that designated narco-terrorist organisations like Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles are using the region’s air and sea corridors to funnel drugs into the US, thus posing a direct threat to American lives and security.
To date, the US has blown up several vessels in the Caribbean Sea which it said was transporting cocaine and other dangerous drugs to the country.
Only on Friday, international news agencies reported another US military attack on a ship allegedly transporting drugs from Venezuela.
US President Donald Trump confirmed the attack on Friday, telling reporters that the vessel was a “drug-carrying submarine”.
Pic saved as: Caricom map