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ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBERTA JACOBSON: Good morning everyone and welcome to the State
Department. I want to congratulate everyone for following the first directions of the
day which were to come to the room. You were early. This is a great group. I think most
of you know me but I am Roberta Jacobson. I am the Assistant Secretary for the Western
Hemisphere here at the State Department I am joined today by Deputy Secretary William
Burns, Mr Brownfield who is the Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and
Law Enforcement Affairs, and I am also delighted to have with us our co-hosts Consulate Chair,
Attorney General, and Minister of Home Affairs Adriel Brathwaite of Barbados, Deputy Minister
of the Presidency Luis Henry Molina of the DR, and Ambassador Colin Granderson of CARICOM.
I am very pleased to welcome you here to the 4th Caribbean Us Cooperation Dialogue. We
are delighted that everyone is here. We have today in front of us a very dynamic dialogue
outlined in which we are looking to find ways to expand cooperation, exchange best practices,
and move towards a more effective partnership. That's what we are calling our discussion
today. This dialogue is critical to the partnership embodied in the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.
Successive partnership requires investing time to understand each others' needs, and
thinking together about how to address them. Today is the culmination of an enormous amount
of preparation by all of our offices, and I want to thank all of those who have done
the work to get us here. It is also a day that really demonstrates concretely the shared
responsibility of all of here, the CARICOM Nations, the Dominican Republic, the United
States, and all of our international partners, to ensure that we are taking all the steps
possible to increase citizen security across the region.
I am particularly delighted to have with us Deputy Secretary William Burns as our keynote
speaker. Deputy Secretary Burns has long been a friend and a supporter of this hemisphere
and his persistent engagement underscores how strongly the United States, at the highest
levels, supports our partners in the region and the deepening and equal partnership. Please
join me in welcoming Deputy Secretary William Burns
(applause)
DEPUTY SECRETARY WILLIAM BURNS: Good morning, everyone. We gather here this morning on a
sorrowful note -- mourning with the rest of the world the passing of a truly great man,
Nelson Mandela. I ask that all of you join me in a moment of silence to honor Mr. Mandela,
and all that he stood for. Thank you very ,much.
It is an honor, as Roberta said, to welcome you back to Washington. I want to thank all
of you -- our Caribbean partners and international donors -- for your commitment to an initiative
of great importance, not only for the Caribbean, but indeed for the entire Western Hemisphere.
Last month, in a speech at the Organization of American States, Secretary Kerry declared
that "the era of the Monroe Doctrine is over." He explained that in this new era, the United
States seeks a relationship of equals adhering "not to a doctrine, but to the decisions that
we make as partners to advance the values and interests we share."
The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative offers a vivid example of what that kind of partnership
can yield. It is a partnership based on shared responsibility and mutual respect. It is a
partnership based on shared approaches to shared challenges. And it is a partnership
that is achieving results -- reducing illicit trafficking, increasing public safety, and
promoting social justice. But as all of you know, our task is far from complete. There
is still much that we can do to build an even more effective partnership. Let me say just
a few words about the progress we've made and how we might build on that progress in
the coming year.
First, we are accelerating our efforts to prevent the trafficking of narcotics, weapons,
and persons. In part due to progress in other parts of the Hemisphere, the Caribbean is
seeing an increase in drug trafficking... an increase in the number of criminal gangs...
an increase in the number of weapons... and an increase in violence that is undermining
regional stability and economic growth. In response, we are deepening regional law enforcement
cooperation so that Caribbean nations can share fingerprint and other data about suspected
criminals that lead to arrests and prosecutions. We are increasing our efforts to stop arms
trafficking -- destroying nearly 2,000 weapons and three tons of ammunition over the past
three years. We are improving maritime security through expanded training exercises with a
specific focus on counternarcotics missions. And we are increasing train and equip efforts
to build the capacity of law enforcement agencies and security forces throughout the Caribbean.
Indeed, thanks in part to the Initiative, drug seizures are up 40-percent in the Dominican
Republic and almost 300-percent in Guyana. But we can do more. The Regional Integrated
Ballistic Information Network is operational, but is not fully integrated. We can accomplish
that this upcoming year. We can also do a better job of detecting and interdicting threats
before they make it to our shores by improving information sharing and our maritime domain
awareness.And with multiyear plans for the maintenance and sustainment of our maritime
assets, we can be sure that we will have the means to address this threat not just today
or tomorrow, but for many years to come.
Second, we are making strides in our effort to prevent and reduce crime and violence,
disrupt and dismantle organized gangs, and improve border security. By pooling our resources
and our knowledge, we are helping Caribbean states develop a stronger and more effective
justice sector. For example, this past year, Jamaica's Organized Crime and Anti-Corruption
Task Force dismantled a major criminal syndicate, arrested more than 100 suspects, and seized
hundreds of vehicles and computers and tens of millions of dollars. We are also making
progress in implementing civil asset forfeiture legislation to make sure law enforcement and
rule of law agencies have the resources they need to do their job. Indeed, this past September,
under its newly passed law, Dominica had its first successful cash seizure. But here too
we can take decisive steps forward this year. We can do a better job of sharing biometric
law enforcement data regionally, through efforts like the Advanced Fingerprinting Information
System. And by making sure that all Initiative members have the proper legislative authorities
for the seizure of assets by all states and investing them in a dedicated security fund,
we can support law enforcement efforts in the years to come.
Finally, and most importantly, we are paying special attention to the safety and security
of our citizens, especially the young people who represent our hopes and dreams for the
future of the Caribbean. Our main approach is prevention -- making sure that we offer
opportunities and services to youth so they avoid entering the juvenile justice system.
To date, more than 52,000 young people have participated in Initiative programs in education
and workforce development across the Caribbean. They are learning critical life and job skills,
contributing positively to their communities, and working together with law enforcement
to help resolve local conflicts and reduce violence. To succeed, we need to work even
more closely with the private sector and our community leaders to develop the employment
skills of at-risk youth and to provide them with sufficient opportunities to apply those
skills. And we can work together to make sure alternative sentencing for youth is a routine
practice of courts throughout the Caribbean region. This too will require building stronger
connections among law enforcement, civil society, and business leaders. We came together this
year committed to building a more effective partnership. I am confident that with continued
political will, and sustained focus on implementation, our partnership will only grow stronger. And
as it does, we can all be certain that we will be building a more peaceful and more
prosperous Caribbean Basin and contributing to a more peaceful and prosperous Western
Hemisphere.
Thank you all very much and good luck today.
[applause]
OSA REPRESENTATIVE GIOVANNI SNIDLE: And thank you Deputy Secretary. I would like to incite
the heads of delegations, CARICOM, to join us here on stage in alphabetical order. We
will be seating you in this table up here. So if you could join us for a photo opportunity
with the Deputy Secretary, thank you.
(inaudible)...
ASSISTANT SECRETARY WILLIAM BROWNFIELD... This always happens. Mr. Braithwaite is going
to stand right here. (laughter)
(inaudible)
OSA REPRESENTATIVE GIOVANNI SNIDLE:... from Barbados... The Bahamas... Belize... no, you're
in the right place... Granada... (laughter)
...You're, You're correct.
MINISTER BERNARD NOTTAGE: I don't have a speaking role for another four minutes.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBERTA JACOBSON: ... yes.
OSA REPRESENTATIVE GIOVANNI SNIDLE: Thank you everyone for your cooperation. We'll continue
the opening session at this point. (ding)
I'd like to introduce the Deputy Assistant Secretary Roberta Jacobson as we continue
this morning with your dialogue.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBERTA JACOBSON: Thank you Gio and I think I think many of you know
Gio from years of working on these issues. But I do want to point out that probably none
of us would be here and certainly we would not be here as well prepared or as well organized
without Gio. So, thank you for all of your efforts.
Applause).
It's not entirely a one-man show but he does a huge amount on these issues and we are deeply
grateful.
I want to start off by saying that I am particularly proud of the work that my government but everybody
in this room has done, in the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative since President Obama
launched it in 2009. In some ways what is not entirely understood about the CBSI as
compared to the initiatives that the US has helped to work on in Colombia or in Mexico,
or even in Central America, is that this Initiative, the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative really
did grow from the very beginning as a partnership. From the very beginning the priorities and
the emphasis was decided by Caribbean partners and nations. What they felt they needed, and
then what we as partners felt we could help with. And so I think today we really have
the opportunity to honor and build on four years of efforts and resources dedicated to
promoting citizen security in the Caribbean. And as none of us can forget, you all in so
many ways more than I can, the real result of our work is safer and more productive citizens
and communities in all of our countries.
The United States recognized that our efforts required comprehensive regional and shared
commitments. we are dedicated to leveraging lessons learned and best practices from around
the hemisphere. Everyone here, and I think this is particularly important, everyone here,
has something to offer, and every country including my own has something to learn, and
to gain, from today's conversation. The theme for today's dialogue is toward a more effective
dialogue. With this partnership comes a shared responsibility, which has been a theme of
the Obama Administration this region since the beginning. Each country must put into
place the necessary policies and commit the resources necessary to achieve the goals that
we have together decided to prioritize. Countering illicit trafficking, increasing public safety
and security, and promoting social justice. To combat crime and violence in the CAribbean
we must continue to act cooperatively at the bilateral, subregional, and regional levels.
We must make our programs very more effective and commit to taking what are often difficult
steps to deliver the results to all our citizens. Deputy Secretary in his remarks laid out several
programs that we should focus on, and I hope through our discussions today, we will make
significant progress on them.
A cornerstone of our security operations is capacity building through effective training
and regional information sharing for our justice and law officials. We have developed these
tools together and now we can reap the benefits in better law enforcement and citizen security.
Deputy Secretary Burns outlined another opportunity that we can't overlook as we work to make
the Caribbean more stable and prosperous: our young people.
Too often I think all of us because of what we do for a living, focus on youth at risk.
Or we focus on young people,not having opportunities as a source of instability. But what we know
and what stands behind our concerns, is a much more positive recognition that our young
people are the source of our prosperity and future progress in our countries. Investment
in the regions' youth pays dividends today and tomorrow by helping and allowing them
to realize their full potential. The most successful economies in the world tap into
this resource, encouraging young people's; innovation, ideas, and inspiration. They are
often the ones that keep up going. By providing our young people with the skills and space
to develop themselves and their communities, we change the equation. Secretary Burns talked
about USAID's efforts to train young people with basic education and workplace competencies,
and how more than 52,000 of them have been trained since CBSI began in 2010.
Those young people who are literate, who have been taught job skills - they are less likely
to become victims to drug traffickers who target disillusioned youth. And I am proud
of this work and that we are able to target some of today's discussion on today's youth.
Im In this time of limited resource and competing demands, our success depends on strong donor
cooperation and coordination making sure we are not redundant or wasteful We welcome international
partners efforts to assure assistance is targeted, complementary, and well-spent. And I am proud
of the fact that in many ways already, especially in the CAribbean, we have, with our partners,
ensured that if one country has resources and the other country has people, we make
that match to ensure that programs get funded and staffed with the right people moving forward.
I want to thank Canada in particular for taking on the role of coordinating international
partners. It will enhance our effectiveness as we work to advance citizen security. And
I am particularly elighted at so many of the international partners who are here today
to assist in the dialogue, including some who have joined us from the region.
i want to close by echoing the observation by Guyanese Prime minister Sam Hines majde
at the CBSI meeting in Georgetown,. He said if as a region we are to continue to develop
as enhance the wellbeing of our citizens then we must as a matter of necessity, take all
steps to reduce crime and improve security in our countries. If we fail to take action,
we will not be able to sustain and grow our aeon oes. As we look forward to another year
of partnership, I assure you that the US is committed to working together to reduce crime
and improve security in the Caribbean. It is one of the rare areas in this country that
has bipartisan legislative support. The United States looks forward achieving this results
together. And I am very pleased now to offer the floor to one of our tri-hosts, Minister
Bernard Nottage.
Thank you so much.
[ applause].
MINISTER BERNARD NOTTAGE: Good morning.