EU joins Caribbean drug fight

(Jamaica Gleaner) The European Union is to spend 10 million Euros on a major initiative aimed at curbing drug smuggling in the Caribbean.

The announcement comes days after the United States indicated that it will be using drones to conduct drug surveillance in the region.

According to John Caloghirou, the head of the European Union’s Caribbean Division in Belgium the EU initiative will begin next year.

The EU official said the programme will provide capacity building for the security forces in the region.

According to Caloghirou, it will also seek to enhance the Caribbean financial action task force, as well as the implementation of social programmes.

He said the EU recognises that the European bloc is suffering because of drugs being smuggled to that region through Caribbean waters.

Caloghirou said the EU is forging partnerships with other international in the Caribbean drug smuggling fight.

In the meantime, Caloghirou said the EU is tracking the crime situation in Jamaica and has noted the improvements.

The EU official has confirmed that following the 2010 west Kingston operation, money allocated to Jamaica for projects under European Partnership Agreement was diverted to help in Tivoli aftermath.

However, he said Jamaica recently got a 20 per cent bonus or an additional 22 million Euros because it has been meeting its objectives with the bloc.