The Guyana Police Force has welcomed the Caricom arrest warrant treaty which is slated to take effect before the end of the year, noting that it is a means of tackling cross-border crime.
Announced by Prime Minister of Dominica and Chairman of the 37th Heads of Government Conference Roosevelt Skerrit less than a week ago, the treaty is said to form part of a wider mission to improve cooperation among law enforcement authorities and to boost security in the region.
Meanwhile, speaking with members of the media after yesterday’s Annual Police Awards ceremony, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud stated that implementation of the treaty would allow the GPF to “extend its arms” to make arrests across the region. He explained that at present, the process of getting fugitives from another Caricom country is lengthy as extradition requirements have to be adhered to.
But once implemented, Persaud explained, the treaty would allow Caricom member states to act on an arrest warrant issued in another Caricom country by bypassing the normally lengthy, legal aspects of extradition.
“This treaty diverts from this extradition process, so once a warrant is issued, all the countries that sign on can pass that info to their counterparts in the other countries, make the arrest and we would be able to apprehend the suspect at the border,” he said.
Similar sentiments were shared by Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, who also weighed in on the benefits of the treaty.
“It’s a welcome initiative that would enhance our capability with regard to arresting wanted fugitives that would have fled to other Caricom countries,” he said, adding, that in the past, Guyana had been faced with several instances where fugitives who were arrested and granted bail had fled to countries in the region.
Blanhum also alluded to a particular case where a national from another Caricom country was arrested on a drug trafficking related offence here, but was able to subsequently secure bail.
He explained that after securing bail, the suspect fled Guyana and returned to his country of origin, and while efforts have been made to have that person extradited to Guyana, they are yet to bear fruit.
Elaborating on the treaty, the Dominican Prime Minister had stated that it centres on the enhancement of the region’s law enforcement’s ability to address cross-border crime.
Skerrit said, “We have placed, as a priority, the completion of the Caricom arrest warrant treaty. This is a matter we have been discussing for some time now and I believe that heads are resolved to having this particular treaty entered into before the end of 2016.
This, we believe, will enhance the security of our region and it is a matter which heads fully are in support of.”
Speaking at a press conference held at the Pegasus Hotel following the conclusion of the recent Caricom Heads of Government Summit here, Skerrit said, “If we are to enter into this treaty, if someone from Dominica wants to commit a crime in Dominica and move to St Vincent then the Vincentian authorities would be able to have him arrested and repatriated to Dominica to face charges.” He said the treaty will enhance cooperation between and among law enforcement authorities in the community. He said it will be a measure which gives law enforcement officials the ability to apprehend those who are of interest to the judicial system in their states.
