The United States has called on several Caribbean Community (CARICOM) governments to beef up their legislation regarding the illegal drugs trade as well as track down major narcotics traffickers and to dismantle their organizations.

In the 2009 Department of State’s International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), Washington reported on the efforts by CARICOM countries to deal with the trade drug trade in that year.

The reports said that drug interdictions in Trinidad and Tobago remained difficult, in part due to the lack of effective legislation in combating crime and narco-trafficking. Thus, “civil forfeiture legislation would allow the government to seize funds and/or assets identified as proceeds of illegal activities. This would also allow the proceeds to be used to fund certain law enforcement activities.”

The report noted that with criminal gang activity a major concern for Trinidad and Tobago government, the criminal enterprise legislation would also allow each member of a criminal organization to be charged for illegal acts committed by any one member of the organization, if it can be shown that one member committed the criminal act in furtherance of, or in support of the criminal organization.

Washington said that it was encouraging the government of Suriname to continue to pursue major narcotics traffickers and to dismantle their organizations, and to build on and strengthen its regional and international cooperation to date. in order to achieve greater results, Suriname needs to continue capacity-building measures of its counternarcotics-focused units, to monitor and protect its porous borders and vast interior with a radar detection system and adequate air support.

In Jamaica, the report notes that gang-led violent crime and corruption will continue to pose a significant threat to social stability in that country. It said that the government is exploring legislation to criminalize participation in organized crime gangs.

According to the report, in order for the Bruce Golding government to successfully investigate, prosecute and convict corrupt officials at all levels of government service, it needs to ensure that the Anti-Corruption Special Prosecutor, the JCF Anti-Corruption Branch and the FID are independent, fully resourced and backed by political will.

“We also encourage the government of Jamaica to support the Commissioner of Police to implement the reform recommendations of the Ministry of National Security’s Strategic Review of the Jamaica Constabulary Force to ensure a professional non-corrupt organization.

Washington said that it welcomes the Bahamian government’s strong commitment to joint counternarcotics efforts and to extradite drug traffickers to the United States, but added: “Unfortunately, momentum in 2008 was hampered by an understaffed and under funded Drug Secretariat and devastation by Hurricane Ike, especially in Great Inagua.”

The report urged the Hubert Ingraham government to further enhance its drug control efforts by integrating Creole speakers into the various law enforcement agencies dealing with drugs and by working with Haitian National Police officers to be stationed in Great Inagua to develop information on Haitian drug traffickers transiting the Bahamas.

Haiti, which was hit by a devastating earthquake on Jan. 12, has been told that it must continue the reform and expansion of the unit dealing with drug interdiction and step up the reform of its judicial system as prerequisites for effective counternarcotics operations throughout the country.

“The government of Haiti must follow through by demonstrating the political will to fight corruption within state institutions and to overcome the under-resourcing and under-staffing of the (drug) unit, problems which remain major impediments to sustained progress,” according to the report.

The report also recommended that Belize pass and implement pending legislation requesting wider authority relative to intelligence collection and electronic intercepts and a Chemical Precursors Control Act with punitive sanctions. It also suggested that the country adequately fund and train prosecutors in the public prosecutors office as well as police prosecutors in narcotics cases.

Washington said it would provide significant support in the coming year under the Merida Initiative—a partnership between the governments of the United States, Mexico, Central America, Haiti and the Dominican Republic - to confront the violent national and transnational gangs and organized criminal and narcotics trafficking organizations that plague the entire region.