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June 19th, 2007
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Address by Honourable Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago at the Experts Forum - “Security and Competitiveness in a Global Environment”, The Preston Auditorium, World Bank Headquarters, Washington DC
Wednesday 20th June 2007SECURITY AND COMPETITIVENESS
Heads of Government
Distinguished ladies and Gentlemen
We meet here to discuss the question of development and security, and more particularly that of Caribbean security and competitiveness in the global environment. The correlation between security and global competitiveness has existed long before the current era of globalization. There was a time, long ago, when security and competitiveness were perceived purely in terms of a nation’s advantage over its neighbours and in the parochial context of its own requirements. The next man’s problem or that facing the other nation was its best advantage.
The modern history of the Caribbean began on such a basis, under the various exclusives established by one European colonizer after another, beginning in the fifteenth century. Today competitiveness revolves around more delicate and complex issues, located primarily in the ability of a country to participate effectively and sustainably in the global economy. Today therefore, there is no doubt about the growing interdependence among nation states in the global economy. However
this interdependence has also precipitated many vulnerabilities. This is the nature of the challenge currently facing our region, our hemisphere, and indeed the wider world on the question of security.
During the past decade security concerns have resonated across borders. It is of course a multi-dimensional issue. Some aspects relate to the threats posed by global pandemics, natural disasters and our disregard for the environment; others, relate to our inhumanity to our fellowmen. In this regard, crime and violence within our borders and transnational crimes connected to the trade in narcotics remain intractable challenges. Breaches of internet security continue to reflect our vulnerability in the information age. Meanwhile, the threat of terrorism has never been more widespread and profound and has affected us all.
The world still recoils at the horror of September 11, 2001. No sooner had this tragedy occurred than we were visited by similar events in several places, including Bali, Spain and London. Recall also the averted terrorist plots on London’s Heathrow Airport in August 2006 and Fort Dix, New Jersey in May 2007. Earlier this month, a plot was uncovered, allegedly to destroy New York’s JFK International Airport’s fuel storage facilities and associated consequences. There have also been reports concerning a tactic labelled as petro-terrorism, through which terrorist groups aim to target and disrupt global energy markets.
The Caribbean may have been spared the brutality of 9/11 and even now our hearts go out to the victims of this bloody outrage and other such tragedies. But even so, we must recognize that there are no longer any safe havens. The human family is under attack. We must all be our brother’s keeper. There, unfortunately, is no other option.
The link between security and competitiveness is real. The effects of these deleterious developments are, for us, greatly reflected in the impact on our economies. There are obvious vulnerabilities associated with our geographical location and our nature as small, island states. What is more, we have always been historically defenceless against the magnitude, complexity and speed with which global markets react to security threats.
After 9/11 there was an immediate and almost catastrophic downturn in tourism on which so many of our regional economies depend. Our difficulties manifested themselves further, out of the adoption of the International Ship and Port Facilities Security Compliance Code of 2002, which came into force in July 2004. These were the new safety standards against terrorism. The rules of international competitiveness were now altered.
The challenge continues. The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code will enter into force on January 1, 2008. Although directed primarily at maritime transport, this Code has become the mandatory framework for all aspects of the handling of dangerous goods and pollutants during shipping. Its provisions are likely to affect a wide range of industries and services, as they contain authoritative advice on classification, stowage, packing, labelling and emergency response action.
In seeking to develop policies and other measures to meet today’s security challenges, small states such as ours in CARICOM are confronted with the paradox of globalisation and interdependence. Competitiveness and security compete for our very scarce and limited resources, exposing us to challenges with which we are far less able to cope when compared to developed countries.
Becoming competitive in the global environment mandates all nations, large or small, to acquire and integrate the best technological applications available to secure their interests. But, as we all know, bio-technology can be mobilized by both manufacturers and cyber-criminals to pursue very different objectives. Geospatial technology is available not only to farmers to plan their production schedules, but also to individuals conducting surveillance to develop a terrorist plot or to evade law enforcement agencies, especially in the drug trade. The law-breakers and the law-abiding all use the cell phone and the internet for different ends.
And yet, the failure to utilize available technological resources exposes our citizens to the ravages of human insecurity. In Trinidad and Tobago, we have installed and activated a 360 degree radar surveillance system to counter the illegal trafficking of drugs, arms and ammunition. In anticipation of the threat that may be posed to our CARICOM neighbours in the Eastern Caribbean if the drug traffickers divert their operations there – as they tend to do from time to time when under pressure from one law enforcement jurisdiction - we propose to expand this system to offer coverage to Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia, which is of course in our collective interest.
Further, in order to ensure that we can respond to any threats identified through our enhanced surveillance capability, we are acquiring and will integrate into our domestic operations Offshore Patrol Vessels, Fast Patrol Craft, Interceptors and armed helicopters to compliment the radar surveillance system, with an interdiction capability.
The initiative by Trinidad and Tobago to share our security technology and capabilities with our neighbours in the southern Caribbean constitutes one dimension of a far broader process of cooperation among CARICOM Member States in the implementation of a regional crime and security agenda. Barbados, which is also upgrading and modernising its surveillance and interdiction capability, has too offered to share those with the Eastern Caribbean.
Only recently, to coincide with the advent of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, a Framework for the Management of Crime and Security in our region was approved at the Twenty Sixth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in 2005. One year later, the Twenty Seventh Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government established the nerve centre of this framework, what is known as the Implementation Agency for Crime and Security.
Since establishing these two mechanisms, our region has had the opportunity to test them as part of our hosting of the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup Tournament, 2007. The review of the regional operations for the 2007 Cricket World Cup Tournament is very encouraging, primarily in terms of the improvements which have been identified in the coordination and collaboration among our law enforcement and security agencies throughout the CARICOM region.
As a result we shall build on this foundation. Unless we do so, the upsurge of criminal activity in our region will pose a serious threat to the security of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. Moreover, in light of the alleged plot to bomb facilities at the JFK International Airport, our region has taken the initiative to establish a regional mechanism to combat terrorism.
CARICOM States recognize fully the need to develop a more comprehensive and coordinated approach to ensuring our security and competitiveness in the face of new and emerging challenges to regional, global and hemispheric security. We are collectively prepared unreservedly to utilize every facet of our available resources.
In the current scenario of escalating crime across the hemisphere, and having regard to the multi dimensional nature of the security challenge before us, CARICOM Heads of Government have now declared security as the Fourth Pillar on which to jointly pursue the development and progress of our region. The other three Pillars are Foreign Policy, Trade and Economic Development and Functional Co-operation. Steps are currently being taken to incorporate the recognition of this Fourth Pillar in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. Our initiative in this respect reflects our appreciation of the connection between security and competitiveness.
The security challenge has its effects on the optimal use of our resources, growth potential and global competitiveness. Several countries in our hemisphere have found themselves trailing behind in global competitiveness under the pressure of spiralling crime waves. Here in the Caribbean the principal challenge has been the drug trade.
I concur with the view of the Joint Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Latin America and Caribbean Region of the World Bank, that the Caribbean has been “caught in the cross fire of international drug trafficking.”
Our situation has been compounded by the approach of some nations who, in order to cope with their security challenge, have adopted a policy of deportation - which has been far from adequately worked out with respect to the required level of consultation and collaboration with our Caribbean neighbours.
In spite of our best efforts in the region our vulnerability persists. The appropriate response has to be our shared commitment to the establishment, operation and maintenance of a comprehensive, collective and collaborative regional security infrastructure with our larger, more developed partners.
During the past three years, CARICOM and the United States of America have engaged in bilateral discussions and cooperation on the issues of border security, maritime security, airport and port security, tourism security, counter-terrorism, disaster response and health security.
The experience has been that some of the imperatives adopted by CARICOM Member States in order to fulfill their bilateral and multilateral commitments also facilitate the challenges we are seeking to address.
Overall, the greatest dilemma confronting the small states of the Caribbean is the vulnerability associated with the simultaneous pursuit of the global and hemispheric imperative of greater openness on the one hand, and increased regional integration on the other. The kinks and disjunctures have to be straightened out and brought into alignment in the interest of all.
Located as we are as an archipelagic space between the northern and southern territories of our hemisphere we have historically been a zone of transshipment for contraband, illegal drugs and ammunition, and, more recently, illegal trafficking in humans. Additionally, modern structural challenges stem also from financial flows. It has become quite trite for law-breakers to engage in money laundering, the use of alternative remittance systems, cyber-crimes and ATM fraud.
These avenues continue to be exploited by criminal elements, especially drug traffickers, despite heavy losses caused by mega drug-busts and interdictions.
Recently, a former source of assistance was lost with the withdrawal of International Military Education and Training, which affected the countries of our region. The recent decision by the President of the United States of America to remove some of the restriction on military assistance to our region is to be commended. CARICOM Heads of Government look forward, however, to further adjustments in our favour.
Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen, at base, the challenge in the development of a Caribbean security policy lies in our being invested with the wherewithal to manage the imperatives of openness and also to satisfy the necessity to provide a safe and secure environment for our citizens, and, just as well, those visiting our shores. The guarantee of our security lies at the heart of the ability of CARICOM member states to mount and sustain a platform of global competitiveness.
In Trinidad and Tobago, in the pursuit of our bright economic future, and in recognition of the security challenge, we have been investing heavily in development programmes.
We have been focusing on our young people. After all, they are the future. In the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, as indeed across the Caribbean, initiatives towards political, legal and judicial, police and prison reforms, greater citizens’ participation, and the reduction of poverty and inequality are being engaged to increase security and enhance democracy.
However, in seeking to position ourselves in a competitive global economy, CARICOM Member States have acknowledged the multidimensional nature of the security challenge and will continue to engage other countries and regional blocs in maintaining our viability.
The collective integrity and resolve which must govern the deliberations of this forum should provide us with new, practical platforms and initiatives for developing and sustaining our region’s security and competitiveness in the global environment.
We can afford no less. We must not let this opportunity escape us.
Heads of government, distinguished ladies and gentlemen. I thank you very much for you attention.
May God bless you all.