More border security in Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic

FIIAPP, together with European Union authorities and the EU delegations to Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic have held a launch seminar regarding the cross-border security programme in Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.

The seminar, which was held partly in-person and partly virtually, was led by representatives of the Dominican Republic including the vice minister of international cooperation, the head of the EU delegation and the EU ambassador, ministers of the interior and security from the three partner countries and FIIAPP’s director of security, peace and development.

The highest authorities from the three countries thanked FIIAPP for its commitment to the project and putting personnel on the ground, who have been implementing activities from the first day on the border despite the complications posed by the spread of the pandemic.

The programme, which forms a part of the “Crime and Security” axis of the CARIFORUM Regional Indicative Programme, is scheduled to last three years and is backed by European funding totalling five million euros.

The priority is to increase regional security in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica by strengthening the management and exchange of information between state security agencies, forces and bodies and improving the supervision capabilities at land and maritime borders in order to combat transnational organised crime.

To this end, the investigative skills of the state security agencies, forces and bodies will be strengthened, as will their capacity to promote coordinated operational actions that enhance prevention in the fight against human trafficking and the identification and interception of criminal organisations. The planned activities will promote the exchange of information and experiences, both within the region and with the EU.