Watson wants more countries to join in fight against crime

The drug trade, gang violence and all the associated ills plaguing the region can be seriously dented if the other Caribbean Community territories join with the Regional Security Systems (RSS) for an all out assault against lawlessness.{{more}}

This was the view expressed by Grantley Watson, the Coordinator of the RSS.

Watson spoke to SEARCHLIGHT at the closing ceremony and party which was held at the Police training school at Old Montrose, last Friday, May 29th, in honour of the hundreds of military personnel who conducted the two week anti-crime operation dubbed Vincy-Pac.

Over 8.5 million marijuana plants, including 7.3 million seedlings, were destroyed during the operation which included personnel from the seven member countries of the RSS (St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines) and Trinidad and Tobago.

In addition to the marijuana eradication, 30 persons were arrested and 12 firearms along with 395 rounds of ammunition were discovered.

Watson, however, told SEARCHLIGHT that the success enjoyed by Vincy-Pac is just a taste of what can be achieved if the region comes closer together in security efforts.

He said that with the combined man power and resources, the various CARICOM territories can conduct more sustained assaults, have more effective “sweeps and raids”, that will be of the “magnitude that will have that real impact.”

He said that while many territories have good ideas, a lot of their offences cannot be sustained for long periods of time, which lessens their effectiveness.

He, however, told SEARCHLIGHT that he was pleased that the RSS was so effective in assisting this country in this mission-which was the largest conducted by the RSS in its 27 years’ existence.“This operation was a massive operation,” he said, adding it was also the first time a non-RSS country has joined with the RSS in an operation. (KJ)