Caribbean and United States officials meet to discuss national security issues

Mrs Astona Browne (photo by Erasmus Williams)

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, APRIL 14TH 2010 (CUOPM) – Caribbean nations and the United States begin discussions on national security issues this week.

The discussions will take place at the Fourth Meeting of the CARICOM Joint Working Group for Caribbean-US Dialogue on Regional Security Cooperation at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. on Thursday 15th and Friday 16th April.

Chair of the CARICOM Security Management Committee and Permanent Secretary in the St. Kitts and Nevis Ministry of National Security, Mrs. Astona Browne, and her regional counterparts will discuss a draft Caribbean-United States Strategic Priorities Goals and a Framework for Security Cooperation Engagement.

Also down for discussion are a draft Declaration of Principles for a Caribbean-United States Security Cooperation Partnership and a draft Plan of Action on Security Cooperation.

Officials will also break into working groups to discuss maritime domain awareness, improved law enforcement cooperation and capacity, preventing crime by focusing on youth and other vulnerable populations.