Pubdate: Sat, 06 Jul 2013
Source: Trinidad Guardian, The (Trinidad)
Copyright: 2013 The Trinidad Guardian
Contact:  http://www.guardian.co.tt/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2982
Author: Raphael John-Lall

OAS URGES CARIBBEAN TO SERIOUSLY ADDRESS DRUG TRADE

Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS) Jose 
Miguel Insulza says the Caribbean region needs to have a serious 
debate about the drug problem. "It is very important that the 
discussions that we started at the assembly of the OAS only a month 
ago can open a way for a debate on the matter. We have been worrying 
about the issue of drugs for the last 40 years. A lot of drugs were 
confiscated in 2010, but half of the cocaine that was produced was 
confiscated. Sadly, the drug trade continues," Insulza said.

Insulza was speaking on the second day of the 34th Regular Meeting of 
the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community 
(Caricom) at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre, St Ann's, on 
Thursday. He referred to the report titled The Drug Problem of the 
Americas which he presented to experts on the eradication of drug 
abuse in the US last week.

Copies were sent to all heads of governments of the region also, he 
said. "Something has to be done with regard to the use of drugs and 
reducing the violence." He said the drug problem exists throughout 
the region but each country has its own specific situation. "In 
Central America only three per cent of the drugs produced is consumed 
in that region, but the violence there is high. In Chile the drug use 
is high, but the violence is low. But we must find out why in each 
country the problem is different," he said.

He said at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine 
campus at the end of July there would be a conference on the OAS Drug 
Report. "The National Drug Council of T&T will participate and 
representatives of the OAS," he said.
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