Ambassador shares views on fighting crime

CIVIL recovery legislation provides a new, modern approach to fighting crime.

That is the view of United States Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Dr. Larry Palmer. He told those attending the opening ceremony of the Civil Recovery Workshop last week Wednesday morning at the Courtyard Marriott, that just as criminals are becoming ever more sophisticated and innovative in how they operate, so must the authorities.

US Ambassador Dr. Larry Palmer.

The Ambassador noted that over the past ten years, transnational criminal organisations have established vast global networks and have been making immense profits through a wide range of illicit activities and threatening acts.

“These transnational criminal organisations use sophisticated methods that are extremely difficult to detect and destroy. We must begin our effort to disrupt transnational organised crime by looking inward and recognising what steps each of us can take to fight this problem. Each country must play its part and to do so, each country needs a strategy and the willpower to implement it,” he stated.

The United States representative noted that the Eastern Caribbean is not immune to these issues and, in fact, faces a substantial threat from organised criminal groups, resulting in the degradation of economies and communities. He noted that the youth, in particular, are targeted and lured into a life of crime, because they are enticed by money, possessions and riches that send the message that crime does pay.

“[But], if we cannot prosecute criminals because they have the means to distance themselves from the criminal activities, then let’s disrupt their organisations a different way. Let’s target the criminal property and take away enabling factors: Mainly, the money. By taking the financial gain out of crime, we also take away much of the incentive to commit crimes in the first place,” he contended.

Palmer noted that civil recovery legislation has proven extremely effective in many countries such as the United States of America, South Africa, Italy, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and he lauded Dominica for introducing such legislation to their statute books recently. (JRT)