Address drug trade

THE Caribbean region needs to have a serious debate about the drug problem, says Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza.

He was at the time making his contribution to the recent 34th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

“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 sadly, the drug trade continues,” Insulza said.

Referring to the report ‘The Drug Problem of the Americas’, he pointed out that the consumption of cocaine paste, crack, inhalants, amphetamines and the abuse of legal drugs has increased, also indicating that this consumption generates some 151 billion dollars in drug retail alone in the hemisphere.

Mr. Insulza also acknowledged that the drug problem exists throughout the region, but each country has
its own specific situation.

“We are united by our concern because the relationship between drugs and violence is one of the main causes of fear amongst our citizens and has contributed to making security one of the most worrying issues for the citizens of the entire hemisphere.

“This situation must be faced with greater realism and effectiveness if we want to move forward successfully.

“All of us who hold public responsibilities owe it to the millions of women and men, young and old, mothers and fathers, girls and boys, who today feel threatened to find clear answers and effective
public policies to confront this scourge,” he expressed. (TL)