It is my pleasure to represent the United States Government at today’s launch of the CariSECURE National Task Force. The Task Force has a critical role to play in contributing to the reduction of crime and violence in Guyana and the region as a whole.
The Caribbean Citizen Security Toolkit implementation represents in depth collaboration between USAID, UNDP, host-governments, and stakeholders including the CARICOM Secretariat, the Regional Security System, and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission.
The toolkit standardizes the data collection process for crime statistics, making it possible for law enforcement personnel to implement more effective crime prevention strategies. Other benefits are enhanced communication and better-informed decision making.
The United States Government is proud to continue its long history of supporting the Government of Guyana in the areas of citizen security and youth empowerment. We are pleased with the gains made under the CariSECURE initiative to date, which is part of the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) wider Youth Empowerment Services (YES) project.
The YES project uses the public health model for youth crime and violence prevention to define the problem; target interventions to address risk and protective factors facing both communities and at-risk youth; and share results to foster evidence-based approaches to reducing youth crime and violence in Guyana and the region. The toolkit will enable policymakers to develop solutions that better target the problems.
In closing, I applaud the Government of Guyana and, in particular, Minister Ramjattan, for his continued support and leadership. The United States Government remains committed to partnering with the Government of Guyana, as well as with local partners on the ground, to support initiatives that effectively reduce and prevent youth involvement in violence and crime.
Thank you.
