T
The420Guy
Guest
THE US embassy here yesterday announced a J$57-million grant to Jamaica to
strengthen the island's anti-narcotics programme by providing training and
equipment for law enforcement agencies and repairing Jamaican Coast Guard
vessels.
The embassy said that the agreement for the funds, although only now being
announced, was signed a week ago, on August 2, by Ambassador Sue Cobb and
Jamaica's national security minister, Dr Peter Phillips.
Phillips has made the anti-narcotics drive his central strategy since
assuming the portfolio last November, on the basis that drug smuggling is
the major contributor to the country's serious problem of violent crime and
the source of most of its illegal guns.
Jamaica, because of its geographic location, has become a major
transshipment point for cocaine from South America to North America and
Europe. Law enforcement officials estimate that up to 10 per cent of the
cocaine produced in Colombia passes through the island.
Phillips, as part of his initiative, has quickly forged strong alliances
with the British, who are pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into
training and equipment for Jamaica's law enforcement agencies. He is
attempting to do the same with the United States.
The Americans, in their statement, pointed out, however that yesterday's $57
million to the anti-narcotics programme was in addition to J$106 million the
US government provided last year to support the island's anti-narcotics
progamme.
The money now being made available will provide the Jamaica Defence Force
Coast Guards with advanced training from the US Coast Guard, new equipment
and maintenance for its boats.
The agreement, the embassy said, will also boost the Jamaica Constabulary
Force's investigative abilities, particularly in case investigation,
analysis and record-keeping. It will also strengthen as well, its
counter-narcotics, ganja eradication and fugitive apprehension programmes.
The US has also promised help to improve Jamaica's port security and will
also fund a survey to determine the extent of drug use in Jamaica.
~~~~~ ~~~ ~ ~~~ ~~~~~
Paul Chang
Legalize Ganja Campaign Jamaica
National Alliance for the Legalization of Ganja in Jamaica
NORML Jamaica
Jamaica Observer
Saturday August 10 2002
Jamaica Observer: Jamaican News Online – the Best of Jamaican Newspapers - JamaicaObserver.com
strengthen the island's anti-narcotics programme by providing training and
equipment for law enforcement agencies and repairing Jamaican Coast Guard
vessels.
The embassy said that the agreement for the funds, although only now being
announced, was signed a week ago, on August 2, by Ambassador Sue Cobb and
Jamaica's national security minister, Dr Peter Phillips.
Phillips has made the anti-narcotics drive his central strategy since
assuming the portfolio last November, on the basis that drug smuggling is
the major contributor to the country's serious problem of violent crime and
the source of most of its illegal guns.
Jamaica, because of its geographic location, has become a major
transshipment point for cocaine from South America to North America and
Europe. Law enforcement officials estimate that up to 10 per cent of the
cocaine produced in Colombia passes through the island.
Phillips, as part of his initiative, has quickly forged strong alliances
with the British, who are pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into
training and equipment for Jamaica's law enforcement agencies. He is
attempting to do the same with the United States.
The Americans, in their statement, pointed out, however that yesterday's $57
million to the anti-narcotics programme was in addition to J$106 million the
US government provided last year to support the island's anti-narcotics
progamme.
The money now being made available will provide the Jamaica Defence Force
Coast Guards with advanced training from the US Coast Guard, new equipment
and maintenance for its boats.
The agreement, the embassy said, will also boost the Jamaica Constabulary
Force's investigative abilities, particularly in case investigation,
analysis and record-keeping. It will also strengthen as well, its
counter-narcotics, ganja eradication and fugitive apprehension programmes.
The US has also promised help to improve Jamaica's port security and will
also fund a survey to determine the extent of drug use in Jamaica.
~~~~~ ~~~ ~ ~~~ ~~~~~
Paul Chang
Legalize Ganja Campaign Jamaica
National Alliance for the Legalization of Ganja in Jamaica
NORML Jamaica
Jamaica Observer
Saturday August 10 2002
Jamaica Observer: Jamaican News Online – the Best of Jamaican Newspapers - JamaicaObserver.com
