Above: Port of Spain
By the Caribbean Journal staff
Trinidad is currently hosting a delegation from the United States for the third Caribbean-United States Cooperation Dialogue on Wednesday.
The dialogue marks the third year of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, a partnership launched by President Barack Obama in Trinidad in 2008 at the Fifth Summit of the Americas.
Through CBSI, the US, CARICOM countries and the Dominican Republic are working to reduce illicit trafficking, increase public safety and security and “promote social justice,” according to a State Department media note.
Liliana Ayalde, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs is leading the delegation, which includes Ambassador to Guyana and Special Representative to CARICOM D Brent Hardt, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Carol Perez; USAID Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean Beth Hogan; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Deputy Assistant Director John Torres; U.S. Southern Command Deputy Director for Intelligence Operations (J2) Captain James Roick; and U.S. Northern Command Foreign Policy Advisor Ambassador W. Stuart Symington.
The delegation will meet with government officials and civil society representatives. It will be in the country until Dec. 6.