Five Caribbean countries sign regional arrest treaty

Leaders of five Caribbean countries have formally signed their nations up to the Caribbean Arrest Treaty.

Grenada, Guyana, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia were the signatories.

Guyana’s Department of Public Information said the objective of the treaty is “to establish within the Caribbean Community a system of arrest and surrender of requested persons for the purposes of conducting a criminal prosecution for an applicable offence.”

The ability to uphold custodial sentences where those convicted have fled from justice after being sentenced is also covered in the treaty.

A draft form of document was first presented in Guyana, when the country hosted the Intersessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in February this year.

At the same meeting the treat was presented for ratification.

At a post-cabinet press briefing in the same month, Guyana’s Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, said, “The adoption of this treaty will simplify the procedures by which fugitives from justice are returned to participating member states, to face criminal prosecution or serve judicial sentences.”

The treaty is one of the regional security instruments designed enhance cooperation between member states in the fight against crime and to reduce the complexity, cost and delays in the existing extradition arrangements within the region.

Ten other member states are yet to sign on to the agreement.