§ Lord Mottistoneasked Her Majesty's Government:
What measures are being taken to tackle the drugs trade in the Caribbean.
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (The Earl of Caithness)The UK is active in promoting effective measures to tackle the drugs trade in the Caribbean, especially in the Dependent Territories. We have provided practical help, training and technical advice to enable countries to address every aspect of the threat. We have also recently undertaken a survey of drug trafficking and abuse problems in the anglophone Eastern Caribbean. The survey makes a number of recommendations including: the provision of specialist equipment to the Trinidad and Tobago Drugs Squad; the appointment of a Regional Customs Adviser and Training Officer; and advisory visits by the UK Demand Reduction Task Force. The action we are taking to implement these recommendations is a demonstration of Her Majesty's Government's continuing commitment to help the countries of the region deal with the scourge of drugs.