ODC PROGRAMME IN THE CARIBBEAN: BASIC FACTS

NOVEMBER 2002

THE CARIBBEAN

493,440

723,700

200,000

340,000

14,68565,600

568,393

399,073

325,000

244,777

830,114

244,900

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

800,000

900,000

Can. Den. DomRep EU France Ire. Net. Spain Sweden UK USA UNAIDS

DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO ONGOING PROJECTS IN THE CARIBBEAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. ODC Programme in the Caribbean, Overview ............................................................... 1 2. Summary of Ongoing Activities .................................................................................... 3 3. Table: Ongoing Programme in the Caribbean ............................................................... 8 4. Chart: Project Expenditures in the Caribbean 1990-2001 (by year) .............................. 9 5. Chart: Contributions to ODC Ongoing Projects in the Caribbean ................................ 10

6. Staff of the Latin America and the Caribbean Programme of the

ODC offices in Vienna and Barbados ........................................................................... 11

ODC PROGRAMME IN THE CARIBBEAN

OVERVIEW

Situation analysis The Caribbean region is a major transit area for illicit drugs, primarily cocaine. These drugs are produced in South America, des-tined for markets worldwide. Small Carib-bean jurisdictions are extremely vulnerable to the influence of drug trafficking at the politi-cal, economic and social levels. International drug trafficking has contributed to drug abuse, and has increased crime and violence at the local level. Drug-related corruption and money laundering remain problems in many countries. In 1996, the Caribbean region and other inter-ested partners came together in Bridgetown, Barbados to formulate the “Plan of Action for Drug Control Coordination and Cooperation in the Caribbean” (Barbados Plan of Action). The plan recommends specific action regard-ing each of the major drug control areas, rang-ing from demand reduction to maritime coop-eration. It has provided the framework for re-gion-specific data collection and analysis, and regional consultation at the political and tech-nical levels. The plan has served as the basis for the activities of ODC in the Caribbean since 1996. It was acknowledged that the Barbados Plan of Action is more than five years old and that there is a need for continued coordination and cooperation. Therefore, the region and its partners undertook a review of the plan to de-

termine its deficiencies and the way forward. To this end, a High-Level Meeting on Drugs and Crime was held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago in December 2001. Upon request of the Trinidad meeting, the Task Force on Crime and Drugs of the Caribbean Commu-nity (CARICOM) undertook an examination of the major causes of crime. It elaborated a set of recommendations on how to deal with related problems, illicit drugs and firearms, as well as terrorism. This strategic document was approved by the CARICOM Heads of Government in June 2002. The Task Force is now preparing an action plan focused on seven priority areas. ODC is supporting the Task Force in this effort, which should be concluded by January 2003. Objective To enhance the capacity of governments in the Caribbean to formulate and implement effec-tive national and regional drug control policies and programmes.

1

BUDGET: ONGOING PROJECTS IN THE CARIBBEAN(TOTAL US$ 4,865,800)

1.7%51.5%

46.8%

Policy supportPrevention and reduction of drug abuseSuppression of illicit drug trafficking

2%

28%70%

Policy supportPrevention and reduction of drug abuseSuppression of illicit drug trafficking

2002 ALLOCATIONS FOR ONGOING PROJECTS IN THE CARIBBEAN(TOTAL US$ 1,576,200)

Prevention activities: 165 children from communities in Jamaica received training in cricket, supervised by Courtney Walsh himself.

2

Strategy Until a new regional strategy or action plan is agreed upon, the ODC programme for the Car-ibbean will remain grounded in the Barbados Plan of Action. The ODC programme for 2002-2003 currently comprises eleven project inter-ventions in three of the four mandated drug con-trol sectors — prevention and reduction of drug abuse (demand reduction) and suppression of illicit drug trafficking and policy support, legis-lation and advocacy. There are seven projects in demand reduction and two in suppression, one that works in both of these sectors, and one project that works in policy support. In the context of the ODC Global Programme to Assess the Magnitude of Drug Abuse (GAP), a regional Epidemiology Adviser provides advice and training in data collection and research methodologies in support of the regional Carib-bean Drug Information Network (CARIDIN). Work is carried out in conjunction with the Car-ibbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) and the Inter-American Commission on Drug Abuse Control of the Organization of American States (CICAD/OAS). In the Dominican Republic, ODC works with other UN agencies to prevent drug abuse among youth and the violence associated with drug trafficking in poor neighbourhoods of selected major cities. Assistance to the drug abuse pre-vention and capacity-building efforts in demand reduction in Cuba, the Dominican Republic and

Guyana will continue throughout 2002. With support from UNAIDS, ODC has started a project that supports youth organizations in An-tigua and Barbuda and Grenada, so that they can function as agents for drug abuse and HIV/AIDS prevention among youth. In several countries of the Caribbean subregion, ODC works with different sectors of civil society. These include the church, the media and the sporting community. Joint initiatives are car-ried out to promote healthy lifestyles and raise public awareness on drug related problems. In the Dominican Republic, ODC provides judi-cial training and advice in the investigation and prosecution of drug trafficking, money launder-ing and corruption cases. In coordination with CICAD/OAS, expert advice and assistance are provided to 14 Caribbean countries for the revi-sion of precursors control legislation. Legal ad-visory assistance is provided to member states of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and Barbados. This is effected to pro-mote a better use of options for sentencing drug and drug-related crimes and to study the feasi-bility of alternatives to custodial sentences for drug dependent offenders. ODC will continue attaching great importance to promoting regional advocacy for drug control and healthy lifestyles, fostering regional drug control agreements and policies and the ex-change of experiences and best practices among countries in the region. The ODC programme in the Caribbean may be subject to revision in line with new priorities es-tablished by the Caribbean countries in the con-text of the new regional strategy. It will be sub-ject to programme and project monitoring and external evaluation. During 2002 and 2003, evaluations are planned for the following pro-jects in the Caribbean: Demand reduction pro-jects in Guyana and the Dominican Republic; Assistance in drug abuse prevention and drug control to the Government of Cuba.

Elimination of illicit drug production Policy support Prevention and reduction of drug abuse Suppression of illicit drug trafficking

0.2%

10.7%

46.9%

42.2%

PROJECT EXPENDITURES IN THE CARIBBEAN 1986-2001(TOTAL US$ 26,235,908)

SUMMARY OF ONGOING ACTIVITIES

ODC implements in the Caribbean a budget of US$ 4.8 million in three thematic areas, listed below.

1. PREVENTION AND REDUCTION OF DRUG ABUSE

3

Caribbean Regional drug control communication and advocacy programme (US$ 265,000)

� Delivery of anti-drug stories to national and regional print, radio, television and internet media services by the Carib-bean Media Corporation.

� Training of a core of 10 regional correspondents and jour-

nalists on raising the profile of drug control-related issues in the region.

� “Sports Against Drugs” campaign to promote healthy life-

styles through sports for children and youths delivered in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.

� Regional media campaign using famous sports personali-

ties as ODC Goodwill Ambassadors against drug abuse. � A church-led community drug prevention programme with

the distribution of resource kits including communication, advocacy and counselling material.

Prevention advertisement by PROPUID

National Public Forum on Decentralization in the Field of Drug Control, November 1999

� Decentralization of the execution of the Drug Abuse Prevention Programme (PROPUID) through 9 Regional Execution Units and 30 inter-institutional drug prevention committees functioning in the provinces and/or munici-palities with the participation of NGO repre-sentatives and with concrete action plans un-der implementation.

� Some 432 staff from 6 public entities and 6

NGOs at the national and provincial levels trained in drug prevention and 10 experts qualified in specialized areas of demand re-duction.

� Up-to-date guides on demand reduction meth-

odologies and educational measures in differ-ent thematic areas related to drug abuse pre-vention, treatment and rehabilitation.

Integrated drug abuse prevention system, Dominican Republic (US$ 564,700)

4

Global assessment programme on drug abuse, Caribbean component (US$ 706,600) � Together with OAS/CICAD and the European De-

velopment Fund, contribute to the Drug Abuse Epi-demiological and Surveillance System Project im-plemented by the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre, reaching most of the region.

� Support capacity building for the recently launched

Caribbean Drug Information Network. � Implementation of school surveys and needs as-

sessments of high-risk/problematic drug users in selected Caribbean countries. Facilitator workshop in St. Lucia

Drug demand reduction programme for Guyana (US$ 384,700)

� A drug education awareness programme and an early identification programme for children at risk piloted in 20 schools.

� Piloting of community-based, family-focused

drug demand reduction activities in selected communities, schools and health clinics.

� Organization of a multi-disciplinary programme

of services for street children in the three major cities Georgetown, Linden and New Amsterdam.

Drug education course, Guyana

Drug abuse prevention for youths at risk in Los Alcarrizos, Dominican Republic (US$ 169,500)

� A community profile of Los Alcarrizos (a marginal-ized district of the capital Santo Domingo), focusing on at-risk groups.

� Inclusion of drug abuse prevention in the education

programme of five schools in Los Alcarrizos. � A series of activities to sensitize the population of

the district about the risks associated with drug abuse and to promote healthy lifestyles.

� Contribute to a computer learning centre (CLC) for

the benefit of marginalized youth. � Strengthen the Community Mediation Programme in

Los Alcarrizos with training for youth mediators in drug abuse and HIV/prevention, and conflict resolu-tion.

Poor neighbourhood of Los Alcarrizos at the outskirts of Santo Domingo

5

Assistance in drug abuse prevention and drug control to the Government of Cuba — prevention component (US$ 544,200)

� Update of the National Drug Control Masterplan.

� Establishment of a Multi-disciplinary Ex-

perts Advisory Group at the National Drugs Commission.

� Establishment of a local equivalent of the

National Drug Commission. � Production and distribution of methodo-

logical and sensitization material. � Train-the-trainers programme covering

several aspects of drug abuse. � 120,000 teachers and leaders of student

organizations trained in drug abuse pre-vention.

Drug abuse prevention for youths at risk in Jamaica (US$ 169,500)

� Preparation of a situation analysis on youth at risk in two communities.

� Establishment of a permanent network

of stakeholders involved in or wishing to impact on prevention of youth substance abuse.

� Capacity-building programme for pro-

fessionals and parents to address ade-quately the needs of youth at risk.

� An “education-for-change” drug demand

reduction programme implemented for 1,200 youth between the ages of 14 and 24 and parents in two selected communi-ties of Jamaica.

6

Assistance in drug abuse prevention and drug control to the Government of Cuba — interdiction component (US$ 731,100)

� Assistance to the development and im-plementation of a law enforcement training plan.

� Provision of communications and sur-

veillance equipment in order to increase the operational response capacity of the police, customs and coastguard.

� Facilitation of international cooperation

through exchange of information.

� Legal expert advice to 14 countries, for the up-dating of precursor control legislation.

� Support to follow-up activities for the enactment

of legislation in national parliaments. � Recommendations on the mechanisms and pro-

cedures to be established for the effective imple-mentation of the legislation once in place.

Precursors test kit

2. SUPPRESSION OF ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFICKING Precursor control legislation in the Caribbean to combat illicit drug production (US$ 100,000)

Youth-centred drug abuse and HIV/AIDS prevention in Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada (US$ 244,900) � Assessment of the national drug use and HIV/AIDS situation and existing prevention strategies

according to the perspective, behaviour and needs of youth. � Implementation of a peer educators programme in order to provide proper information on the

prevention of HIV/AIDS and drug use and to promote healthy lifestyles. � Organization of alternative activities designed to attract youth in a non-structured setting facili-

tating awareness raising on the risks of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS. � Establishment of a Youth Forum to facilitate the exchange of information, to discuss issues and

problems affecting youth and to identify possible solutions.

Upgrade the judicial system to fight drug-related crime in the Dominican Republic (US$ 902,400)

� Some 360 prosecutors, investigators and banking superintendents and 35 judges trained on how to investigate and prosecute effectively money laundering and drug trafficking cases.

� Specialized training to the staff of the new Office of the Anti-Drug/Anti-Money Laundering Prosecutor.

� Specialized advice in complex cases of organized crime, money laundering and corruption.

� Assistance in the development of a judicial database and network.

� Advice to the Government on anti-corruption measures and structures.

� Advice to the national Congress on legislation against money laundering and the ratification of the UN Conventions for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (1999) and Against Or-ganized Crime (2000).

Training of prosecutors on how to investigate and prose-cute drug trafficking and money laundering cases.

3. POLICY SUPPORT Sentencing for drug-related offences in Barbados and the OECS (US$ 82,600) � Comparative assessment of current practices and alternative options in sentencing drug and

drug-related offences.

� Development of sentencing guidelines.

� Organization of a policy colloquium to seek agreement among key policy makers, those who pass sentences and other stakeholders on the way forward to improve sentencing for drug and drug-related offences.

7

STAFF OF THE LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN PROGRAMME OF THE ODC OFFICES IN VIENNA AND BARBADOS

ODC, VIENNA LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN PROGRAMME Mr. Aldo Lale-Demoz, Senior Programme Manager Ms. Cristina Albertin, Programme Manager Ms. Stefanie Eichhorn, Programme Manager Ms. Estell Osten, Programme Manager Ms. Dunya Torruella de Starzer, Technical Cooperation Assistant Ms. Marta Piana, Secretary E-Mail: aldo.lale-demoz@undcp.org Tel: 43 1 26060 5209 Fax: 43 1 26060 5952 ODC REGIONAL OFFICE, BARBADOS Mr. Flavio Mirella, Acting Representative Mr. James Shaw, Chief Technical Advisor (Dominican Republic) Mr. Jeff Cumberbatch, National Programme Officer E-Mail: flavio.mirella@undcpbb.org Tel: (001-246) 437-8732 Fax: (001-246) 437-8499

11