Member of Parliament Faction Leader of the National Alliance George Pantophlet says that the extraordinary meeting held in Ecuador of the commission on the safety or the security of citizens, prevention and combating drug trafficking, terrorism and organized crime held on August 1st and 2nd in Cuenca, Ecuador proves the importance of working together as a region but not only regional but also on an international level.
In preparing for the mega event which will take place sometime in the month of May 2013 in Panama at the inauguration of the new building (Parlatino Headquarters) an agenda appoint was established consisting of 5 points (freely translated):
1. Analysis of the causes, diagnostics and perspectives of the insecurity of the citizens in Latin America and the Caribbean.
2. Influences of Organized crime in Latin America and the Caribbean, transnational threats, drug trafficking, money laundering, human rights, trafficking in arms and explosives, youth delinquency and gangs.
3. Incidence of corruption in police establishments, judicial, legislative and of executive of government, mechanism of cooperation in inter-institutional, regional and international and combating of common delinquency and organized crime.
4. The role of Parliaments in the construction of the Marco regulatory law and control of the political institutions responsible for the security of citizens.
5. Evaluation of the prison systems and other alternatives such as the rehabilitation of persons who have been deprived of their freedom.
The members of the Justice committee were given assignment to research the causes and possible solutions of the aforementioned points. Mention was made by one of the members of the committee that we should analyze the environment and all security threats.
The entire meeting focused on the security of the citizens. The matter of drug trafficking, arms trafficking, terrorism and organized crime affects all citizens. It is a worldwide problem and has increased criminal activities and which make citizens afraid to leave their homes at night. The outcome of this is that it has an adverse effect on the economy.
In one of the cities in Ecuador they have recently recruited 65 new persons to strengthen their police force.
One of the highlights of the meeting was the discussion surrounding the prison system. In a particular country it was disclosed there is a new system that is being used to rehabilitate prisoners. Statistics have proven that only 2% of those prisoners that followed the new program returned to prison.
While those of the old system some 85% were repeat offenders. Every country has its own system but if needs be it has to be revised to deal with the present situation. We do not need to reinvent the wheel. There are many organizations that are already dealing with these matters. The idea is one of synchronization and inclusion. We must know what problems each country faces and find a united approach towards solving them.
This is where a member of the committee explained is the real importance of Human Rights especially as it regards to prisoners, that they are paid for their labor, educated properly and prepared to return to civil society.
Another matter of grave importance which was not surprising to me and brought up by some members of Parliament during the meetings was the lack of information being given to parliament by the Executive branch of Government. Solving this problem is proving to be difficult indeed. Parliament can only give proper directives based on all and accurate information.
A report has to be ready by October 31 of this year and submitted to the commission with the causes and possible solutions. Argentina, St. Maarten and Suriname will be responsible for Agenda point #4. We have to find out if the present laws are able to deal with the combating of corruption in the region, How to punish corruption between the authorities and organized youth crimes in the prisons. What advances have been made in penalizing the actions of judges who have fallen prey to organized crime?
In closing, the effect of globalization has made every crime known to man a threat to our society. And it is only by having proper legislation, and making a united effort can we combat this.