On the second day of a three-day state visit to Belize, President Irfaan Ali today called for greater cooperation among small states especially in the areas of security to stem illegal activities and transnational crime.

Addressing a Joint Sitting of the Parliament of Belize this afternoon, the President said while there are concerns among small states about safeguarding their autonomy, those small states must also realize the importance of cooperation where interests align.

He said partnership and autonomy when perused could be mutually beneficial.

“This is especially true in the area of security, cooperation is essential to protecting our societies and economies from transnational criminal networks engaged in trafficking of weapons, people and illicit goods,” the President noted.

Several CARICOM countries in recent months have been locked in disagreements on how transnational crime in the region could be addressed.

But for President Ali, more cooperation among regional and international stakeholders is the best formula to stem transnational crime in the region.

He stated that countries like Guyana and Belize find themselves located along routes that are exploited by criminal networks.

“These threats do not respect borders; they therefore require co-ordinated responses. Transnational problem demands transitional solutions. It is imperative that small states actively pursue cooperation with regional and international partners who share a common interest in preventing, disrupting and dismantling organized criminal activities,” the President said.

Such cooperation, the President said, strengthens national capacity and enhances collective security. He said sovereignty is not diminished by cooperation but is weakened by isolation and vulnerability

“Through partnership grounded in mutual respect, small states are better able to protect their people, their institutions and their future,” the Head of State pointed out.

In addition, the President noted that another pillar to ensure the strength of small states lies in democracy and open economy and further urged greater push for Caribbean unity, saying that many of the challenges that face the region could only be addressed through unity.

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