Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin has underscored the urgency of tackling emerging drug threats, warning that Antigua and Barbuda cannot “bury our heads in the sand like an ostrich” when it comes to protecting its people and its tourism brand built on “sun, sand, sea, safety and security.”
His comments were made at the opening of a regional workshop aimed at bolstering the country’s Early Warning System, which was launched in October 2021 to monitor and respond to emerging psychoactive substances.
The three-day training, supported by the Organisation of American States (OAS) and funded by the Government of Italy, brings together experts from Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, and St. Lucia.
Sessions will focus on improving coordination among agencies, strengthening the role of forensic laboratories, and equipping law enforcement with strategies to detect synthetic drugs and opioids before they circulate on the streets.
The initiative comes at a critical time. Across North America, opioids such as fentanyl have claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, while the Caribbean has already recorded troubling incidents. In 2023, Argentina reported 24 deaths linked to cocaine laced with carfentanyl.
Officials say the workshop is part of a broader regional push to enhance drug monitoring and ensure Caribbean states are not caught unprepared for the next wave of narcotics threats.
It’s good to have the system, but it must be paired with strong enforcement and community education. Otherwise, warnings alone won’t solve the problem.
What kind of drugs is he talking about, cocaine or pharmaceuticals?
We need to stop giving people duty free and taking money from them under the table
Drugs are destroying our families and young people. We really need to do what ever it takes to protect our population
Protecting our people is protecting our tourism. Safety is everything.
Don’t wait for fentanyl to reach our kids before acting. Strike first.
ok Cutie Steadroy Benjamine