The US Agency for International Development USAID launched the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative CBSI on February 24th 2023. Three programs will run in Saint Lucia as part of the Initiative. The programs include the Eastern and Southern Caribbean Opportunities to Advance and Support Youth for Success OASIS. The Youth Resilience, Inclusion and Empowerment Activity for Saint Lucia and Cari-Secure 2.0.
USAID representative Sarah Walter indicated that this is in response to the global increase in crime and violence over the last 5 years.
She explained, “The Cari-Secure 2.0 project will reduce human Trafficking affecting young people who are trafficked by criminal organizations. United Nations Development Program UNDP will be implementing this project and they will be working with various agencies in Saint Lucia to improve their ability to identify and investigate and to prosecute cases of human trafficking.”
The other two (2) initiatives launched place specific focus on youth empowerment.
According to Walter, “The Youth resilience, improvement and empowerment program or YRIE as we call it will be implemented by Development Associates International DAI and it will work with young people and their families both within their communities and with national government and other partners. That’s going to reduce youth involvement in crime and violence. By working with youth who are at a higher risk on engaging in crime and violence the YRIE program aims to steer youth into more productive pathways.”
The OASIS project will focus on juvenile justice reform. This will be implemented by the OECS commission.