Prime Minister Andrew Holness leaves the island today (April 16) for Trinidad and Tobago where he will participate in the inaugural regional security conference.

The Caricom conference comes as the region grapples with heightened transnational criminal activities.

Prime Minister Holness has said crime should be treated as a health emergency and that regional leaders should collaborate to tackle the problem.

The security summit will address crime and violence as a public health issue and will be staged under the theme, ‘The crime challenge: “none of us is safe until all of us are safe.” ‘

The meeting was announced following the recently held forty-fourth regular meeting of the conference of heads of government in February in the Bahamas.

The two-day event will be hosted by the government of Trinidad and Tobago in the capital Port of Spain from April 17 to 18.

Ahead of his departure Prime Minister Holness noted that organised crime is primarily committed by transnational groups involved in the drug trade, advanced fraud, and other illicit money and drug trading activities.

He said it is therefore very important that Caricom countries begin to show a high level of collaboration and cooperation by sharing information and best practices.

The prime minister will return to the island on Wednesday, April 19.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang will be in charge of the government until his return.