ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Jun 11 2015 – Antigua & Barbuda could lose the support of the world’s largest police organisation –INTERPOL – as it has not paid the compulsory annual statutory contribution.
Public Safety Minister Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin said the fee, which was not paid last year, was also unpaid for several years prior.
He said INTERPOL recently wrote to his office to inform him of the situation.
“(They’re) reminding us that we have not paid either for 2014, and as a matter of fact, we haven’t subscribed since 2003.
“It’s normal business arrangements, normal notifications that debts are owed just like with the ILO and other business organisations which we have not paid. This government is trying to do it. We’re now up to date in some instances but this is one where we are not up to date,” Benjamin lamented.
At the time of the interview, Benjamin said he was no longer in possession of the document from INTERPOL, to quote the exact amount due.
He said that was because after reading it, he immediately passed it on to the relevant official to have the situation addressed.
“I’ve passed it on to the Permanent Secretary for discussions at Cabinet because we must, we must pay our obligations to these international bodies so that we can get our crimes solved and things done in accordance with the law,” the minister added.
Under a system adopted by the General Assembly in 2001, each INTERPOL member country must make a compulsory annual statutory contribution calculated on the basis of their ability to pay.
Extra-budgetary contributions from both the public and private sectors may also be received in accordance with the Organization’s rules and regulations.
Interpol assists Antigua & Barbuda in fugitive investigations; fighting human trafficking and the use of stolen travel documents to perpetrate crime, among other matters. (ANTIGUA OBSERVER)
