Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing David Burch is this week meeting with Caribbean security ministers at the eighth meeting of the CARICOM Council of Ministers.

Nations represented will include the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago.

A press release this week stated that Sen. Burch had specific issues he wanted to address at the meeting, which is taking place in Suriname, South America: the rapid deployment of regional joint forces, the National Joint Coordinating Centres (NJCCs) and immigration, "specifically, the accelerated repatriation of foreign nationals incarcerated here to reduce the costs incurred by the Bermuda Government to house these inmates".

There is tremendous value in Bermuda being represented and having a voice at the table at meetings of this level, said Sen. Burch.

"On a daily basis, all of our CARICOM partners wrestle with similar issues of immigration, crime, policing, and ensuring the safety and well being of their people. Bermuda is no different. It is hoped that the sharing of experiences and challenges this week will result in us finding mutually beneficial solutions for the good of all our respective countries