U.S. Reps. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), and Mark Green, M.D. (R-TN) recently introduced legislation that would provide substantial Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) funding for the next five years.
Specifically, the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act would provide the program with greater long-term stability and authorize funding of $82 million per year for the next five years.
“The Caribbean is a critical part of Miami’s economy, and the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative provides the necessary structure for growth, stability, and security in the region,” Salazar said. “We must continue to help our partners in the Caribbean invest in resilient infrastructure, develop a workforce for the future, fight gangs and criminal activity, and oppose the malign influence of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela in the region.”
Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago are Caribbean nations that would benefit from the funding allotment.
Bill proponents said the CBSI has played a key role in aiding partner nations in the Caribbean to improve their capacity to combat transnational crime, violence, and regional instability that hurricanes have caused.
“The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) is critical to our efforts to improve security cooperation with Caribbean nations and combat illicit drug trafficking, support justice sector reforms to strengthen the rule of law, and address instability caused by natural disasters throughout the region,” Espaillat said.
U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently introduced a Senate companion to the legislation.