ST GEORGE'S, Grenada (CMC) -- Grenada says it is willing to send troops to help fellow Caribbean Community (Caricom) member country, Jamaica, deal with the violence caused by criminal gangs trying to prevent the arrest of a reputed gang leader.

Prime Minister Tillman Thomas told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that he is prepared to send in troops to assist law enforcement officials to Jamaica if a request is made.

At least 44 people have been killed in clashes between the security forces and criminal gangs in the volatile west Kingston constituency of Jamaica, since the authorities moved to execute a warrant for the arrest of reputed Tivoli Gardens don Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

He is wanted in the United States on drug and gun-running charges and criminals have vowed to prevent his arrest.

Thomas said that the situation in Jamaica is worrying for the region and that the Caribbean should consider helping to restore order to that country.

"That's a source of great concern to us in the region... I've always championed the cause of good governance and the rule of law and we have to really build and strengthen democratic institutions.

"We cannot permit a situation where we have gangsters and thugs controlling society. We have to find ways and means to bring this under some form of control. If it calls for assistance from the region or wherever else, we have to maintain our democratic tradition within the rule of law.

"We cannot permit, encourage or promote lawlessness in the region," Thomas told CMC, suggesting also that the US government provide some form of assistance to get the volatile situation under control.

"Just as how America came to assist us here in 1983, I think where you have a situation where lives are being threatened, and democratic institutions are being threatened, those who are concerned about the freedom of man... ought to come to rescue those who are in difficulty," he added.

The Jamaican government has declared a limited state of emergency in Kingston and St Andrew.