PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC -The Trinidad-based Caribbean Neighborhood (CARICOM) Implementation Company for Crime and Safety (IMPACS) says it has formally commenced creating a brand new CARICOM Safety Technique (CSS).
The company, established in 2006 because the implementation arm of a brand new regional structure to handle CARICOM’s motion agenda on crime and safety, stated the CSS is being developed “within the face of intensifying safety threats and a quickly evolving geopolitical and geo-economic panorama.”
It stated that an inaugural assembly of the CSS steering committee was held nearly final week as a essential step towards crafting a strategic, forward-looking, and cohesive regional safety framework attentive to present and future challenges within the Caribbean Area.
“The CSS will function the area’s principal coverage instrument for guiding nations, regional and worldwide entities in response to the rising vary of safety threats within the Caribbean,” CARICOM IMPACS stated.
It stated that the Technique will replicate present geopolitical realities, align with regional improvement priorities, and combine rising points akin to synthetic intelligence (AI) whereas embedding rights-and-responsibility-based approaches and public health-informed frameworks. It would additionally drive the modernization and strengthening of nationwide and regional safety establishments to make sure larger adaptability, resilience, and effectiveness.
CARICOM IMPACS govt director Lt. Col Michael Jones stated the present atmosphere calls for a recalibrated and adaptive regional technique, “one which strengthens our collective capability to anticipate, forestall, and reply to multidimensional threats.”
“The technique should replicate the urgency of this second whereas providing sensible options rooted in Caribbean realities and aligned with evolving international norms,” he added.
The steering committee, established to information the event of the CSS, consists of representatives from 5 CARICOM member states, specifically Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago, in addition to the chairs of the CARICOM Standing Committees of Operational Heads (Police, Navy, Customs, Immigration, Prisons, and Intelligence).
It additionally brings collectively key regional establishments, together with the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court docket of Justice (CCJ), the Barbados-based Regional Safety System (RSS), the Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Well being Company (CARPHA), the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC), the Organisation of Jap Caribbean States (OECS) and the College of the West Indies (UWI).
The steering committee additionally consists of members of the personal sector, youth representatives, civil society, and worldwide improvement companions akin to Canada, the UK, the European Union, the Inter-American Improvement Financial institution (IDB), and the Caribbean Improvement Financial institution (CDB).
The performing assistant director of coverage, Technique, and Innovation at CARICOM IMPACS,
Callixtus Joseph outlined the core rationale behind the renewed Technique.
He stated that the evolving nature, scale, and complexity of right now’s threats, alongside the numerous transformation of the worldwide and regional safety panorama, require new pondering and strategic repositioning. He famous the CSS will present a forward-looking, action-oriented roadmap.
“This Technique will function a unifying framework to drive smarter, quicker, and extra adaptive responses to evolving threats. It would harness the total potential of frontier applied sciences akin to AI, predictive analytics, and digital innovation to strengthen nationwide and regional capabilities and speed up institutional modernization.
“Above all, it is going to reaffirm CARICOM’s unwavering dedication to collective safety because the cornerstone of sustainable improvement, regional resilience, and a safer, extra affluent future for all Caribbean residents,” he added.
CARICOM IMPACS stated that the CSS is anticipated to ship wide-ranging advantages throughout the Area, together with crime discount, improved public security, a stronger funding local weather, and larger regional affect in international safety governance.
“By strengthening nationwide safety capacities, modernizing infrastructure, digitizing safety methods, and aligning nationwide insurance policies with regional and worldwide commitments and frameworks, the technique will equip member states to forestall, detect, and reply to threats extra successfully whereas advancing stability, investor confidence and collective resilience throughout the Caribbean.”
In the course of the digital assembly, the members adopted the Steering Committee’s Phrases of Reference (ToR), which outlines its mandate to supply strategic oversight, coverage path, and high quality assurance all through the event course of.
Trinidad and Tobago have been elected chair of the committee, with Antigua and Barbuda as vice-chairs.
“The Steering Committee is predicted to fulfill periodically over the approaching months as CARICOM IMPACS leads the CSS’s improvement. The ultimate draft shall be offered for endorsement by the Council for Nationwide Safety and Regulation Enforcement (CONSLE) and CARICOM Heads of Authorities.”
