CARICOM must deliver on crime crackdown

Executive Director of the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security IMPACS, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Jones last year sounded the alarm that powerful regional gangs were setting up ‘franchises’ across Caribbean islands, bringing new levels of violence to communities previously unexposed to high levels of gun crime. We see the tragic impact daily.

In the May 2024 article, Caribbean gangs setting up franchises around the region, published by Cayman Compass, Jones warned that in many cases, those criminal networks have links to Caribbean nationals in the US facilitating the flow of weapons into the region and that they were exploiting the fractured nature of policing among 30-plus islands and territories across 1 000 square miles of open seas.

He made clear then that new levels of coordination and cooperation, including joint operations, cooperation on legislation and shared stewardship of extra-territorial waters, would be necessary to dismantle gangs.

Jones said: “We need to be able to investigate and pursue criminals across borders. There is some evidence of franchising of gang activity. That is the best way I can describe it. Gangs of different nationalities are establishing elsewhere in the region.”

At the end of the 48th meeting of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government, regional leaders took a decisive—and arguably overdue—step in confronting criminal gangs fueling the scourge of violent crime that has led to the Caribbean being named one of the most violent regions in the Americas. The escalating levels of violence, particularly gun-related crime, have reached “unacceptably high” levels and it demands a unified and forceful response, they said. The response is one that we hope won’t fall by the wayside or face indefinite delays in implementation, as has happened with some CARICOM decisions.

The agreement by CARICOM leaders to categorise criminal gangs as terrorist organisations marks a major shift and signals what we believe is a willingness to employ more robust measures to dismantle these networks and restore a sense of security to our communities.

This unprecedented move, though potentially controversial, demonstrates that leaders have come to grips with the fact that traditional policing methods are insufficient against the sophisticated nature of organised crime.

It acknowledges the cold reality that the tactics employed by criminal gangs often mirror those of terrorist organisations. Indiscriminate shootings in public spaces, designed to instil fear and disrupt normal life, fit the definition of terrorism as acts of violence intended to intimidate and coerce.

By this move, countries will utilise legal tools and strategies usually reserved for combating terrorism, including enhanced surveillance, stricter penalties, greater powers of investigation and asset forfeiture.

It is however not without its challenges. It will be no small task to define the line between gang activity and terrorism. We expect that the legislation will be transparent and will not target marginalised communities. Authorities will also want to ensure that the potential for abuse of such powerful legislation will hardly be possible by implementing robust oversight mechanisms.

Human rights safeguards must be at the forefront of any new laws.

Still, this is only one step of many more required, notwithstanding joint efforts already established. Labelling gangs as terrorist organisations is not a magic bullet. It is one tool in a broad-based approach needed to address the root causes of crime.

CARICOM leaders have declared that crime is a public health issue and therefore this legislative initiative must be accompanied by other measures, including tackling the social and economic factors that contribute to gang formation, such as poverty, lack of opportunity, and inadequate social services

Moreover, investing in education, job training, and community development is essential to providing alternatives to a life of crime.

We welcome the commitment to establish a high-level representative on law and criminal justice, supported by a multi-disciplinary team, as a promising sign that CARICOM is serious about developing a comprehensive strategy. The emphasis on regional cooperation and the adoption of common legislation is a welcome departure from the fragmented approach that has hampered previous efforts. Sharing expertise and resources, particularly in areas like intelligence gathering and law enforcement training, is critical to achieving lasting success.

We also believe that strengthening the Regional Security System (RSS) is another important component of this regional approach. As current CARICOM Chairman Prime Minister Mia Mottley suggested, enhancing the RSS’ capabilities could significantly improve intelligence gathering and coordination among member states.

The coming months will be critical in shaping the details of this new approach to restoring peace and security. Caribbean people will be looking on with hope that their leaders will deliver on this commitment to better safeguard their societies.