KINGSTON, Jamaica – Chairman of the CARICOM Council for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSOLE), Dr. Horace Chang, says the region must continue to share information and intelligence particularly as it relates to firearms trafficking, cyber security, trafficking in persons and maritime security.
Jamaica’s National Security Minister, Dr. Horace Chang, addressing CONSOLE’s 24 meeting in TrelawnyAddressing the 24th CONSOLE meeting that ended on Friday, Chang, who is also Jamaica’s National Security Minister, said that at the previous meeting of the grouping in February this year, the four areas were identified as common security interest to member states.
“These areas of focus will continue to be underpinned by the critical areas of information and intelligence sharing and border security. These common threats have the potential to dismantle any gains we make as region in achieving our sustainable development goals,” he said.
Chang said trafficking in persons, for example, results in the most vulnerable in the region being exploited into forced labor, sexual servitude, and debt bondage.
He said the latest UN Office on Drugs and Crime Global Report on Trafficking in Persons showed that around one-third of all detected victims are children, a share that has tripled over the past 15 years. “Indeed, we can all agree that renewed and reinvigorated action against this crime is needed more than ever, as economic hardship, conflict, and health and climate emergencies globally are increasing and compounding vulnerabilities to trafficking, exploitation and abuse.”
Chang said that the issue of illicit firearms trafficking was identified as a tier one threat in the CARICOM Regional Security Strategy and as one of the main drivers of criminality levels in region.
He said it has the potential to cripple the already fragile socio-economic developmental progress in CARICOM and the advancement of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) that allows for the free movement of goods, skills, labour and services across teh1 5 member regional integration grouping.
“None of our countries manufacture firearms and yet the ill effects of their proliferation and the contribution to gang violence and transnational criminal activities permeates our respective territories and are responsible for more than 70% of homicides in CARICOM. It is within this context that it is important to disrupt and prevent illegal firearms and ammunition passing through our borders. “
Chang said while he recognises and appreciates the individual efforts made in addressing these security threats, the critical areas identified have been the greatest challenges to the region.
“At the national level, this has led to increased budgetary allocation and investments and manpower, in an already tight fiscal space. As Ministers of National Security and security experts, we not only have a duty but a responsibility to ensure that our resources are efficiently and appropriately managed; research, analysis and monitoring of activities/initiatives are effectively conducted; and that there is real tangible value in the partnerships we forge at the national and regional levels.
“We must therefore, seek to strengthen our relationships across member states, so that the existing silos can be addressed,” he told the gathering of national security ministers and commissioners of police.
He said that as delegates deliberate and engage in key areas of mutual interest, “let us not forget our commitments to address our regional security priority areas, which include ensuring the sustainability and viability of CARICOM IMPACS and to strengthening our regional intelligence and information sharing systems and infrastructure.
“We understand our unique vulnerabilities and the threats posed by transnational organised criminal activities and their impact on the people, the environment and economies. These challenges therefore, require strong partnerships, collaboration and strategic deployment of resources to achieve the best outcomes.”
Chang said there was also need for the region to recommit its position regarding maritime domain awareness and the sustainability of the region’s blue economy, building critical strategic partnerships and collaboration to share information and intelligence data to disrupt organised criminal networks as well as supporting the establishment of the CARICOM Crime Gun Intelligence Unit and to ensure that the Unit is outfitted with highly trained staff.
He said there was also need to deepen the coordination and cooperation efforts to more effectively address security challenges in the region and to ensure the implementation of activities/initiatives for sustainable results.
“As we approach the end of 2022, we must seek to continue to strengthen our resolve to remain undeterred by these challenges and the many constraints that have been imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Honourable Ministers, we need long-term Caribbean-led thinking about how best to co-exist in a world in which new security threats are emerging,” Chang added.
Meanwhile, CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General (ASG), Human and Social Development, Alison Drayton, said the CONSLE meeting presents an opportunity to strengthen cooperation and shared responsibility to safeguard and preserve the peace, security, and socio-economic development of CARICOM member states and citizens.
“The challenges that threaten our security have put in sharp focus the need for increased emphasis on the relevance of regional integration and functional cooperation to the Community in its approach to security.
“It necessitates increased cooperation and information sharing among member states,” she added.
