CARICOM Leaders convene to Expose trends in Violence & Crime

By Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

#TrinidadandTobago, April 17, 2023 – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago are hosting a Regional Symposium today, April 17th, 2023 to tomorrow the 18th, at the Hyatt Regency, Trinidad and Tobago, to tackle Crime and ‘Violence as a Public Health Issue.”

Chairing the Symposium is Dr. The Honourable Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and Lead Head with Responsibility for Crime and Security.

This symposium comes surrounding an alternative to the region’s approach to crime and violence that is, from a social prevention perspective.

The conventional approach of the Criminal Justice System which heavily focuses on retribution, imprisonment, rehabilitation and restoration, has not been an effective solution to the issue, hence this new health perspective.

The aim of the Symposium is to bring about conversations and importantly, regional action geared towards reducing and preventing crime.

The topics that will be is discussion are: “Violence and Health in the Region; Crime and Violence: A Public Health Approach;  Mental Health; Transnational Organised Crime; Using Litigation to Protect Gun Violence – Global Action on Gun Violence; Trans-Border Crime; Education and Youth, Domestic Violence;  Economic Inequalities as the Driver of Crime and Violence; Community approaches- Restorative Justice; Sports and Mediation; and the Judicial Perspective – Legislation and Juvenile Justice Reform.”

According to CARICOM, the Symposium will take a whole of Government approach and a whole-of-society approach which will involve important organisations, agencies and sectors  including civil society, business, community, families and individuals.

A number of CARICOM Heads of Government are taking part in the symposium.

They are: the Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica; Dr. The Honourable Ralph Goncalves, Prime Minister of St.Vincent and The Grenadines; the Honourable Philip J. Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia; the Honourable Dr.Terrence Micheal Drew, Prime Minister of St.Kitts and Nevis;  the Honourable Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada; the Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica; the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, S.C. M.P, Prime Minister or Barbados; the Honourable Philip Davis, KC, MP, Prime Minister of The Bahamas; Dr. The Honourable Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; Dr. Carla Barnett, CARICOM Secretary General; and Dr.Joy St.John, Executive Director at CARPHA.

So far, each head has shared detailed perspectives on their view on handling Crime and Violence in the region. One of the views that stood out was that of the Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, who said that the evolution of social media is an accelerant for violence in crime, which was supported by the Honourable Terrence Drew, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis who labeled social media as a conduit to transmit violence.

More interesting are promised Tuesday (April 18).