Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
July 14, 2025 – As violent crime continues to destabilize communities across the Caribbean, CARICOM leaders have doubled down on regional security cooperation, calling for expanded support from INTERPOL and greater integration of crime prevention efforts with global partners.
During the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, held in Montego Bay, the region’s leaders acknowledged that violent crime, driven by organized networks, narcotics, and the trafficking of illegal firearms, poses an existential threat — particularly to young men who are both the primary perpetrators and victims.
In a high-level engagement session, His Excellency Valdecy Urquiza, Secretary-General of INTERPOL, presented sobering data confirming what many Caribbean citizens already feel: the region is under siege from transnational criminal networks that exploit porous borders, weak institutional capacities, and economic vulnerabilities.
Urquiza reaffirmed INTERPOL’s commitment to Caribbean security, citing the permanent presence of its Liaison Office in Barbados under the IMPACS/INTERPOL agreement as a cornerstone of ongoing collaboration. In response, CARICOM Heads of Government requested enhanced technical assistance, including advanced technology for border monitoring and intelligence sharing.
The urgency is clear. Homicide rates in some CARICOM states remain among the highest in the world, eroding public trust and diminishing prospects for youth. The leaders stressed that regional unity and international collaboration are not just strategic—they are essential for survival.
In a parallel engagement, His Excellency Albert Ramdin, newly elected Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS) and the first CARICOM national to hold the post, offered a broader perspective. He addressed threats to sovereignty, development challenges, and democratic fragility across the hemisphere. CARICOM leaders lauded his appointment and embraced his call for a unified Caribbean agenda at the upcoming Summit of the Americas in December 2025.
As the Caribbean also contends with climate change, economic shocks, and migration pressures, the intersection of security and development is now front and center. Leaders emphasized the need for crime-fighting strategies to be interwoven with efforts to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—including education, social inclusion, and job creation.
With Guyana set to host the INTERPOL Regional Conference in 2026, the Caribbean is signaling not only its readiness to fight crime, but also its intention to lead global conversations on justice and peace in small island developing states.
