CARICOM to classify criminal gangs as terrorists in bold move against violent crime

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SOURCE: BARBADOS TODAY- In a groundbreaking decision, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders have agreed to introduce legislation that will categorise criminal gangs as terrorist organisations, marking a significant shift in the region’s approach to combating violent crime. 

This unprecedented move, announced by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago, aims to dismantle criminal networks and address the “unacceptably high” levels of violence plaguing the Caribbean Community.

Dr Rowley, the lead prime minister responsible for security in the CARICOM quasi-cabinet, made the announcement during a press conference late Friday at the end of the 48th CARICOM summit at the Wyndham Grand Resort – Sam Lord’s Castle.

The Trinidadian leader, whose disclosure was just one of several decisions taken following two days of intense talks, said while there is no set deadline for the proposed law to be enacted by member states, he anticipates it could be ready within months.

“There is no set deadline except that an element of urgency is asked for, and we anticipate that given the quality of legislative experience put on it, that within a matter of months, we can have something to work with. So, basically that’s what we have been able to accomplish at this stage,” he told journalists.

In his final CARICOM leaders’ meeting before stepping down later this year as prime minister before his term ends, Dr Rowley said the heads spent a lot of time on the “unacceptably high” level of violent crime and focused on the legislation, law enforcement and the public health aspects.

With respect to the legislation, we agreed that, notwithstanding social considerations . . . we agreed that the changing nature of crime is such, that acts of violence in the public space, in certain instances must now be regarded as acts of terrorism,” he revealed.

He explained that the conference identified terrorism as indiscriminate shooting in a public place where the perpetrator endangers all and sundry.

He said: “We believe that the legislation needs to be cognisant of what exactly we are experiencing now as against what the existing legislation anticipated.

And to that end, heads sourced and obtained the services of a former AG (attorney general) of Belize, Godfrey Smith, who has been tasked to review our legislative templates and to come up with new legislative proposals for consideration by the Heads for changes to be made on the legislative side to treat to what we are experiencing as against what we are surprised by.

“We also expect that these acts, using the tools of trade of the criminals at large in our communities . . . that they be deemed to be acts of terrorism, and allow us to view them, not only by the executive, but by the judiciary, and allow us to fashion the appropriate legislation to that.”

Dr Rowley also announced that the Heads adopted a working definition of crime and violence as a public health issue since the effect on human conditions is such that violent crime, largely carried out by firearms, accounts for 80 per cent of the killings they are experiencing, and 90 per cent of those guns are coming from one particular source.

He said: “We agreed that this is a public health issue and will continue to engage it as such.

We further agreed to appoint a high-level representative on law and criminal justice, supported by a multi-disciplinary team of technical experts, including those seconded by member-states and approved the terms of reference to design and lead the implementation of a strategic plan to improve and modernise the criminal justice delivery services across the Caribbean Community as one element of a region-wide approach.

“What this means is that we would not be struggling at the individual level as sovereign bodies, but accepting templates designed to suit our culture and experience, and using the best technical skills in law and in social services to craft legislative offering that we can all adopt very quickly.”

Prime Minister Mia Mottley, chair of CARICOM, suggested that as part of a regional approach to crime and violence and intelligence gathering, there may be a need to strengthen aspects of the Regional Security System (RSS), CARICOM’s defence pact.

“We have asked those officials responsible for IMPACS (CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security) and the Joint Regional Communications Centre as well as the Regional Security System and the individual law enforcement entities, to see how best they, too, can modify how they operate and exist,” Mottley said.

“In some instances, we may well have to consider at a functional level, we go beyond supporting each other. In the Eastern Caribbean, Barbados and Guyana, we have the benefit of the Regional Security System. There may be need to strengthen aspects of that.”

In another development, Andrew Holness, Jamaica’s prime minister and lead head on trade, said the conference expressed “grave” concern over the declared change in trade policy by the United States.

CARICOM agreed to review its trade policy with the US, assuring that there is no need to panic, he announced.

He said: “We will therefore be conducting a very detailed review of our trade situation with the United States, and we hope that within another three or four months, we will have a document which will give us a policy direction, and give advice and support to the governments of the region as to how to treat to any potential change that may happen in US foreign policy.”  

In an overview of the summit’s decisions, Prime Minister Mottley said leaders were able to address the issue of freedom of movement by CARICOM nationals, announcing a widening of travel rights from June 1.

“One of the major decisions of the conference is that we will settle the arrangements that will allow smaller numbers of members of the community to act if they so desire, rather than requiring unanimity for action.

Why is that important? Because, if that protocol for enhanced cooperation is completely ratified by the end of March, it opens its way for a number of countries to admit the possibility for the freedom of movement for CARICOM nationals from June 1, with the according rights of primary and secondary education, emergency healthcare and access also to primary healthcare.”

Mottley said there may be the need to move away from the gradual approach to freedom of movement and open up borders this year, especially for countries that have ageing populations.

The urgent importance of air transport and maritime transport was also discussed, particularly building on earlier talks on ferry transport. 

She said: “We invited the private sector to be able to look at other opportunities with respect to how this can be facilitated with access to specific charter services, rather than the governments assuming the responsibility for the purchase of equipment.”

She said that an inter-governmental working group will also be set up to be chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs from Trinidad and Tobago, Amery Browne.

Agreement was also reached on using the experiences of Sandals Resorts as a tourism lab to help the region become more competitive.

The CARICOM Secretariat and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation have agreed to create a list of products at the granular level in agriculture, manufacturing and entertainment that are regularly used by the tourism sector so the region may align it with the production possibilities within the community. 

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