ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC) – CARICOM leaders on Tuesday say they “are deeply concerned by the levels of crime and violence” in the region, saying it is being fueled in part, by firearms and ammunition trafficking, transnational criminal networks, and a deterioration of social structures.
“We are also particularly concerned about the impact of crime and violence on young people and children,” the regional leaders said in a statement, at the end of their three-day summit.
They reiterated their commitment to “ongoing urgent action to protect the citizens of the region and to the safety, security and preservation of public interest in dealing with crime and violence, including through the sharing of information and the strengthening of legislation in respect of firearms offences, violent crime and bail.
“We further recognize the value of restorative justice, social and cultural interventions and intolerance of corruption, in achieving long-term social change,” they said, committing to the strengthening and increased use of existing regional mechanisms and institutions to address crime and security, including the CARICOM IMPACS Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre and the urgent exploration of new approaches to combatting high levels of criminality.
The regional leaders said that they recognise the importance of the April 2023 Regional Symposium on Crime and Security as a Public Health Issue hosted by Trinidad and Tobago and welcomes the offer by Barbados to host a second Symposium before the end of 2024.
”Ongoing regional and national collaboration are critical to addressing the multifaceted challenges to crime and violence which threaten modern Caribbean society. We call on all CARICOM citizens to be part of the solution by reporting crimes and by refusing to support criminal activity, recognising that crime and violence affects us all,” the regional leaders said in their statement.
