Kingston, Jamaica — 26 February 2026
Jamaica’s Prime Minister, speaking in his capacity as outgoing Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), has called for sustained regional cooperation to combat transnational organised crime and gangs, warning that increasingly sophisticated criminal networks pose a direct threat to small states across the region.
Addressing the opening of the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis on Tuesday, the Prime Minister emphasised the importance of intelligence sharing, joint operations, interoperable border systems and stronger alignment with international partners. The appeal builds on the Montego Bay Declaration on Transnational Organised Crime and Gangs, adopted during Jamaica’s chairmanship, which sought to establish a unified regional response to cross-border criminal activity.
The statement comes at a time when criminal organisations are described as technologically enabled, heavily armed and unconstrained by national borders. For CARICOM states, many of which manage extensive maritime territories with limited enforcement capacity, the challenge is not theoretical. It is structural.
A Region Under Pressure
The Prime Minister pointed to the need for continued collaboration through CARICOM IMPACS (Implementation Agency for Crime and Security), deeper engagement with Interpol, and coordinated border management systems. He also reaffirmed regional support for stabilisation efforts in Haiti through United Nations–endorsed and Organization of American States–supported mechanisms.
Beyond crime suppression, the address underscored concerns around territorial integrity. Small island states, he noted, face external claims, illicit incursions and geopolitical pressures that test the sanctity of borders. For countries with vast maritime zones relative to landmass, safeguarding territory is both a security and sovereignty issue.
These themes dominated the 50th Regular Conference, held under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis and convened under the theme, “Beyond Words: Action Today for a Thriving, Sustainable CARICOM.”
Security as a Foundation for Development
While the address focused squarely on security cooperation, the implications extend beyond policing and defence.
In the Caribbean context, stability underpins economic confidence. Tourism, logistics, trade corridors and foreign direct investment are sensitive to perceptions of safety and governance. Sustained criminal activity erodes investor confidence, increases insurance costs and strains already limited public resources.
For Jamaica, regional security cooperation also intersects with domestic reform efforts aimed at improving border management, strengthening intelligence systems and modernising law enforcement infrastructure. These measures are not only about crime suppression; they shape how the country presents itself to investors, development partners and its own citizens.
The Montego Bay Declaration represented a formal acknowledgment that crime networks operate regionally, not locally. The Prime Minister’s remarks suggest that the next phase will require deeper institutional integration and technological coordination across member states.
Haiti and the Regional Balance
The Prime Minister reaffirmed Jamaica’s commitment to multilateral frameworks supporting Haiti’s stabilisation, including the United Nations Security Council–endorsed Gang Suppression Force and related regional bodies.
Haiti’s instability remains a regional concern, affecting migration flows, humanitarian systems and broader Caribbean security dynamics. For CARICOM states, engagement in Haiti is not simply solidarity; it is strategic necessity. Instability in one member state reverberates across the Community.
Sovereignty in a Changing Geopolitical Climate
The reference to territorial integrity reflects a broader geopolitical context. Caribbean states occupy strategically important maritime routes and exclusive economic zones rich in natural resources. As global competition intensifies over trade corridors, maritime access and offshore assets, the region’s ability to assert control over its borders becomes increasingly important.
For small states, security cooperation is therefore not only about crime but about preserving autonomy within an evolving global order.
A Regional Test of Implementation
CARICOM’s recurring challenge has often been implementation. Declarations and communiqués are common; operational integration is more complex.
The Prime Minister’s call for interoperable systems and coordinated operations signals recognition that technical alignment — data systems, border protocols, intelligence architecture — will determine whether regional cooperation translates into measurable impact.
As one observer in the security field recently noted, the Caribbean cannot afford fragmented enforcement in the face of integrated criminal networks.
The success of this renewed push will likely depend on sustained funding, political continuity and measurable benchmarks. Security cooperation requires trust, shared data and consistent standards — elements that take time to embed across sovereign states.
Looking Ahead
The 50th Regular Conference closes with familiar themes: unity, resilience and collective action. Yet the tone of this year’s discussions suggests a sharper urgency.
Transnational organised crime is not static. Neither are geopolitical pressures. For CARICOM member states, security cooperation is increasingly viewed as foundational rather than supplementary to development.
Whether the region can move from agreement to durable implementation may determine not only its crime outcomes but its long-term economic and political stability.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information and commentary purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Readers should seek professional guidance appropriate to their individual circumstances.
