(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Seventh Meeting of the CARICOM Standing Committees of Commissioners of Police and Chiefs of Defence Staff was held in Barbados on 3 December, 2007 and was jointly chaired by Mr. Trevor Paul, Commissioner of Police, Trinidad and Tobago and Brigadier Edmund Dillon, Chief of Defence, Trinidad and Tobago.  The Meeting was convened to facilitate technical and administrative discussions and recommendations towards the implementation of policy decisions with respect to the regional crime and security agenda.

Opening remarks were delivered by Colonel Alvin Quintyne, Chief of Defence Staff, Barbados, who urged Commissioners of Police and Chiefs of Defence Staff to remain focused on ensuring that security continued to be the 'bedrock' of national and regional development, despite the many challenges faced by the local law enforcement and military bodies.

In attendance were Commissioners of Police and Chiefs of Defence Staff from Antigua and Barbuda; The Bahamas; Barbados; Guyana; Jamaica; Montserrat; St. Kitts and Nevis; St. Lucia; St. Vincent and The Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. Two CARICOM Associate Member States, Anguilla and Bermuda, were also present. Other delegates included Directors and other Senior Officers of the CARICOM Secretariat, the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), the Joint Regional Communications Centre (JRCC); and of the Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre (RIFC).

The Meeting considered a crime and security assessment presented for its information, as well as a number of initiatives related to the ongoing coordination and sharing of human and physical resources. Discussions also focused on the rationalisation of resources related to human resource development, a regional anti-cyber crime strategy, proposals for a comprehensive regional military training strategy, regional procurement of security inventory, and regional investigative systems. The Meeting was briefed on the current study being undertaken by the Caribbean Community to assess the effect of criminal deportation on current levels of crime and violence experienced in Member States.

Delegates took time at the Meeting to extend sincere condolences to the Government of Jamaica and the Royal Jamaica Constabulary Force on the recent death of Assistant Commissioner of Police Gilbert Kameka and other law enforcement officers.

Delegates expressed thanks to the Government of Barbados for hosting the Seventh Meeting of the CARICOM Standing Committees of Commissioners of Police and Chiefs of Defence Staff. It was recommended that the Eighth Meeting of the Standing Committees take place in Guyana during the first quarter of 2008.

Contact: piu@caricom.org