The 35th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP) was held virtually 10 -13 May 2021. During the conference, Commissioner of Police of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), Mr. Colin John was re-elected for a second term as president of the august law enforcement body. Commissioner John was first elected as president in 2019.
The theme of the conference was “Working during and Looking Beyond COVID-19, the way Forward for Law Enforcement”. Present at the Conference were Commissioners/representatives from: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts/Nevis, St. Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands.
Represented at this meeting were members of the executive the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executive. The Executive Director of the Regional Security System (RSS) and Executive Director of Crime Stoppers Caribbean and Executive, the Police Attaché in the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Washington were also in attendance and the Regional Manager of the Police Foundation.
International Law Enforcement partners represented included, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Bureau of Diplomatic Security (RSO), ACRO, US Coast Guard, U.S. Marshal Services, Homeland Security, Australia Federal Police, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDITA)
A number of Corporate Partners were in attendance including Motorola Solutions, Omni Systems, AE Tactical, Amalgamated Security Services, DNA Laboratories, Facebook, PBS Technologies, Cellbrite, Walden University, Saferwatch, Neptune Communications, HID Global, MicroSurvey Software, AMP, Global Strategies, Lazarus Training Ltd. COBHAM Satcom, IRP Fire and Safety and APPENS.
The goal of the Annual General Meeting and Conference is to support the mission and objectives of the ACCP by fostering regional collaboration and co-operation in the: development and implementation of policing strategies, systems and procedures; the development of professional and technical skills of police officers and to identify proactive measures to prevent crime and improve police community relations.
During the Opening Ceremony remarks were made by:
Commissioner Atlee Rodney on behalf of Commissioner Colin John, ACCP President
Ms Lynda R. Williams President, NOBLE
Chief Cynthia Renaud President, IACPHon. Mia Amor Mottley, M.P Q.C Prime Minister of Barbados
The Conference was divided into plenary and closed business sessions. Among the topics/subject areas presented and discussed were:
COVID-19 Guidelines
INTERPOL’s Guidelines – Highlighting Threats Emerging from the Pandemic
Organized Crime and Law Enforcement Response
Community Policing during COVID-19 – Lessons Learned
Cybercrime and the Pandemic, A new Reality
Combatting Drug Threats during then Pandemic and the Way Forward
Modernising Policing in a Dynamic Environment to Meet the Needs of the Caribbean Community
Delivering Law Enforcement Assistance to Partner Nations During COVID-19
Tools and Best Practices for Police Operations Management
Case Closed: How Law Enforcement Can Achieve Repeatable, Audible, Defensible, and Recoverable Results Using Technology
Building a Supportive Ecosystem for Regional Security in the Digital age
The Role of Technology for the Way Forward, During and Beyond COVID-19
Changing the Face of DNA
SaferWatch APP Solutions
Resilient and Nimble, Caribbean Law Enforcement Operations in the Time of COVID-19
Enhance Public Safety in times of Pandemic through goID Mobile ID Solution
Zero Eyes
Lecia Map 360 for Accident and Crime Scene Reconstruction
Digital Intelligence for a Safer World
Criminal Justice Lead Program
To Protect and Save
Human Trafficking and the Nexus with Domestic Violence Especially during a Pandemic
Domestic Violence, Lessons Learned and the Way forward
Facebook and Online Safety
Disaster Preparedness (Hurricane/Volcanic Eruption) and the role of law Enforcement during the Pandemic and Beyond
Cooperation with the Ministry of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Update on the Spotlight Initiative (with UN Women)
Law Enforcement Special Olympics
Twenty fifth celebration of REDTRAC
Update from ACRO
The following Decisions/Resolutions were adopted during the meeting:
Signing of Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of the Interior of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Purse various areas of Law Enforcement cooperation with UAE through its Police Attaché in their Embassy in Washington
Intersessional Meeting to be convened Virtually 2-3 December 2021
AGM 2022 to be convened in Nassau, Bahamas
AGM 2023 to be convened in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
The elected ACCP Executive for 2021 – 2022 is as follows:
President – Commissioner Colin O. John, St Vincent and the Grenadines
1st Vice President – Commissioner Atlee Rodney (Antigua and Barbuda)
2nd Vice President- Commissioner Edvin Martin ( Grenada)
Secretary/Treasurer – Commissioner Steve Foster (Montserrat)
The ACCP is deeply indebted to OmniSystems, CARICOM IMPACS, CBSI-Connect, Facebook, Appens, PBS Technologies, Ultra Technology, COBHAM Satcom, Cellbrite, HD Crossmatch, AE Tactical, Blauer, Saferwatch, who continue to support the ACCP endeavours and in particular the staging of this first Virtual Annual General Meeting and Conference.