In a collaborative effort to combat gun-related crime in the region, the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS) hosted a three-day Gun Intelligence Workshop in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The event, held from December 17-19, brought together key stakeholders, including the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), the Ministry of National Security, and representatives from the United States Embassy in Barbados.
The opening ceremony, hosted at the National Insurance Services (NIS) Conference Room, saw participation from the Attorney General’s Office, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Customs and Excise Department, Port Authority, and other critical agencies.
CARICOM IMPACS Updates on Firearms Unit
Deputy Executive Director of CARICOM IMPACS, Ms. Tonya Ayow, provided a comprehensive overview of the Crime Gun Intelligence Unit (CGIU), operational since June 2023. The Trinidad-based unit was established to consolidate firearms data, transforming it into actionable intelligence to disrupt illegal firearms networks.
Ms. Ayow reported significant progress, with the CGIU developing 20 intelligence packages and receiving over 80 firearms-related reports from member states. She highlighted recent successes, including the detention of a suspect in the United States and increased interceptions of firearms at ports across the Caribbean. She commended SVG as one of the first nations to second an officer to the CGIU, bolstering its regional capacity.
U.S. Collaboration and Funding
Mr. Robert Marshall from U.S. Homeland Security Investigations praised the CGIU as a model of collaboration under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), which has invested over $2 million USD into the program. He emphasized that the partnership has enhanced real-time intelligence sharing and strengthened efforts to disrupt firearms trafficking networks.
Prime Minister Gonsalves: A Call for Collective Action
Delivering the keynote address, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves lauded the workshop as timely and essential, particularly during the Christmas season when public safety concerns are heightened. He stressed that while SVG and the region do not produce firearms, most illegal guns originate from the United States.
“We must control the flow of guns between the U.S. and our region,” the Prime Minister stated, citing the need for enhanced port security and detection facilities. He called for a holistic approach involving families, schools, churches, NGOs, and law enforcement to address crime at its root.
Dr. Gonsalves dismissed the notion that poverty is the primary driver of crime, asserting that many criminal actions stem from choice rather than circumstance. He also urged reforms within the RSVGPF to improve investigation techniques and prosecution rates.
A United Front Against Gun Crime
The workshop underscores the region’s commitment to tackling the proliferation of firearms and associated violence. By fostering greater collaboration between CARICOM nations and international partners like the United States, SVG and its neighbors are making strides toward a safer, more secure future-
