The Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security’s (CARICOM IMPACS) Crime Gun Intelligence Unit (CGIU) will host a series of sensitisation and awareness meetings as part of its efforts to address gun crime in the region. The first round of meetings will be held in St. Kitts and Nevis from 29 April – 2 May 2024.

The meetings are being held in collaboration with CARICOM IMPACS’ United States Department of State partners, in particular the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). Participants will be from the St. Kitts and Nevis law enforcement including Ministers, Parliamentarians and Senior Officials from both Customs and Police.
According to Lt. Col. Michael Jones, Executive Director, CARICOM IMPACS: “These meetings aim to support CARICOM countries in detecting and stemming the wave of firearms-related crimes which are pervading our national and regional borders.”

The Weapons Compass: The Caribbean Firearms Study 2023 notes that: “The Caribbean Region suffers from some of the world’s highest rates of violent deaths, with firearms used in the majority of these crimes. Although most homicide victims are men, the Caribbean as a region also faces one of the world’s highest rates of violent deaths among women.”

The establishment of the CGIU was endorsed by the 24th Meeting of the Council of Ministers of National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE) on 6 October 2022. Its aim is to facilitate greater collaboration and information sharing to bolster CARICOM Member States’ ability to combat firearms trafficking in the Region, thereby improving public safety.
Other meetings are schedule to take place in all 15 CARICOM Members States over the coming months.