The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) held an “Intelligence Analysis Course” for its interns and recently recruited analysts from 2-5 July 2024, at IMPACS' headquarters in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

The training aimed to introduce participants to the field of intelligence, emphasise its value to regional security, and enhance their knowledge and understanding of the tools available to them in this domain.

The outcomes of the course included:

• Intelligence Analysis and Production:
  • Understanding assessments, estimates, and other intelligence products and key analytical techniques.
  • Identifying types of intelligence and sources of information and applying them to develop products and inform decisions.
  • Utilising the analytical framework.
  • Threat and risk assessments.
  • Critical Thinking.
• Understanding the role of critical thinking in intelligence analysis. Applying best practices to minimise compromise, bias, and intelligence errors.
• Intelligence Dissemination:
  • Understanding how to disseminate intelligence and the different types of products.
  • Managing stakeholder expectations.

Over the four days, the Course, led by Ms. Kurba-Marie Questelles, Senior Strategic Analyst, CARICOM IMPACS, provided insights into the Agency’s operations across the region and its specialised units, including the Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre (RIFC), the Joint Regional Communications Centre (JRCC), the CARICOM Crime Gun Intelligence Unit (CGIU), the Cyber Fusion Unit (CFU), the Strategy, Policy and Innovation Directorate, and the Maritime and Passenger Interdiction Units.

The course also included group work, video presentations, and scenario generation to equip participants with key analytical tools, techniques, and models for conducting assessments and analysis, thereby enhancing their capacity in the intelligence-gathering sphere.