Addressing the opening ceremony of the 49th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM on Sunday (July 6) at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, Prime Minister Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness called for CARICOM nations to take a strong and coordinated stance against organized criminal gangs, urging that gang violence be regarded as acts of terrorism.
Dr. Holness highlighted that gang networks have evolved far beyond traditional street-level crime, now posing a serious threat to the region’s security. He stressed the need for urgency and cooperation similar to global responses to terrorism.
“I am on record as saying that we need to launch a war on gangs of a similar magnitude and nature to the war on terror,” the CARICOM Chairman stated.
The Prime Minister pointed to a July 2024 United Nations report that identified gang problems in Jamaica, St. Lucia, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago, linking the surge in drug production in South America and the widespread availability of firearms to rising homicide rates.
He also cited the ongoing crisis in Haiti as a stark reminder of the urgent need for decisive action.
“It is the organization of violence for profit. It is not merely street-level, dispossessed, socially excluded youngsters. There is a level of intelligence, a level of resources, a level of organization that has been brought to crime and violence, which is being used for profit,” Dr. Holness explained.
“So, my own view is that policy and jurisprudence need to evolve to address this matter,” he added.
Dr. Holness emphasized that the scale and complexity of the issue cannot be solved overnight or through short-term measures, but will require significant investment and unified public support across the Caribbean.
He pointed to the JCF Technology Expo 2.0 showcased at the conference as a sign of shared commitment to building a safer, more resilient region by exchanging ideas, innovations, and best practices.
“There’s also an opportunity for you to see how the significant investments made by the Government of Jamaica in national security over the past nine years are yielding results in crime reduction and public safety,” he noted.
Turning again to Haiti, Dr. Holness said the meeting will provide a critical platform for continued dialogue on the ongoing crisis, reaffirming CARICOM’s commitment to solutions that promote peace, stability, and development for both Haiti and the wider Caribbean community.
The 49th Meeting of Heads of Government runs through July 8, with delegations from 48 countries in attendance. The agenda includes vital regional issues such as food and nutrition security, climate change, the Haiti situation, regional security, digital resilience, and advancing the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
