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On June 20, 2022, a readout of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ meeting with leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Dominican Republic show efforts to increase security cooperation and engagement, including countering small arms trafficking.[1] During March and April 2022, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM)[2] and the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS) hosted a Technical Meeting on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and Organized Crime in the Fishing Industry.[3] On September 2, 2021, INTERPOL and the Government of Barbados announced the signing of an agreement to pen an INTERPOL liaison office aimed at increasing Caribbean police cooperation and security.[4]
[1] White House, Joint Readout of President Joe Biden & Vice President Kamala Harris’ Meeting with Leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Dominican Republic, June 10, 2022.
[2] The CRFM was inaugurated on March 27, 2003 in Belize City, Belize, where it has its headquarters, following the signing of the “Agreement Establishing the CRFM” on February 4, 2002. It is an inter-government organization whose mission is “to promote and facilitate the responsible utilization of the region’s fisheries and other aquatic resources for the economic and social benefits of the current and future population of the region.”
[3] CARICOM, CARICOM IMPACS, CRFM Partner with Norway, UNDP To Fortify Region’s Response to Fisheries Crime, https://today.caricom.org, Apr. 7, 2022.
[4] INTERPOL, Closing ranks on emerging organized crime: INTERPOL to open new Caribbean office, Sept. 2, 2021.