The 27th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP) was held in Atlantis Coral Tower, Paradise Island, The Bahamas between the 21st and 25th May, 2012, under the theme “Transforming National Success into Regional Action: Successful Partnership for effective Policing”.
Present at the Conference were Commissioners from Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Montserrat, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos and US Virgin Islands. Bermuda was represented by a Deputy Commissioner of Police.
The goals of the Annual General Meeting and Conference are: to foster regional collaboration and co-operation in the development and implementation of policing strategies, systems and procedures; the development of professional and technical skills of police officers and to indentify proactive measures to prevent crime and improve police community relations.
At the Opening Ceremony the Commissioner of the Bahamas and President of the ACCP, Mr. Ellison Greenslade QPM, MBA welcomed participants. He said that for the region to gain success, we need commitment of all communities, as the public should take responsibility for their safety. He implored the Commissioners to improve strategies to deal with the scourge of crime in the region. He said that the focus should be on initiatives that are impactful and successful. He said partners such as IACP hold ACCP in high regard. In concluding he congratulated the Prime Minister and Cabinet on being elected to office.
Mr. Walter McNeil, Chief of Police and the newly elected President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) brought greetings to the Conference.
The Minister of National Security, Dr. the Hon. Bernard Nottage MP urged Commissioners to enjoy the island whilst here. He said several researchers have put forward strategies to fight crime, it is now time to stop alking and concentrate on implementation. He said Commissioners should combine efforts and collaboration in the assault on crime in the region.
The Rt Hon. Perry Christie MP, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, stated that he was happy to be giving his first public speech to the ACCP. The Prime Minister said that all countries in the region were faced with the business of protecting their citizens and are challenged with limited resources for fighting crime. This therefore means that our economies will either fail or succeed dependent on our strategies and resource availability. He advised Commissioners that notwithstanding availability of resources, it must be understood that the involvement of all stakeholders is integral to successful crime fighting. He urged Commissioners in the region to use best practices and policies to deal with challenges that face all states in the Caribbean.
He said there was need for new and radical approaches by Governments to deal with the scourge, thereby affording youths at risk an opportunity to move from a life of crime. He challenged Commissioners to be agents of change and take up the gauntlet and develop crime fighting strategies to combat criminality in the region. He also implore Commissioners to enjoy the island whilst here.
A series of plenary sessions were conducted throughout the five days of the Conference. The Commissioners heard presentations from invited speakers on law enforcement technology supported by carefully selected case studies. These laid the foundation for future policing trends, and will definitely serve to inform the strategic direction for regional law enforcement agencies.
Several topics/subject areas were presented and discussed at the Plenary and Business Sessions. Chief among these were:
- Community Based Policing, the Jamaican Experience – Replicating the experience and capitalizing on the benefits;
- Cybercrime and Hi-Tech Threats and Challenges – Global and Regional Perspectives;
- Emerging Drug Trafficking Trend and the Implications for the Region;
- Trafficking in Persons and its Implications;
- Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Unit, FBI;
- GPS and Satellite Tracking as it applies to Drug Trafficking, kidnapping and money laundering;
- Management of Organized Crime – Best Practices;
- Facing the Challenges: working regionally to address Transnational Crimes;
- Threats of Terrorism and the role of the Special Branch;
- Fighting Gangs in the Caribbean & Anti gang approaches and assistance;
- The RIBIN Network: The World’s Newest Ballistics Network;
- The Application of DNA Analysis to Criminal Casework;
- Firearms Marking Machine and its implementation in the Region;
- Illicit Trafficking of light arms and small weapons (SALW);
- Public Safety and the Role of the Private Security Organizations;
- Ethical Policing and Leadership within CARICOM.
Arising from the discussions aired at the Conference the ACCP agreed on actions to be taken regarding the way forward:
They unanimously committed to embrace the 6th July, 2006 CARICOM Memorandum of Understanding on the sharing of intelligence among member states.
To engage with CARICOM IMPACS to bring about the implementation of a Regional Integrated Ballistics Information Network (RIBIN) using Forensic Technology Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS) by linking the RIBIN hubs located in Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago; once RIBIN is established to have links with the USA-ATF National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) and INTERPOL Ballistic Information Network (IBIN), and to engage with Forensic Technology about the holding of a “Best Practice Workshop”, later this year.
Appointed Ms. Marcia Manning as ACCP Secretariat Manager.
Selected two (2) Associate members and four (4) Corporate members.
INL to conduct a “needs assessment” as proposed by Mr. Douglas McCaffery.
Agreed in closed sessions to a number of high level national security issues in support of public safety; nationally and regionally.
The Current Executive of the ACCP for 2012 – 2013 is as follows:
President – Commissioner Ellison Greenslade, Bahamas
1st Vice President – Commissioner Owen Ellington, Jamaica
2nd Vice President – Commissioner David Baines, Cayman Islands
Secretary/Treasurer – Commissioner Vernon Francois, St. Lucia
Immediate Past President (Consequential) – Commissioner Darwin Dottin, Barbados
The ACCP is deeply indebted to the Government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and ASP Dellareece Ferguson and her planning committee who worked assiduously to make the Conference a success.
Special gratitude must be extended to the management of Marvelfairs, Neptune Mobile Solutions, Motorola, Lojack, Wemco Security Co. Ltd and Atlantis Resort for their invaluable contribution to this year’s conference. Without their full support this conference would not have been possible.
The support for the ACCP and Law Enforcement in general is greatly