PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (CMC) — Recent data from the Caribbean has suggested that there have been increases in the number of migrants being smuggled around the region.

To address the concerning trend, the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the Caribbean Community Implementing Agency for Crime and Security (Caricom IMPACS), hosted a “one-of-a-kind” two-day meeting on drafting legislation to counter migrant smuggling in the region.

The meeting, which ended on Wednesday, was organised by the IOM’s Western Hemisphere Programme through funding from the US Department of State Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration, and was attended by 25 Caribbean government officials, including from Immigration and Customs Departments, and Offices of Attorneys General which all have vital roles in drafting legislation of this type.

Regional Director for North America, Central America and the Caribbean, Michelle Klein-Solomon underscored the “importance of hosting such a significant forum of government officials to address pressing issues on migration in the region. However, due to technical difficulties, IOM Programme Support Officer, Brendan Tarnay, provided further remarks on her behalf.

He noted that a gathering of this magnitude shows Caricom’s and national governments’ commitment to realising the objectives of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), particularly objective nine — to strengthen the transnational response to the smuggling of migrants.

“It is particularly promising for those who have been put into situations of vulnerability due to these networks, as Caribbean States aim to ensure that smuggled migrants do not become liable to criminal prosecution having been the object of smuggling,” Tarnay said, noting that this would need to balance respect for countries’ legal systems while ensuring that responses are in accordance with international law.

Meanwhile, deputy director of the International Affairs Unit at the Ministry of National Security, Richard Lynch, echoed the importance of this meeting in achieving the objectives of the GCM. He said that counter-smuggling is a diverse issue that requires multi-agency collaboration to address, which Trinidad and Tobago has implemented to advance its efforts.

According to Lynch, further policy development, strategic planning, and the “implementation imperative” have emerged as the most effective means for national security leadership and evaluating matters of migrant smuggling.

“This endeavour will further advance the region’s compliance with the UN Convention on Transnational Organized Crime and affect the protocol on the smuggling of migrants by land, sea, and air,” Lynch said.

The meeting included a review of a model counter-smuggling of migrants’ legislation that was developed in 2021, in addition to agreeing on the next steps towards the advancing legislation at a national level, its operationalisation and the development of standard operating procedures. Discussions were facilitated by several skilled migration specialists from within and outside the region.

The gathering also facilitated a landmark Caribbean-Pacific exchange between the Chair of Caricom Standing Committee of Chiefs of Immigration, Leroy Joseph, and head of the Pacific Immigration Development Community (PIDC) Secretariat, Ioane Alama.

The exchange addressed the linkages between environmental disasters and irregular movements as Small Island Developing States seek to develop response mechanisms through regional cooperation to address climate change, natural disasters and health emergencies, such as COVID-19.

Furthermore, countries were invited to share their experiences, challenges and good practices on counter-smuggling of migrants. In-depth discussions also highlighted the linkages between the smuggling of migrants and related crimes of human, drug and arms trafficking.

Subsequently, IOM participants paid special attention to compliance with the Protocol Against Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, which has been signed by all Caribbean states, except St Lucia.