WASHINGTON (CMC) – St Kitts-Nevis Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew says the persistent issue of crime and security continues to loom large in the global community and the 15-member Caribbean Community (Caricom) member states are no exception.

Addressing the meeting to discuss the “Special Security Concerns Of The Small Island And Low-Lying Coastal Developing States Of The Caribbean”, Drew told the Organization of American States (OAS)-sponsored event that the forum serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address the pressing challenges of gang violence and illicit firearms access, particularly in the Caribbean region.

Drew, who is the chairman of the Caricom Council of Ministers of National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE), said the theme of the conference is critical not only to Caricom,  but to every member state that recognises the value of peace and security to our shared vision for fortifying the Americas security, democracy, development, and human rights.

“Today, we focus on the special security concerns of the Small Island and Low-lying Coastal Developing States of the Caribbean, which are many, which are daunting, which are real. Our success at addressing them will make our region and all of the Americas a safer space in which our people can thrive in peace.”

Drew said he wanted to commend the organisers for convening this forum, which highlights the vital importance of collaboration and partnership in tackling the longstanding challenges of gang violence and illicit firearms access.

“Crime, especially gang-related violence, continues to evolve and grow increasingly complex in our region, necessitating innovative and holistic approaches to effectively combat it.”

Drew said that the region’s contemporary geopolitical landscape is characterised by unprecedented global interdependence and the proliferation of new technological tools, underpinned by the ubiquity of social media platforms.

He said this phenomenal interconnectedness underscores the reality that events in one corner of the world can have far-reaching repercussions across the hemisphere, impacting regions and nations far removed from the origin of the event.

“In this context, the traditional boundaries between domestic and international security blur, compelling governments and policymakers to understand new dimensions, risks, and threats, and adopt a nuanced approach to security risks and threats at the national, regional, hemispheric, and global levels.

”Therefore, as governments and policymakers, it is critically important that we possess a clear understanding of the security risks and threats facing the regions, the hemisphere, the global community, and their implications for our nations and peoples. By extension, it is equally essential that governments and policymakers understand the distinct characteristics of different Regions and sub-regions within the hemisphere.”

Prime Minister Drew said that despite facing shared challenges such as gang violence and illicit firearms access, Caricom represents a unique entity with its own set of vulnerabilities and complexities, distinct from those of other sub-regions in the hemisphere.

“Caricom security interests must be understood within the context of the special peculiarities of Small Island and Low-Lying Coastal Developing States in the Caribbean.”