Experts support establishment of Caribbean Gangs Database

Senior Multimedia Reporter

radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt

Days after Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced the establishment of a Caribbean Gangs Database, regional security expert Garvin Heerah has said a Caribbean Community (Caricom) Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is also needed to combat transnational crime.

Responding to questions from Guardian Media, Heerah said in the face of the pervasive influence of gangs across the Caribbean, the CBI was urgently needed. He outlined how the CBI could act as a centralised intelligence sharing and investigative body focused on dismantling criminal networks.

Heerah also noted the importance of targeting transnational crimes such as narcotics trafficking, human trafficking, firearms smuggling, cybercrime, and money laundering.

“Criminal enterprises have become increasingly sophisticated, leveraging technology, exploiting porous borders, and creating regional networks that undermine public safety, governance, and economic stability. To counter these threats effectively, Caricom member states must unify under a single, robust, and centralised investigative body,” Heerah stated.

He stressed the importance of partnering with international organisations like Interpol and the FBI to adopt global best practices.

“The integration of technology would allow for advanced crime mapping, predictive policing, and more effective resource allocation. Furthermore, collaboration with international partners would enable access to specialised training, intelligence databases, and operational support, ensuring that the bureau remains at the forefront of global efforts to combat organised crime,” Heerah said.

He also highlighted the bureau’s potential role in community development and countering the appeal of gang culture through education, rehabilitation, and public awareness campaigns.

“This sends a powerful message to the citizens of Caricom nations: that their governments are committed to a safe, secure, and prosperous region. The time to act is now before criminal elements further entrench themselves and exploit our vulnerabilities,” Heerah urged.

He said the proposed database and a potential CBI represented a collective push for stronger, more unified regional security measures in the face of growing criminal sophistication.

Former police commissioner Gary Griffith welcomed the Caribbean Gangs Database as a necessary tool to address regional criminal networks. Griffith described the database as pivotal to combating organised crime.

“Any amalgamation of the protective services, sharing of intelligence, and proper information to ensure successful operations will always be a beneficial factor toward crime reduction and pegging back criminal elements. Anyone who has an issue with this recommendation is likely sympathetic to criminal elements,” Griffith stated.

He added that the value of the database extended beyond tracking the movement of criminal elements and gang intelligence across Caribbean countries. It would also address financial crimes, including the transfer of funds and wire transactions.

“Where we have the FIU in Trinidad and Tobago, this will assist our FIU in establishing easier dialogue with other arms of law enforcement to address the problem of criminals transferring funds from one country to another through covert means. This will significantly impact white-collar crime,” Griffith explained.

He further recommended the establishment of a regional operational command centre to monitor the movement of criminal elements across Caricom.

Speaking during Caricom’s second regional symposium, Violence as a Public Health Issue, recently held in Georgetown, Guyana, Dr Rowley revealed that “the Caribbean Gang Database will be a key resource for law enforcement.”

He also announced the passage of the Caricom Arrest Warrant Bill, which seeks to harmonise extradition procedures among participating nations.

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