The terrorism matrix

However, given its geopolitical grievances and the elusive, untreated nature of its motivation, terrorism - especially the lone wolf and suicidal types - is far from eradication. Last week’s Manchester Arena tragic bombing exemplifies this. And US President Donald Trump’s recent address to the Arab world attracts scepticism. Terrorism must be dealt with as one component of a matrix. For public interest, I present excerpts from my ACCP address: We now know that transnational organised crime has reciprocal connections with terrorism, drug and human trafficking.

Several reputable researchers have called this nefarious combination the “turbulent nexus of transnational organized crime.” Large-scale terrorism like 9/11 in the USA, London underground bombing, Belgium airport or Paris attacks need financial support coming through illegal means. And money from drug trafficking requires money laundering too. So with the increased tightening of disclosure rules in the Caribbean, terrorism and trafficking get surreptitiously linked to organised crime. Small-island borders make Caribbean states very vulnerable.

Faced with rising threats, Caribbean policing now faces at least three challenges: 1. To what extent can Caribbean law enforcement and security agencies win the fight against national and transnational organised crime and its satellites - drug and human trafficking - when they face corruption and complicity inside politics, customs, immigration and even in the private sector? The international literature emphasises that organised crime and its accomplices, both national and transnational, if left unchecked, can corrupt small governments, corporations, protective services, even the judiciary.

This parallel underground economy subverts a country’s formal economy.

Transnational organized crime and terrorism are explosive issues not only because of their clandestine operations but also because some of their collaborators are often drawn from otherwise lawful, church-going people in politics, business, law enforcement and even the criminal justice system.

2. Then there is the stern warning by the Financial Crimes Network (FinCen) to five Caricom countries (St Kitts-Nevis, Antigua-Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia and Dominica) about possible corruption from selling citizenships to residents from countries with established international mafia. Even with its investment possibilities, this policy has instigated unsettling controversies in several Eastern Caribbean States, quite recently in Dominica.

3. To what extent will the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) immigration facility add to the existing pressures on Caribbean policing? Given the intrinsic meaning of transnational organised crime, the “free” movement of Caricom citizens through the CSME from one Caricom country to another, now deserves stronger security vigilance.

All this is to suggest that the Caribbean environment is faced with increasing security threats from sources which leave the police at the receiving end. But there is growing hope. For example, the 2017 launch in Barbados of the regional Exercise Tradewinds security initiative which is designed “to improve cooperation and regional cooperation against Transnational Organised Crime.” Also, Caricom’s Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) continues to have a strategic and intelligence-sharing role.

There is the US SOUTHCOM partnership, Shiprider unilateral agreements, the Regional Security System (RSS), Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre (Trinidad), Joint Regional Command Centre (Barbados) and the overarching 2006 Security Assistance Treaty.

It is now well known that, especially in western democracies, the rapid growth of transnational organised crime has been the unintended consequence of open borders, economic globalization and sophisticated technology. Transnational organized criminals take quick advantage of the democratic freedoms given to lawful citizens.

Democracies, especially Caribbean ones, have several doors open to abuse by terrorists, traffickers and launderers - freedom of movement and speech, cyber-communication and freedom of association. The difficulty for both police and government arises in attempts to curtail these freedoms to block terrorists, traffickers and launderers. Political controversy erupts.

Public education on the security matrix builds public support for law enforcement.

Democracy for the lawful means access for criminals too.