SafeCaribbean – Regional Symposium: Violence as a Public Health Issue

Regional Symposium: Violence as a Public Health Issue – The Crime Challenge

Upcoming Event

Launch of the Caribbean Firearms Study on 26 April at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad

CARICOM IMPACS partnered with the Small Arms Survey to conduct a comprehensive, evidence-based study of illicit arms trafficking to and within the Caribbean and the socio-economic costs of firearms-related violence in the Region. The joint CARICOM IMPACS – SAS Report, the first Regional Caribbean Firearms Study, will be launched in April 2022. The Report aims to provide CARICOM Member States with a data-driven, policy-relevant analysis of the scope and scale of firearms holdings in the region, illicit arms and ammunition flows, and the costs of firearms violence.

In alignment with the ‘four-step public health approach as a framework for preventing violence’, CARICOM IMPACS has partnered with University of the West Indies, CARPHA and the SAS to advance further Research to identify, synthesize and disseminate evidence on what works to reduce violence in the Caribbean

Watch the Regional Symposium: Violence as a Public Health Issue – the Crime Challenge on any of the streaming platforms below:

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Featured video - Interview with ASG Drayton

Ms Alison Drayton, Assistant Secretary-General, Human and Social Development, CARICOM Secretariat, discusses the upcoming “Regional Symposium: Violence as a Public Health Issue –

the Crime Challenge”, in Port-of-Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago | 17-18 April 2023.

MEET THE Speakers

Heads of Government

Hon. Philip Davis, KC, MP

Prime Minster of The Bahamas & Chair of the Conference of Heads of Government

Dr the Honourable Keith Rowley

Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago & Lead Head with Responsibility for Security

Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, S.C., M.P

Prime Minister of Barbados

Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit

Prime Minister of Dominica

Hon. Dickon Mitchell

Prime Minister of Grenada

Most Honourable Andrew Holness

Prime Minister of Jamaica

Hon. Philip J. Pierre

Prime Minister of Saint Lucia

Hon. Dr. Terrance Michael Drew

Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis

Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves

Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines

CARICOM Secretariat

Dr. Carla Barnett

Secretary-General, Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

Technical Experts

Dr Joy St. John

Executive Director, Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA)

Lieutenant Colonel Michael Jones

Executive Director, CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS)

Lieutenant Colonel Michael Jones

Executive Director, CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS)

Lt Col Michael Jones is the current Executive Director, CARICOM IMPACS. He was appointed the substantive head of the Agency on 1 March 2021 after having been appointed to act by the Council of Ministers of National Security and Law Enforcement from 6th January 2018. He continues to also maintain the substantive duties as Chief Operations Officer, Border Security at the IMPACS Joint Regional Communications Centre (JRCC) in Barbados until the recruitment process for a new COO has been completed. IMPACS JRCC is one of two operational sub-agencies of the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) located in Barbados with a primary focus on border security.

After joining the Agency in March 2009 as Deputy Director, he was promoted to the position of Director by October 2010. The nomenclature of the position was changed in 2012 to Chief Operations Officer, Border Security when the Agency underwent a review and a change in structure.

A national of Barbados, he holds a baccalaureate degree in Mathematics and Computer Science, and a Master of Science degree in Project Management & Evaluation, both from Cave Hill Campus, University of West Indies and a Masters of Research from the University of Liverpool. He has been a serving member of the Barbados Defence Force as a Commissioned Officer (Reserves) for the last 27 years; and currently serves as the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee for the entire Barbados Defence Force.

Over the last 15 years, he has also been a part-time lecturer in Management Studies Department of Cave Hill, teaching in the area of Information Systems and Computer Applications for Business and also serves as a Member of the inaugural Advisory Committee of the Centre for Biosecurity Studies at Cave Hill Campus.

Lt. Col. Jones is currently leading the Agency with a view to strengthening its capacities in Strategic Intelligence, enhancing Border Security and regional capabilities to address issues related to illegal firearms, Human Trafficking and Cybersecurity. The Agency is also focused on increasing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA). Lt. Col Jones is seeking to put the Agency on a path of financial self-sustainability and growth and has research interests in the areas of data mining for product development.