On 8 June 2021, the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism of the Organization of American States (OAS/CICTE) and the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS) held a virtual dialogue on “Preventing and Countering Extremism and Terrorism in the Caribbean.”
The objective of the dialogue was to strengthen the capacity of the member States of OAS and CARICOM to implement the provisions of the international and regional counter-terrorism frameworks.
Lt. Col Michael Jones, Executive Director, CARICOM IMPACS; Ms. Alison August Treppel, Executive Secretary, CICTE/OAS; H.E. Ms. Inga Rhonda King, Permanent Representative of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Nations; and Assistant Secretary-General Michèle Coninsx, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, delivered remarks during the opening ceremony of the workshop.
CTED also participated at the technical level during an interactive discussion on current and emerging terrorist threats in the Caribbean.
Assistant Secretary-General Coninsx recalled that the year 2021 marked not only the 20th anniversary of the adoption of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), but also the 15th anniversary of the General Assembly’s adoption of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
In that regard, Assistant Secretary-General Coninsx commended the work of all individual Member States, as well as that of CTED’s United Nations and regional partners, to provide critical support, including within the frameworks of CARICOM and OAS/CICTE, based in part on the gaps and technical assistance needs identified by the Counter-Terrorism Committee with a view to supporting Member States to effectively implement the Security Council resolutions and the relevant provisions of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
The international community had made significant progress, but could not afford to be complacent, as the threat of terrorism not only continued to persist, but also continued to adapt and evolve at a rapid pace. In the Caribbean, recruitment to terrorism, the volume and accessibility of terrorist propaganda, and potential exploitation of the banking system and informal economies to fund terrorist networks remained issues of concern. Because of its geography, the subregion was also vulnerable to maritime criminal activity. The hundreds of foreign terrorist fighters who had travelled from the subregion to the conflict zones also remained a threat. Greater cooperation between and among States of the subregion and with other regions was therefore more necessary than ever before.
CTED remains committed to strengthening multilateral and regional collaboration, enhancing its partnerships and identifying opportunities for further engagement, including between CTED, OAS/CICTE and CARICOM IMPACS, in ensuring effective responses to existing and new counter-terrorism challenges.