On Tuesday 30th July, 2024, Senator the Honourable Dr. Amery Browne, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, deposited Trinidad and Tobago’s Instrument of Ratification of the Protocol Amending the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas to Incorporate the Council for National Security and Law Enforcement as an Organ of the Community, and the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security as an Institution of the Community. The event occurred in the margins of the 47th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in St. George’s, Grenada. Ms. Elizabeth Solomon, CARICOM Assistant Secretary General, Foreign and Community Relations. Also present to witness the deposit was Ms. Lisa Shoman, General Counsel of the Caribbean Community Secretariat.
In 2005, in recognition of the various threats to citizens’ security and to other regional assets and institutions, “Security” was added as the Fourth Pillar of the Community. Subsequently, in order to promote the development and implementation of a collective response to the crime and security priorities of CARICOM Member States, the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community in 2006, agreed to establish the Council for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE). The Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) was established for the primary purpose of operationalising the policies, objectives, and actions agreed by the CONSLE. Trinidad and Tobago is home to the Headquarters of IMPACS.
To allow for the establishment of CONSLE and IMPACS, the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas was amended to incorporate the Council for National Security and Law Enforcement as an Organ of the Community and the Protocol was opened for signature in 2016. Trinidad and Tobago signed the Protocol in 2016, and by depositing the Instrument of Ratification, the country has fulfilled its obligations as a Member State towards the entry into force of the Protocol in the establishment of same.
As the Lead Head for Security in the Quasi Cabinet of CARICOM, Trinidad and Tobago recognises the critical role of CONSLE in providing strategic direction for regional security policy; and IMPACS in its ‘on the ground’ operationalising of the decisions of the CONSLE.
