Afterword: Rethinking Approaches to Security in the Caribbean

• Author: Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin
• Pages: 542-548

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Caribbean Security in the Age of Terror

Afterword:

Rethinking Approaches to Security in

the Caribbean*

Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin

Background

The greatest threats to security in the Caribbean are those that are

collectively described as transnational. Transnational threats are organised

criminal activities that transcend national borders. They include, but are not

restricted to: illicit traffic in drugs, arms and ammunition, terrorism, money

laundering, and corruption. Cocaine is not produced in the Caribbean, but

huge quantities transit the region, given its strategic location between the

major suppliers in South America and the major markets of North America

and Europe. Significant quantities of marijuana are cultivated in several

Caribbean countries. However, the Caribbean is much more than a mere

conduit for the movement of illicit drugs, and there are many reasons why

countries within the region should be extremely concerned.

Among the reasons to be concerned about the transit of illicit drugs are:

•the link to increased levels of crime and violence;

•the connection to the trade and use of illegal arms and ammunition;

•the potential for the corruption of state officials and institutions;

•the negative effect on legitimate business (money laundering);

•the increase in the level of drug abuse and its attendant social

consequences;

•the creation of a negative reputation for states and their citizens; and

•the link to the funding or facilitation of acts of terrorism.