GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Police leaders from across the Caribbean have convened in Guyana this week for a landmark summit aimed at redefining regional security strategies, amidst urgent calls to confront rising crime, address officer mental health, and reinforce democratic stability.
The 39th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP) opened with a stern message from Guyanese President Irfaan Ali: crime must not be weaponized for political gain.
“Criminality should never be the pathway to power,” Ali asserted, warning that political forces that flirt with crime risk undermining democratic foundations. “Once you erode trust, democracy begins to collapse,” he said, adding that criminal gangs now pose an existential threat to governance structures in parts of the region.
Ali also announced Guyana’s plans to construct a regional forensic crime lab and extended offers for advanced training opportunities in India and at the Guyana Defence Force’s National Defence Institute, aimed at strengthening investigative capabilities across the Caribbean.
Outgoing ACCP President and Antigua & Barbuda Police Commissioner Atlee Rodney shifted focus toward a growing but under-discussed crisis within the ranks: the mental toll of policing. “Our officers face daily trauma and stress, yet mental health remains neglected,” Rodney said, urging member states to prioritize psychological support systems for law enforcement personnel.
“The mental wellness of our officers is not a luxury — it is a necessity,” he added. Rodney described the issue as a “hidden pandemic” and encouraged a regional push to normalize professional counseling and peer support.
The conference, which brings together top security officials from across the region, serves as a platform to foster inter-agency collaboration, harmonize crime-fighting methods, and reinforce collective preparedness.
With transnational crime, gang violence, and social unrest threatening the stability of several Caribbean nations, the summit underscores a growing urgency to act decisively and cooperatively.
“Our strength lies in our unity,” Rodney concluded. “Now is the time to teach, share, and build solutions — not just for our agencies, but for the safety of every citizen in the Caribbean.”
