Bermuda Chairs Regional Crime Stoppers
Bermuda’s Alex MacDonald explained that Crime Stoppers has a pivotal role to play in the maintenance of law and order, civil living, and good governance in the Caribbean region when he became chairman elect of a new regional body earlier this month.
On Monday, March 12, the inaugural meeting of the Caribbean/Bermuda and Latin America Crime Stoppers Incorporated began at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
The meeting was attended by delegates from Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Belize, Cayman Islands, El Salvador, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Kitts & Nevis, Turks and Caicos, and host country Trinidad and Tobago.
It’s estimated that over the last 15 years, Crime Stoppers Bermuda has received more than 3,600 tips, helping to secure dozens of convictions, the seizure of almost $22 million worth of drugs and the recovery of more than $1.6 million worth of stolen property.
Minister of National Security of Trinidad & Tobago, Brigadier John Sandy, congratulated the delegates on their efforts to assist in the control of crime in the various island states of the Caribbean.
He further observed that the formation of the new regional entity should be seen as “a vehicle for crime stoppers to gather information … through anonymous reporting”. He reported that “since the establishment of Crime Stoppers Trinidad and Tobago in 1999, more than 16,000 tips were received and more than 7,000 cases of crime were solved.”
According to Brigadier Sandy, issues of crime, safety, and security were all topics that engaged the attention of political leaders, at the local and regional level, particularly where these issues had the potential to negatively impact the realisation of economic survival as a people and challenge their ability to earn foreign exchange through tourism products and services.
He exhorted those gathered to continue to provide support to the respective law enforcement agencies, and explained their role as invaluable to national and regional safety and security.
He explained that in its current state, the regional body was the largest gathering of National Programmes in Crime Stoppers International, and reported that St. Lucia and St. Kitts and Nevis were well on the way to become members. He urged delegates not to be complacent but to forge forward in their efforts to provide a meaningful service to police organisations, while providing an environment for the people of the region to live, work and engage in business.
John Aboud, chairman of Crime Stoppers Trinidad and Tobago and vice chairman elect of the new regional body, expressed optimism about the future of Crime Stoppers and challenged delegates to consider programmes that are realistic, achievable and reflect relevance to each territory.
This, he observed as critical since crime and criminal activity has no boundaries, hence the formation of the new regional body, which he said, “provides greater scope for improved collaboration between Crime Stoppers and police agencies, as they work in unison, to assist with the management of crime at both the national and regional levels, through engaging public support and anonymous tips”.
By the end of the second day of deliberations, delegates had identified strategic goals, and objectives, and endorsed an organisational structure to support its projections for growth, effectiveness, and efficiency in the region. It was agreed that one delegate from each national programme would serve on the board of directors.
By the conclusion of this inaugural meeting, delegates had acquired valuable information, developed informal linkages and appeared energized to do the business of crime stopping in their respective countries.
Congrats, Sgt. Oops, Mr. MacDonald. Continue to do your great work!! You were and still are great at what you do! Be Safe.