Something In The Air: The Caribbean's Air Quality Crisis

THE STAR BUSINESSWEEK AUGUST 17, 2019

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IN THIS EDITION OF

SOMETHING IN THE AIR: THE CARIBBEAN’S AIR QUALITY CRISIS Caribbean air is in crisis. Turned into a noxious soup by vehicle emissions, cruise ship fumes, burning waste and industrial pollutants, air quality is the next frontier in the battle for better health. According to the United Nations, there are almost 14,000 premature deaths in the Caribbean each year caused by air pollution. Around the globe, bad air has become one of the biggest killers on the planet with the World Health Organisation linking this type of pollution to higher rates of cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. It’s also been tied to premature birth rates and neurological disorders in children.

BY CATHERINE MORRIS, STAR BUSINESSWEEK CORRESPONDENT Continued on page 4

SBW THE STAR BUSINESSWEEK

Finders Keepers: The Future of Caribbean Archaeology Whenever the subject of archaeology comes up in popular culture, a couple of perceptions are common. Firstly, the secrets unearthed when a new discovery is made and the further understanding it brings about certain aspects of human history; secondly, the ‘Indiana Jones’-style world of danger and intrigue that can arise when people see ancient relics as items to plunder.

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The New Caribbean Customs Organisation, in Context For many countries, in many ways the trend to globalisation has been profound. Here in the Caribbean the move towards a more economically borderless world has increased opportunities in trade, cultural exchange and diplomacy.

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Cruise ships: a dirty kind of luxury

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AUGUST 17, 2019

MAKING MOVES

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The STAR Businessweek PROUDLY PRODUCED BY STAR PUBLISHING CO (1987)

CARIFESTA-BOUND TARRIBA DO NASCIMIENTO TALKS MÊME BÊTE…

BY DEAN NESTOR STAR BUSINESSWEEK CORRESPONDENT

Tarriba do Nascimiento, CEO of Même Bête, pictured with one of her signature leather bags.

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or a decade now, owner and Creative Director of ‘Même Bête…’, Tarriba do Nascimiento, has focused on providing the best in handmade, luxury leather bags, to the delight of her growing list of customers. But the entrepreneur is not about to sit on her many accomplishments, as she strives to push her company on to new heights. Busy preparing for this month’s CARIFESTA in T&T, do Nascimiento found the time to fit STAR Businessweek into her busy schedule, to discuss ‘Même Bête…’

HOW DID IT ALL GET STARTED? do NASCIMIENTO: I went to Ethiopia to do business development work with business women and a lot of them were crafters and artisans so I saw a lot of the type of work that they did. Ethiopia has a well defined leather industry and it was very interesting to me. They make all sorts of leather products like bags; so I thought I would make some nice Afro-centric bags. I started doing it as a little side job, but some time after I started doing the bags full time.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEN AND NOW? do NASCIMIENTO: My skills have improved tremendously. It has moved from being a side gig to a formal business with a location and staff and everything. We export now. A lot of styles we do are some of the styles I did ten years ago and you can just see the improvement in the finishing and in the refinement of the design.

WHAT INSPIRES THE STYLES? do NASCIMIENTO: It started off being Afro-centric but that was when I was in Africa. Now that I’ve moved back to Saint Lucia I’m trying to make it a little more tropical so I’ve changed my prints a lot. I still do a little bit of Afro-centric prints, so I like to keep that option but, for the most part, I use anything that’s colourful and bright, fun and vibrant.

WHAT’S THE REASON FOR THE NAME ‘MÊME BÊTE…’? do NASCIMIENTO: I wanted a creole name that people would remember. I want everything that I do with ‘Même Bête…’

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CARIBBEAN ARCHAEOLOGY

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AUGUST 17, 2019

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FINDERS KEEPERS: THE FUTURE OF CARIBBEAN ARCHAEOLOGY

BY ED KENNEDY, STAR BUSINESSWEEK CORRESPONDENT

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henever the subject of archaeology comes up in popular culture, a couple of perceptions are common. Firstly, the secrets unearthed when a new discovery is made and the further understanding it brings about certain aspects of human history; secondly, the ‘Indiana Jones’-style world of danger and intrigue that can arise when people see ancient relics as items to plunder.

The reality of day to day archaeology is somewhere in between.

It’s a field where professionals are hard at work seeking to conserve and build our knowledge of human heritage. Yet, even in the absence of super villains seeking to steal treasures such as the Ark of the Covenant or the Holy Grail, archaeology is subject to politics, mismanagement and crime.

With the rise of the digital world changing the way in which archaeology and tourism are pursued within the Caribbean, now is an important time to consider how the present will be viewed historically as an economic and social commodity.

ARCHAEOLOGY REDEFINED The digital economy has revolutionised the way in which we live and work. Just about every industry has felt the effects of it but, for archaeologists, the consequences have been particularly notable. Just as the ubiquity of smartphones has brought new blessings and burdens to tourism, a similar impact can be seen in archaeology. Today it’s easier than ever for an archaeologist to share research, engage with peers globally, raise awareness of major new finds, and highlight threats to them. The job of archaeologists has been made easier, thanks to the digital world.

Important finds have even occurred via use of everyday technology like Google Earth.

The downside to this is the ease in which the field can become subject to commercialization, especially in an era when many institutions like universities, that once provided secure employment to professionals, now operate in an environment of casual employment and rolling contracts. Put simply, some of today’s archaeologists would be tempted by a lucrative offer to work privately, even if it goes against ethics.

When such activity is allowed to occur, it stimulates the ‘grey trade’

The future of archaeology in the Caribbean must be managed carefully to maximise real progress, but guard against lasting damage to the region’s history and heritage. (Source: Pixabay)

that exists globally. It’s a market where antiquities that are culturally significant to a nation and its people are sold among collectors, with no regard to the public interest. The practice is not confined to shady backroom deals; a number of leading auction houses have faced lawsuits, fines and public outcry for selling antiquities with uncertain origins or a where a nation laid direct claim to them.

PRESERVING LOCAL TREASURES Tourism is vital to the economies of many Caribbean countries. It’s an industry that provides the potential for economic growth, and marketing new major archaeological sites and finds could be a boon. Think of tourism destinations like Machu Picchu in Peru.

Recent years have seen discoveries in Honduras’ ‘lost city’ region of species previously thought extinct; lost art has been found on Puerto Rico’s Isla de Mona, and the underwater shipwreck of the Spanish merchant ship Encarnación was discovered off Panama. Not only are these magnificent finds but they represent diverse cultural offerings, ones that in time could sync with a variety of chartered tours that appeal to hikers, sailors and scuba divers, alongside culture buffs.

Tours must be balanced with the preservation of such sites, ensuring that their significance, and the reverence shown by citizens, are not undermined. This can be a tough balance to strike, and there’s no

reason to believe it will become easier, which is why this conversation must be held now.

THE SAINT LUCIA STORY The reality of this situation is something near and dear to Saint Lucia. Bishnu Tulsie, Director of the Saint Lucia National Trust, indicated to STAR Businessweek that the good work done thus far remains small compared to what could be achieved with greater technology and financial resources.

Said Tulsie: “Whereas organisations like the Saint Lucia National Trust and the Archaeological and Historical Society have a mandate to, and have done some work in, mapping and recovering elements of Saint Lucia’s archaeological legacy, these efforts are hampered by inadequate technical and financial resources . . . the requisite framework to manage these objects and sites is all but non- existent. Who owns the nation’s archaeological assets? — An important question that has no legal answer, so persons who find these artefacts just keep them.”

Director Tulsie called on the government of Saint Lucia to take action today: “The first step is for government to establish an appropriate policy and legal framework to protect the nation’s archaeological history. This framework should address, inter

alia, ownership of the artefacts and sites, guidelines for their recording, registration, preservation and accessibility. The next challenge/ task is for government to acquire all known archaeological sites and provide them protection and sustainable use. Coupled with this should be extensive research to locate, map and study all archaeological sites.”

THE WISDOM OF THE AGES Archaeology helps us understand where we have been as a human race.

We have made some good progress, though not yet enough, in efforts to protect our cultural history and learn from it. Those tempted to rest on their laurels should remember: “Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

Working to protect the archaeological history of Caribbean nations is plain common sense. Our capacity to protect our history has a close relationship with our ability to guard our future, combatting further damage to our natural environment and the threats posed by climate change.

The path ahead begins with our past, and more effective efforts to conserve it will ensure that future generations of the Caribbean family will be informed by their history, and have the opportunity to SBW build on it.

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ENVIRONMENT / AIR QUALITY

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SOMETHING IN THE AIR: THE CARIBBEAN’S AIR QUALITY CRISIS Continued from page 1

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side from the devastating impact on human health, contaminants in the air also have a worrying effect on environmental health. Island ecosystems are sensitive and very attuned to deterioration in the air which threatens the survival of the Caribbean’s unique flora and fauna. This, combined with the high cost of health services, makes air pollution a multi-layered threat with farreaching socio-economic repercussions.

PROBLEM POLLUTERS In the ongoing and heated debate on regional public health, there’s been much talk of improving diet, promoting active lifestyles and eliminating alcohol and drug use. While these are undoubtedly crucial, improving air quality is just as important but often not as high on the agenda.

In terms of reducing vehicle emissions, there is a lot more work to do. Prevention being better than a cure, governments can focus on getting more cars off the road by developing effective public transportation networks and promoting non-motorised forms of travel such as cycling. Tighter regulation on vehicle emissions is also necessary, and fuel sulphur content benchmarks must be set with strict enforcement and penalties for any offenders. According to a 2017 report from the United Nations Environment Programme, only four countries in the Caribbean have nationwide legislation, laws or policies specifically addressing air quality (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica).

But it’s not just vehicles that are contributing to the Caribbean’s toxic burden. Cruise ships are also one of the biggest polluters in the region, churning out exhaust fumes containing metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other cancer-linked particulates. A report, released in January by Stand Earth, found that the air quality on four Carnival vessels was comparable to that seen in some of the world’s most polluted cities such as Beijing and Santiago. Two of the four cruise ships studied for the report were sailing from the States to the Caribbean.

Environmental group Friends of the Earth recently rated the world’s top cruise lines in terms of their work in reducing air pollution at ports. The two worst offenders – Carnival Corp and Royal Caribbean – are also two of the biggest cash cows in the region’s waters. With cruise ships responsible for a massive slice of the tourism economy, Caribbean governments are reluctant to rock the boat and take these floating polluters to task for treating island ports as dumping grounds.

Outdoor air pollution is a recognised risk but the air inside your home is the biggest threat, according to the United Nations which says indoor air pollution

A Carnival cruise ship spotted spewing clouds of black smoke from its funnel while docked in the Bahamas. These images were captured only one month after Carnival was fined US$ 20million for environmental crimes by a court in Miami, where the company is headquartered.

(cooking with solid fuel over an open fire) is the leading cause of air quality-related deaths in the region. Fuel quality and the efficiency of cooking stoves are the key concerns in this area alongside a push to move from traditional open fire cooking to greater use of electricity and renewables.

The kitchen isn’t the only dangerous area in the house. The onslaught of pests in the Caribbean means that many households regularly use pesticides to rid themselves of mosquitos, termites and other critters. Living in a poorly ventilated property that relies on air conditioning only exacerbates the impact of pesticides — circulating the toxic chemicals throughout the house.

ACTION NEEDED In 2015 the government of Saint Lucia pledged to “develop a national plan to address air quality issues as to date there has been little or no targeted research in the area of indoor/outdoor air quality and thus there is little or no specific data available.” The plan was promised “in the medium to long-term”. Four years on there is little sign of the envisioned “robust and effective policy, regulatory and institutional environment.”

In the meantime, the scale of the problem is steadily increasing. With tourism numbers soaring, development increasing and the population growing, Caribbean air will only get more congested. While there has been scant movement so far by governments around the region, there are some positive signs such as the growing recognition that islands need to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.

New investment in renewables

such as solar and geothermal power is driving progress in this area as development agencies and international environmental groups seek to help Caribbean nations meet their renewables goals. Additionally, there have been efforts in the transportation sector to promote cleaner public transport and introduce more environmentally friendly vehicles such as electric cars. The Dominican Republic is a leader in this area with the region’s most extensive metro system servicing the Santo Domingo area. In Saint Lucia there is no duty or excise tax on importation of vehicles that run on sustainable fuels and, similarly, no taxes on vehicle conversion equipment.

In addition, vehicles with higher engine capacity or older vehicles that are not as energy efficient are subject to higher taxes.

These measures are welcome but there is still a distinct lack of specific policies and legislation directly related to air quality and air pollutants. A hardline approach is needed to set emissions limits and clean-air targets, and introduce strict penalties for polluters, to be enforced without discrimination. This, accompanied by a public awareness campaign to mitigate the deadly effects of indoor pollution, would help ease the burden on the region’s economy, environment, health infrastructure and public purse.

Geothermal energy can fuel the future of the Eastern Caribbean

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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SAINT LUCIA’S LEADERS OF TOMORROW

BY CATHERINE MORRIS, STAR BUSINESSWEEK CORRESPONDENT

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ore than 60 per cent of the Caribbean’s population is under thirty, according to the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). These young people represent a significant untapped resource for the region as financial challenges and other constraints prevent them from making the most of their skills and talents.

With youth unemployment soaring and regional economies struggling, there is now a movement to greater engage the next generation.

INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT With young people driving the future, regional institutions are keen to support them. The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has a number of initiatives aimed at fostering and developing young business leaders.

The most recent, the Virtual Export Accelerator, invited Caribbean youths aged 18-29 to participate in a four-month programme that provides coaching on business diagnostics, export development, technical assistance and buyer engagement. The scheme will incubate around 20 new businesses from September to December 2019, with an emphasis on agribusiness and manufacturing, the creative industries, green industries, health and wellness and IT. The OECS has always recognised the importance of supporting young people in the region, as has the CDB which has provided more than US$1 billon for youth programmes over its nearly 50-year history. Now the Bank is taking it a step further, devising its first Youth Policy and Operational Strategy (YPOS) to help disburse youth-related investments into priority areas where the funds can have maximum impact. Following an extensive period of study and consultation, the CDB is currently finalising the details of

“We in the Caribbean have very rich cultures, built around the concept of community. If we utilise this in the way we do business, we can transform the region.

Our main challenge is confidence and seeing ourselves and our ideas as worthwhile,” says Kappaz.

Jameel Philip, founder of Green Thumb Gardens, who got his edible gardens business up and running with support from the YBI’s Youth Entrepreneurship Programme. (Photo courtesy Youth Business International)

Young entrepreneur Shenelle Hills-Fife is another YBI success story, launching her own line of skincare products, De Jeunésse. (Photo courtesy Youth Business International)

the YPOS. Stakeholders met in Barbados in July to workshop recommendations and review the first draft, with the final document set to be officially unveiled by the end of the year.

Youth Business International (YBI) is a global network supporting entrepreneurs aged 18-35. YBI has five members in the Caribbean, and works with young people in Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Barbados, Anguilla, Trinidad & Tobago and Dominica. The group offers educational services, business mentoring and support as well as providing, or facilitating, financial support. “The idea behind our work is assisting young people to create employment for themselves and others in their communities, improving their economic position and contributing to the development of their communities and the region as a whole,” says Christina Kappaz, YBI Director for Latin America and Caribbean.

“YBI is supporting young entrepreneurs

to start, grow and sustain their businesses, enabling them to create jobs, build communities and transform lives. We develop and scale the most effective solutions to critical challenges facing under-served young entrepreneurs and catalyse positive change in entrepreneurship culture. Locally rooted and locally led, our members combine deep contextual knowledge with YBI’s sector-leading expertise and tools.”

HELP AT HOME Local support is available for Saint Lucia’s young people via the Saint Lucia Youth Business Trust (SLYBT), which was launched in November 2011 as an arm of the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture.

Aimed at young people aged 18-35, the Trust’s mandate is to “foster the concept of self-employment and the spirit of enterprise”. Its activities reflect this goal with mentoring and networking events,

training programmes and provision of start-up capital and marketing support services.

Youth unemployment in Saint Lucia and the wider Caribbean is staggeringly high. The regional average currently sits at around 25 per cent, according to the CDB, while Saint Lucia’s Central Statistics Office recorded 36.3 per cent youth unemployment last year.

The reasons for this are many and varied. Crime, lack of education, family constraints and social pressures are just a few of the obstacles today’s young people face. For some the answer lies in building their own businesses and creating their own jobs. YBI has been active in the field for over 20 years, and Kappaz says there has been a distinct shift towards selfemployment in that time. “The younger generation sees entrepreneurship as a viable career choice. This means we have seen an increase in business start-ups and jobs created by SMEs. We are also seeing that young people in the Caribbean are paying close attention to global trends and have been using this knowledge to develop authentically Caribbean businesses.”

One sector where young businesspeople are making their talents known is agribusiness. As Caribbean nations face dwindling agrarian resources and intensifying climate events, this is one area that is ripe for innovation. Young farmers have been rising to the challenge, pushing the boundaries in hydroponics, aquaculture and ‘smart’ farming.

But even those with an innovative idea or a profitable pitch can find doors shut in their face due to lack of financial assistance, difficulties in securing credit and limited technical support. A great business idea is not enough, and it’s a long road from that idea to its execution.

Today’s young entrepreneurs need a wealth of support streams if they are to contribute to building a sustainable economy.

“We in the Caribbean have very rich cultures, built around the concept of community. If we utilise this in the way we do business, we can transform the region. Our main challenge is confidence and seeing ourselves and our ideas as worthwhile,” says Kappaz. “We have spent millions on educating our people and it is important we reap the fruits of our investment and believe in ourselves.”

Kappaz believes realising the potential of Caribbean youth is a collaborative effort that will require strong and lasting partnerships, regionally, internationally and with those who have gone before.

She says: “This generation has great opportunities to impact Caribbean economies and prospects. The future is bright and can be realised by working with previous generations, as mentors, to leverage their experiences and guide the process.”

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MAKING MOVES / COMPANIES OFFICE

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CARIFESTA-BOUND TARRIBA DO NASCIMIENTO TALKS MÊME BÊTE… Continued from page 2

to be synonymous with Saint Lucia.

Also to highlight the fact that there’s no difference, we’re all the same.

WHO MAKES UP YOUR MAIN MARKET? do NASCIMIENTO: Saint Lucians and diaspora Saint Lucians from New York, New Jersey and Maryland. Now that I have been doing more of the tropical prints, I’m capturing a little more of the tourist market.

WHAT’S THE PRICE RANGE OF THE BAGS? do NASCIMIENTO: Anywhere from US$10 to US$550. It all depends on the materials used and the amount of work it takes to make the bag.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE DEMAND FOR YOUR PRODUCTS? do NASCIMIENTO: Well it’s seasonal for sure. We have to stay creative to ensure that in the off-season we can still keep our head above water while we bide our time for the busier seasons.

Même Bête proudly represented at a recent exhibition

WHAT SEASONS ARE BUSY? do NASCIMIENTO: First, Jounen Kweyol. We cannot sell creole things at any other time of the year; nobody really buys them, but during the season we sell so much madras stuff.

Christmas, of course, is a good time as well. So is carnival. You have the diaspora that come in for carnival.

WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING FROM CARIFESTA? do NASCIMIENTO: I’m expecting a warm welcome from the Trinidad people. I have quite a few customers over there. I’m looking forward to them getting to know the brand and I’m looking forward to the sales.

The region is small, and you can get the regional people coming in and buying but there are also millions and millions of people in North America and Europe. That’s what I need to go into WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR BUSINESS GOING IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? do NASCIMIENTO: I would like to expand but I need demand to increase more. Right now we can produce more than we actually sell, and that needs to be reversed. I’m trying to capture an overseas audience year round. I do have an online store but I need to embark on some sort of international campaign, get a publicist or somebody like that who can help me properly penetrate the US market.

IS CARIFESTA A PRELUDE TO THAT EXPANSION? do NASCIMIENTO: To me it’s more an extension of what I already do here in Saint Lucia. The region is small, and you can get the regional people coming in and buying but there are also millions and millions of people in North America and Europe. That’s what I need to go into.

If you’re interested in getting authentic handmade luxury bags, you can visit the Même Bête website: memebete.com or its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/meme.bete/

The Saint Lucia Registry of Companies & Intellectual Property Company Incorporations Name: SDSL Limited

Name: SDSL Enterprises Limited

Description: Property holding company

Description: Property holding company

Directors: Andie Wilkie

Directors: Andie Wilkie

Date Incorporated: July 30, 2019

Date Incorporated: July 30, 2019

Chamber: Gordon, Gordon & Co.,

Chamber: Gordon, Gordon & Co.,

Name: SDSL Ventures Limited

Name: JL Consulting Inc.

Description: Property holding company

Description: Consultancy

Directors: Andie Wilkie

Directors: Janai Leonce, Marisa Jacob-Leonce

Date Incorporated: July 30, 2019

Date Incorporated: July 30, 2019

Chamber: Gordon, Gordon & Co.,

Chamber: SEDU

CUSTOMS AND BORDER SECURITY

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AUGUST 17, 2019

THE NEW CARIBBEAN CUSTOMS ORGANISATION, IN CONTEXT

BY ED KENNEDY, STAR BUSINESSWEEK CORRESPONDENT

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or many countries, in many ways the trend to globalisation has been profound. Here in the Caribbean the move towards a more economically borderless world has increased opportunities in trade, cultural exchange and diplomacy. If not for this trend, the capacity for island nations to build on the gains today for a better future tomorrow would be far harder.

However, with new opportunity, come new threats. Some within this region identify in globalisation the capacity to pursue criminal activity in new ways. This is why the recent establishment of the Caribbean Customs Organisation (CCO) is so important.

So what finally drove regional nations to bring the CCO into being?

And what will it mean for the future of border protection and combatting crime in our region?

FROM THE CCLEC TO THE CCO The CCO was officially inaugurated during late May at the 41st and final conference of the Caribbean Customs and Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC) in Havana, Cuba. With the inception of the CCO, the CCLEC will now be replaced. In so doing, the CCO offers wide scope for regional cooperation on border security and intelligence-sharing in a way that the CCLEC could not.

Much has changed locally and globally since the CCLEC began with an MOU signed in 1989 by regional nations. International crime can now be more rapid, far-reaching and dangerous than before. The concern today for the Caribbean family is not with the establishment of the CCO, but what it signifies about the state of the region, and what it will need to do in future to respond to emerging threats.

While casual observers may consider the present while watching the latest Narcos series, tempted to

Stronger border security is a key priority for Caribbean nations in the new CCO (Source: Pixabay)

think the ‘bad old days’ of the 1980s and 1990s are ancient history, in reality they never stopped. No longer does an Escobar or Cali Cartel reign in smuggling across the region but corruption and crime have been pioneered in new ways: from money laundering via confidence tricksters of over US$ 60mn, as seen in the Allen Stanford Ponzi scheme, to drug smuggling aboard cruise ships in the region, to the ongoing concerns surrounding many citizenship by investment programmes and their capacity to be a back door for money laundering endeavours. The CCO is an essential regional evolution because crime has continued to evolve here.

A REGION OFTEN OVERLOOKED One of the challenges that the Caribbean faces is that its security issues can quickly become overshadowed within the global arena. The Caribbean is abundant with democratic nations and stable societies, many of them enjoying strong security partnerships with the US, the most militarily powerful nation the world has ever known with a naval capacity that is often the de facto leader of international water security missions. Typically, a focus on regional security issues comes second to hotspots in Asia, MENA and wider Africa.

Attention on an issue is essential to drive momentum for closer partnerships to be created, and stronger frameworks to be established in combatting the problem.

When security challenges beyond the

Caribbean dominate the priorities of foreign affairs departments and other diplomatic organisations around the world, it means that progress on achieving these goals is hindered. With the establishment of the CCO, the region now has a stronger and louder voice within the international arena.

PLAYING CATCH UP The CCO offers an avenue for signatory nations to speak with a shared voice in identifying and driving action on regional security issues in a way like never before. Despite this, there remain important questions that accompany this latest initiative.

Smugglers and other criminals are forever pushing the envelope. It’s a difficult reality for law enforcement to acknowledge, but a criminal will always have an easier time devising an innovative way to break the law, to the detriment of a law enforcement official seeking to maintain it. This universal truth is why prison breakouts still occur, even in highly secure complexes, and why even state-of-theart border security mechanisms can still be penetrated. Although the CCO is a positive step forward, it arrives on the scene at a time when there have never been so many shades of grey in pursuing clear and certain border security with partners in the Caribbean and wider Latin America.

WIDER CONSIDERATIONS A Caribbean nation can look to

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incrementally increase border patrols with its coast guard or hire extra customs agents as the need arises, but the capacity for any nation — much less one with a small population and small geographical size — to respond to the meltdown of a humanitarian crisis, as seen in Venezuela, is inherently limited.

While some leaders may point to the construction of border walls or the hiring of more law enforcement officials as the surefire solution to all security challenges, ultimately the most effective stopgap against a border security crisis unfolding at home is the stabilisation of the disputed nation(s) abroad. On this basis, there is much to be hopeful for with the CCO but some of the region’s most pressing challenges will remain beyond its scope and require a diplomatic focus elsewhere.

In the short-term one needs to recognise the great period of instability that has been seen within the international arena. Furthermore, the election of firebrand leaders like US president Donald Trump, Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has created an unpredictable climate within those nations and in regional affairs generally.

REAL REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS The establishment of the CCO is indeed an achievement but the key challenge for the organisation will be ensuring its efforts are not undone by a regional ‘weak link in the chain’.

We are a region of some 30 nations, with immense security issues in Venezuela alongside the wider problem of migration from many embattled nations like El Salvador and Guatemala. The (comparatively) close proximity of Caribbean nations to one another can pose a vulnerability in the quest for stronger regional security if one nation’s border security falters.

The CCO’s inception is something to celebrate. Now it must work to ensure that the region and the world recognise that a new organisation can indeed bring new power in combatting crime, for the benefit of individual nations, and SBW regional security as a whole.

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