High levels of crime and violence threaten Caribbean growth and prosperity

New report says crime and violence are core development issues which demand an international response

WASHINGTON, May 3, 2007 -- High rates of crime and violence in the Caribbean are undermining growth, threatening human welfare, and impeding social development, according to a new report published today by the World Bank and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Crime impacts business and is a major obstacle to investment. In many countries, as crime increases, access to financing declines; spending on formal and informal security measures increases; and worker productivity declines. Estimates suggest that reducing the homicide rate in the Caribbean by one third could more than double the region's rate of per capita economic growth.

According to the report "Crime, Violence, and Development: Trends, Costs, and Policy Options in the Caribbean," murder rates in the Caribbean are higher than in any other region of the world, and assault rates are significantly above the world average. Narcotics trafficking is at the core of these high rates. Narcotics trafficking diverts criminal justice resources from other important activities, increases and embeds violence, undermines social cohesion and contributes to the widespread availability of firearms in the region.

"The report clearly shows that crime and violence are development issues. Donors and OECD countries need to work together with Caribbean countries to reduce the current levels in the region," said Caroline Anstey, World Bank Director for the Caribbean. "Some of the factors that make the Caribbean most vulnerable to crime and violence, mainly the drug trade and trafficking of weapons, require a response that transcends national and even regional boundaries."

The World Bank and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), report draws on input from governments, civil society organizations, and Caribbean experts, and presents detailed analyses of crime and violence impacts at the national and regional levels. The report also provides information on good practice approaches from global experiences; and offers concrete actions and recommendations on crime prevention and crime reduction strategies.

"Although there is no one "ideal" approach for crime and violence prevention, interventions such as slum-upgrading projects, youth development initiatives and criminal justice system reform can contribute to reducing crime and violence," said Francis Maertens, UNODC Director, Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs.

The report argues that:

Caribbean countries are transit points and not producers of cocaine. Interdiction needs to be complemented by other strategies outside the region: principally demand reduction in consumer countries and eradication and/or alternative development in producer countries.

Gun ownership is an outgrowth of the drug trade and, in some countries, of politics and associated garrison communities. Although reducing gun ownership is difficult, better gun registries, marking and tracking can help, as can improved gun interdiction in ports. Policies should also focus on limiting the availability of firearms and on providing meaningful alternatives to youth.

Deaths and injuries from youth violence constitute a major threat to public health and social and economic progress across the Caribbean. Youth are disproportionately represented in the ranks of both victims and perpetrators of crime and violence.

Although the average Caribbean deportee is not involved in criminal activity, a minority may be causing serious problems, both by direct involvement in crime and by providing a perverse role model for youth. The report recommends that more services be offered to reintegrate deportees, with deporting countries contributing to the cost of these programs.

In general, there is an over-reliance on the criminal justice system to reduce crime in the region. At the same time, it must be recognized that some types of crime such as organized crime, drug and firearms trafficking are generally impervious to prevention initiatives; their control requires an efficient criminal justice system. Urgent priorities for improving the criminal justice system in the region include: the development of management information systems, tracking of justice system performance; monitoring of reform programs and increased accountability to citizens.

Several countries are increasingly investing in crime prevention - using approaches such as integrated citizen security programs, crime prevention through environmental design, and a public health approach that focuses on risk factors for violent behaviors. These alternative approaches have significant potential to generate decreases in both property crime and inter-personal violence.

Youth violence is a particularly serious problem in the region, and youth homicide rates in several countries of the region are significantly above the world average. To address issues of youth violence, Caribbean policymakers should invest in programs that have been shown to be successful in careful evaluations such as: i) early childhood development and mentoring programs; ii) interventions to keep high risk youth in secondary schools; and iii) opening schools after hours and on week-ends to offer additional activities and training.

Many of the issues facing the Caribbean transcend national boundaries and require a coordinated regional and international response. Demand for drugs emanates from Europe and the United States; deportees are sent back to the region from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada; and many weapons that are trafficked are brought from the United States.

Crime and violence are not immutable. While the Caribbean faces serious challenges, especially in the areas of drugs, guns, and youth violence, informed policies at the national, regional and international levels can make a significant difference.

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For full text of the Report, please click: /pdf/research/Cr_and_Vio_Car_E.pdf

For more information on the report, please visit: http://www.worldbank.org/lac

For more information on the World Bank's work in the Caribbean, please visit: http://www.worldbank.org/oecs

For more information on UNODC, please visit : http://www.unodc.org