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Ocho Rios, 3 February 2023 - Supported by UNODC, Jamaica is currently finalizing its National Strategy against Organized Crime, which aims to provide a holistic and collaborative response to this complex problem, while fostering opportunities and prosperity for Jamaica’s people. 2nd Workshop for the development of Jamaica’s Strategy National Strategy against Organized Crime The workshop held in Ocho Rios between 31 January and 2 February 2023 was the culmination of months of work carried out by the Jamaican Technical Working Group for the development of the National Strategy, with the support of UNODC Global Programme for the implementation of the Organized Crime Convention. |
Organized by UNODC, this workshop served as a crucial opportunity to clarify key interventions foreseen in the National Strategy as well as its delivery mechanisms and implementation framework. It was attended by members of the Technical Working Group in representation of a variety of national institutions and other relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of National Security, Jamaica Constabulary Force, Major Organized Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency, Jamaica Defense Force, Jamaica Customs Agency, International Criminal Police Organization and the University of the West Indies.
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In delivering his keynote speech at this event, Dr. Horace Chang, Jamaica’s Deputy Prime Minister, commended the Technical Working Group and UNODC on the completion of the draft Strategy, which he recognized as a “critical tool for law enforcement and other State and non-State actors.” Addressing the Technical Working Group and UNODC, he went on to highlight: “the Government of Jamaica is committed to protecting the lives and livelihoods of our citizens from the threat of organized crime. We are ensuring that the requisite measures are put in place to strengthen the rule of law, as part of our integrated crime-fighting response. This is why the work that you are undertaking, particularly through this workshop, is so important”. |
In concluding, Dr. Chang sent out a strong message to organized criminal groups: “We want them to know that Jamaica is not open for their criminal business.”
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Similarly, Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey stressed that “by developing a robust Organized Crime Strategy, Jamaica will not only be positioned to improve its national security environment; but also to strengthen the regional and international effort to counter transnational organized crime” and thanked “UNODC for its vision and leadership in undertaking the work to address this very complex and significant threat to global security.” Ms. Sylvie Bertrand, UNODC Regional Representative for Central America and the Caribbean, commended Jamaica for the leadership role taken on “by becoming the first Caribbean country to undertake the development of a comprehensive National Strategy against Organized Crime”, expressing the hope that many other countries in the Caribbean and beyond would soon follow this example. |
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The three-day meeting resulted in the revision of interventions, approaches and delivery mechanisms that will form the backbone of Jamaica’s National Strategy against Organized Crime, through a participatory and inclusive process. The key recommendations that stemmed out of this discussion will be submitted to the Deputy Prime Minister for approval before moving forward. The next steps in this process will include wide consultations of all relevant stakeholders, including civil society, academia, private sector and other key actors for the implementation of this ambitious Strategy. This meeting was implemented within the framework of the global UNODC project on strategies against organized crime, made possible by the generous support of the UK Home Office. |
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Background information:
The importance of adopting comprehensive strategies against organized crime has been highlighted through a number of key international instruments against organized crime, including, UN General Assembly resolution 76/187 and resolution 11/2 of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC COP). In particular, UNTOC COP encouraged States to consider “developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating comprehensive and evidence-based whole-of-government policies and strategies against organized crime, formulated through a whole-of-society approach that includes all relevant stakeholders, such as academia and civil society”.
To support States in this effort, UNODC launched in 2021 its Organized Crime Strategy Toolkit which aims to foster inclusive and coordinated approaches to organized crime that leave no one behind, in keeping with the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Relying on the Toolkit, UNODC Global Programme on Implementing the Organized Crime Convention: from Theory to Practice currently assists States around the world in developing comprehensive strategies to tackle transnational organized crime more effectively.
