Strengthening Investigative and Reporting Systems Across the Caribbean

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 19 November 2025: Representatives from 10 Caribbean countries - Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago - convened for the Regional Conference on Reporting Crime, organized by UNODC in collaboration with the Integrity Commission of Trinidad and Tobago, and supported by the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and Canada’s Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program (ACCBP). The conference focused on strengthening national and regional systems for receiving, analyzing, and acting on reports related to offenses ranging from misconduct to complex crime linked to the operations of criminal networks.

Participants underscored that secure reporting channels, effective preliminary analysis, and robust whistle-blower protection frameworks are essential for transforming allegations into actionable investigative leads. Offenses such as bribery, illicit enrichment, fraud, trading in influence, and state capture were noted as key enablers of organized criminal networks in the Caribbean region.

The conference also drew participation from key regional partners, such as CARICOM IMPACS, the Caribbean Commonwealth Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies (CCAICACB) and the Regional Security System (RSS).

Throughout the conference, integrity commission officials, investigators (including from financial intelligence units), prosecutors, as well as other practitioners shared practical tools for improving complaint intake, triage, and analysis, with particular attention to the challenges faced by small-island and resource-constrained contexts. Sessions also highlighted the need for stronger inter-agency and cross-border cooperation to detect criminal patterns and dismantle financial networks and the potential use of new technologies and artificial intelligence for efficiency in this context. UNODC emphasized the relevance of the provisions of the United Nations Convention against Corruption to strengthen accountability systems across the Caribbean.

The conference is expected to reinforce national reporting mechanisms, enhance investigative readiness, generate effective whistle-blower protection and promote greater regional alignment in investigative protocols and cooperation at the national and regional level. By advancing collaboration and peer learning, Caribbean countries continue to strengthen the institutional framework and professional skills needed to ensure accountability and effectively prevent and combat organized crime.