Crime analysts from islands all over the Caribbean and from the Netherlands, France, and Guyana gathered in St. Maarten for a networking conference focused on cooperation in the Caribbean region. The event aimed to promote region-wide data-driven crime analysis and address urgent crime problems such as transnational organized crime and violence, cybercrime, online gambling, human trafficking, money laundering, corruption, disaster fraud, and crime-related disasters.
Criminal networks in the Caribbean engage in varied criminal activities, including drug trafficking, trade-based money laundering, and human smuggling. Recognizing the importance of transnational cooperation and information exchange among law enforcement agencies, St. Maarten Chief of Police Carl John emphasized the need for collaboration in the region.
The conference served as a milestone in promoting ongoing police cooperation and information sharing in the Caribbean. It aimed to establish a regional platform for strategic data-driven crime analysis, highlighting the significance of data analysis and intelligence-led policing in fighting crime and improving crime prevention. The event also emphasized the need for data literacy among law enforcement agencies and decision-makers.
By bringing together crime analysts from various Caribbean islands and international partners, this initiative aims to strengthen regional cooperation, enhance information sharing, and develop effective strategies to combat organized crime and other pressing crime issues in the Caribbean.
In a separate development, the U.S. Consulate General Curacao and Islandpreneur have announced a partnership aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs. The partnership will host the POWER Fest conference from June 27-29 at Simpson Bay Beach Resort in Sint Maarten. The conference will focus on equipping women entrepreneurs from the Dutch Caribbean and the United States with tools and strategies for enhanced profitability. The conference is part of the U.S. State Department's POWER program, which aims to provide opportunities for women's economic rise by convening women business leaders and entrepreneurs, empowering them to identify opportunities and formulate competitive strategies, and establishing strong professional networks. Women from Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten, as well as Atlanta, GA, will participate in the conference. The partnership and conference highlight the U.S. commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs and driving sustainable economic growth in the Caribbean and beyond.
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