Crime and Economics: Solution? by Eion Maison

Crime in the Caribbean is always a hot topic, with some islands receiving out right thumbs down for criminal activities of all types. However, the Caribbean, North and South seems to be doing much better, comparatively to some mainland countries. For example, I read in a blog called Cruisers Forum that the yachting industries are having more safety problems in other regions than in the Caribbean.

However, ceteris paribus, let us look briefly at the Caribbean. Francis Maertens, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Director, Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs said: “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”. This was the content of a WASHINGTON 2007 Report published today by the World Bank and the (UNODC). It further states that high rates of crime and violence in the Caribbean are undermining growth, threatening human welfare, and impeding social development.

In the Caribbean, like every where else we may not be able to prevent all crimes in the short run, but we can work on the present situation. And we are taking some action! The Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding, reported that in 2008, “There has been a noticeable slowdown in the rate of murders…”
What was good about the report was that ended by listing the measures that they have taken. Vis-à-vis Additional vehicles, equipment, stepping up recruitment, increasing training, improving intelligence and, I think that this one is most important, improving the court system. The Prime Minister ended by saying that, “We must keep up the pressure for 2009”.

Every Caribbean island territory would have to apply pressure and keep the pressure up forever starting now, or for many islands, continuing in 2009. Antigua and other islands have adopted the Crime Stoppers Program. Over the last Christmas season St. Maarten initiated a crime prevention program in collaboration with a local security firm simply called Bicycle Patrol. While the list is diminutive, the colossal task is reducing crime, even if only for our tourism based economies sake. One small steady step is better than all the debate and headlines in the world.

What else can we in the Caribbean do? I have a suggestion myself. I am no expert in crime, but as an economist we are concerned with the high cost of crime on the micro and macro aspect of our societies. Antigua and other territories with high percentages of migrants from specific countries should send their cops on attachment to the respective countries, for example, if Guyanese is the largest group then work with police in Guyana, and the same for Jamaica and others as the case may be. According to the motto of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP), let us be “United Against Crime”.