On 16-17 December 2021, s part of the project “Supporting the implementation of the crime prevention and criminal justice component of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap”, the UNODC Global Firearms Programme, in cooperation with CARICOM IMPACS, organised a regional meeting of the Community of Practitioners against illicit firearms trafficking and related crimes in the Caribbean, which was held from 16 to 17 December 2021 in Panama City. The meeting was attended, virtually and in person, by 28 national experts and representatives from Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Curacao, Grenada, Guyana, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Martinique, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago from institutions and entities with competence in combatting illicit firearms trafficking and related crimes, including the Public Prosecutor’s Office (specialised in firearms trafficking and/or organised crime) and National Police (specialised in arms control and combating illicit trafficking). 

The meeting included presentations and discussions among the participating countries, where they shared relevant cases; roundtables to dissect the strengths and weaknesses of unsuccessful cases, including investigative, prosecutorial and procedural errors; discussions on possible common approaches to promote cooperation, as well as actions to combat illicit firearms trafficking to and within the region; and finally, contributing with recommendations and conclusions. Participants exchanged experiences which supported peer-to-peer analysis, promoting cooperation among these countries and at a regional level in the Caribbean. They also identified best practices and lessons learned.