Private Security Companies in the Caribbean

Private Security Companies in the Caribbean Case studies of St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica PRIVATE SECURITY COMPANIES IN THE CARIBBEAN Case studies of St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica About this Publication A joint project of the Institute of International Relations of The University of the West Indies and Project Ploughshares, this monograph contributes to the still limited published information on private security companies (PSC) in the Caribbean by presenting case studies on the private security industry in St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica, as well as supporting chapters and appendices. The case studies were first presented at a roundtable held at The University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, June 17-18, 2013, attended by public officials involved in PSC regulation and PSC industry representatives. Acknowledgement This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada. Institute of International Relations, The University of the West Indies Located on the St. Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies, in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the Institute of International Relations is a centre for post-graduate study in international relations and diplomacy, for professional development and diplomatic training, and for critical policy analysis and debate. Institute of International Relations The University of the West Indies St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago 868-662-2002; ext. 82084, 82011, 83255 Fax 868-663-9684 [email protected] ; [email protected] http://sta.uwi.edu/iir/index.asp Project Ploughshares Project Ploughshares is the peace centre of The Canadian Council of Churches. Project Ploughshares works with churches, nongovernmental organizations, and governments, in Canada and abroad, to advance policies and actions that prevent war and armed violence and build peace. Project Ploughshares is affiliated with the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo. Project Ploughshares 57 Erb Street West Waterloo, Ontario N2L 6C2 Canada 519-888-6541 Fax 519-888-0018 [email protected] www.ploughshares.ca © Project Ploughshares 2013 First printed August 2013 Printed by Pandora Print Shop, Kitchener, Ontario ISBN 978-1-927802-03-8 Cover photograph by Melanie Ferrier, 2010-2011 Peace and Human Security Intern with Project Ploughshares. This internship is supported by the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Contents Preface ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………. page 1 Ackn0wledgements ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………... page 2 Acronyms and Abbreviations ………………………………………………………………………………………………... page 3 Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…... page 5 John Siebert Private Security Companies in St. Lucia ……………………………………………………………………………....... page 13 Annita Montoute and Sheridon Hill Private Security Companies in Trinidad and Tobago …………………………………………………………....... page 49 Matthew Louis Bishop Private Security Companies in Jamaica …………………………………………………………............................ page 77 Kenneth Epps Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…..... page 111 John Siebert Review of Literature on Private Security Companies in the Caribbean ………………………………......... page 121 Contributors ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…..... page 137 Appendix 1: Recommendations …………………………………………………………........................................ page 138 Appendix 2: Case Study Questionnaires ……………………………………………......................................... page 141 A: Survey of Contract Private Security Companies B: Research on Private Security Companies (PSCs) Interview Guide: Government Ministries Preface It gives me great pleasure, as Director of the Institute of International Relations (IIR) at The University of the West Indies, to commend Project Ploughshares for moving a bit out of its comfort zone to tackle, in collaboration with my colleagues at the Institute, an issue of growing importance to countries in the Caribbean. The spike in the number of private security companies in our region is really symptomatic of a larger global trend. The fact that the number of people employed in these private security companies (PSCs) is larger than the number of people employed in the police forces of countries in the English- speaking Caribbean speaks to a troubling trend in privatizing security services. Governments are having a difficult time guaranteeing zones of security for their people. Academics at IIR see this as a post-Westphalian phenomenon. Since the signing of the Westphalian treaties in 1648 states have been the primary institutional agents responsible for the security of the people living within their sovereign borders. Today, that Westphalian system is coming to an end; globalization has made borders porous and the nature of security has changed. The studies in this report start with the premise of a post-Westphalian world in which private and public security actors sometimes jockey for position, sometimes supplement each other’s activities, and sometimes work in tandem to grapple with the multidimensional and interlinking elements of international and domestic security challenges. The IIR is proud to have partnered with Project Ploughshares on this very important and cutting edge project, recognizing that this report would not have seen the light of day without the financial support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). We at the IIR hope to continue our collaboration with Project Ploughshares and the IDRC as we attempt to effect policy change in the regulation of PSCs, so that they work for, and not against, the human security interests of people in the Caribbean. W. Andy Knight Director, Institute of International Relations and Professor of Political Science, on secondment from the University of Alberta On behalf of Project Ploughshares I want to thank our colleagues at The University of the West Indies, at the St. Augustine campus in Trinidad and Tobago, for the opportunity to collaborate on this report on PSCs in the Caribbean. This project continues our decade-long engagement with civil society, academic, private sector, and government partners to advance human security and the control of small arms and lights weapons in the Caribbean. The private security industry was not a focus of research and policy reform that Ploughshares had identified as a priority, but our Caribbean partners saw its significance. In the course of the research it became clear that strong regulation of PSCs by democratically controlled institutions can make a significant contribution to security and socioeconomic development in the Caribbean. In addition to funding for this project, the IDRC provided invaluable advice on sharpening the research methodology and improving the final report. For this support we are most grateful. John Siebert Executive Director Project Ploughshares Private Security Companies in the Caribbean │ Page 1 Acknowledgements The case studies benefitted from advance circulation to participants of the “Private Security Companies in the Caribbean Policy Roundtable,” held at the Institute of International Relations, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago, June 17-18, 2013. Roundtable participants included industry and government representatives from Jamaica, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as regional academic experts. Factual corrections, comments and suggestions prior to, and during, the roundtable are included in the final drafts. The researchers extend their sincere thanks to all those who participated in the roundtable. As well, they would like to thank all the people who agreed to interviews or provided other essential information. Kenneth Epps wishes to acknowledge desk research by Christina Woolner and field research by Maribel Gonzales and Tanisha Cunningham, both of which were important contributions to the Jamaica case study. Page 2 │ Private Security Companies in the Caribbean Acronyms and Abbreviations ASCOTT Association of Security Companies of Trinidad and Tobago ASIS American Society of Industrial Security ATF U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives CAPS Community Action Programme for Safety CARICOM Caribbean Community CCTV Closed-circuit television COP Congress of the People (T&T) COP Commissioner of Police (St. Lucia) CSME CARICOM Single Market and Economy CSO Civil society organization DCAF Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces DDR Disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration EPA Estate Police Association FEC Firearm User’s (Employee’s) Certificate FLA Firearm Licensing Authority FLACSO Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences FUL Firearm User’s Licence G4S Group4Securicor GDP Gross domestic product GSI Global security industry HRC Human Rights Council ICoC International Code of Conduct for Private Security Providers ICT Information and communications technology IDRC International Development Research Centre IIR Institute of International Relations, the University of the West Indies IMF International Monetary Fund ISPS International Ship and Port Facility Security JCF Jamaica Constabulary Force JDF Jamaica Defence Force JSIS Jamaica Society for Industrial Security MDG Millennium Development Goal NAR National Alliance for Reconstruction NCC National Contracts Commission NCC National Commission on Crime NGO Nongovernmental organization NIC National Insurance Corporation NTA National

Load more