The 39th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Conference of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP) officially opened on May 12 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in Georgetown, Guyana. The event, held under the theme “United in Action, Transformed in Purpose: Building an Integrated Caribbean Security Architecture,” brings together over 24 Commissioners of Police from across the region, along with their respective delegations.

The conference, hosted by Guyana’s Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken, aims to strengthen regional collaboration in combating transnational crime and dismantling criminal networks. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Commissioner Hicken emphasised the critical role of community engagement in maintaining security. “Community trust is not a byproduct; it is the foundation of security,” he said, setting the tone for the week-long discussions.

The opening ceremony was attended by several high-ranking officials, including His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and the Honourable Prime Minister, Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips, MSS.

Amidst the predominantly male ranks of regional police leadership, three distinguished female leaders stood out: Acting Commissioner Jacqueline Vanterpool of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, Commissioner Shanta Knowles of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and Deputy Commissioner Dr. Mashena Sealey of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.

Although Acting Commissioner Vanterpool is not scheduled to present at this year’s conference, she highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in tackling increasingly complex criminal threats. “It is clear that regionally, we are now facing a new wave of cross-border crimes, more organised, more violent, and more technologically advanced than ever before,” she said. “Our traditional, nationally confined policing models are no longer sufficient. The threats are clear, and whatever affects one of us directly, affects all of us.”

The conference features a mix of open sessions, accessible to all delegates, and closed sessions reserved for Commissioners and specially invited guests. These discussions are expected to address a wide range of security challenges, including border security, cybersecurity, organised crime, and regional intelligence sharing.

On the second day of the conference, delegates attended an exclusive event titled “Dinner with the President,” hosted by President Ali at his official residence. The evening was marked by warm conversations, fine dining, and moments of camaraderie among the region’s top law enforcement leaders.

A lighthearted moment captured the spirit of the evening when Acting Commissioner Vanterpool, preparing to pose for a photograph with President Ali, realised she was without her shoes. In a spontaneous show of solidarity, President Ali removed his own shoes, drawing smiles and laughter from the gathering.

The ACCP conference will continue throughout the week, with sessions focusing on strategies to enhance regional security and build a more integrated approach to law enforcement across the Caribbean.