Antigua and Barbuda used the opening of the 35th Regional Intelligence Meeting in St. John's on Wednesday to reaffirm its commitment to regional intelligence cooperation and collective security across the Caribbean, according to Antigua News Room.
Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Legal Affairs, Public Safety and Labour, the Hon. Sir Steadroy C. Benjamin, delivered the feature address on behalf of Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who was unable to attend due to prior commitments. Sir Steadroy conveyed the Prime Minister's apologies and reaffirmed the government's full support for the Regional Intelligence Meeting and the broader Caribbean security framework.
Addressing intelligence chiefs and security officials from across the region, Sir Steadroy praised the forum's 35-year legacy, describing it as a testament to the Caribbean's enduring commitment to intelligence sharing and collaboration in combating transnational crime.
He warned that Caribbean nations continue to face increasingly sophisticated security threats, including narcotics trafficking, illegal firearms, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, violent extremism and cyber-enabled fraud. Cybercrime, he noted, has become one of the region's fastest-growing threats, and he called for greater intelligence-led efforts to identify and dismantle criminal networks operating across borders.
The Attorney General also highlighted Antigua and Barbuda's preparations to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November 2026, stressing that regional intelligence cooperation will be critical to ensuring the safety and success of the international summit.
Describing intelligence as the foundation of effective policing, border security, counter-terrorism and financial crime investigations, Sir Steadroy urged intelligence leaders to continue strengthening trust through timely, secure and professional information sharing.
He further underscored the importance of modern legislative frameworks to support intelligence operations, including stronger cybercrime legislation, intelligence-sharing agreements and data protection laws.
In closing, Sir Steadroy reiterated Prime Minister Browne's message that safeguarding the Caribbean requires a united regional approach. He thanked intelligence professionals for their service and expressed confidence that the meeting would produce meaningful outcomes to strengthen security across the Caribbean Community.
The three-day meeting brings together heads of intelligence units, national security officials and regional security partners to discuss emerging threats, enhance intelligence cooperation and reinforce the region's collective security posture.
