Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace, the Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, is calling for deeper cooperation among security stakeholders in Jamaica and the region, to strengthen the country's ability to respond to terrorism and transnational organised crime.
The Security Minister made the call at the 2026 Biennial Counter-Terrorism Forum Review Meeting, on Wednesday (September 9), at the Jamaica Defence Force Headquarters, Up Park Camp, under the theme: "From Coordination to Cooperation: Strengthening Cooperation for Collective Security."
Minister Chang said the theme was both timely and relevant, particularly as the security environment continues to evolve and criminal and terrorist actors increasingly exploit shared vulnerabilities across borders and sectors.
"Coordination allows institutions to align their individual activities. On the other hand, cooperation requires something deeper. It requires trust, shared responsibility, sustained engagement and a willingness to combine our institutional capabilities in pursuit of a common national objective is critical," Dr. Chang said.
He noted that this distinction is particularly important given the changing nature of the threat of terrorism.
"The threat is no longer confined to organised groups operating within established territories or directing large, complex attacks across borders. The threat now includes self-directed individuals, decentralised networks, online communities and actors," Minister Chang explained.
The Security Minister added that the financial dimensions of terrorism are also evolving, with terrorist actors able to exploit online crowdfunding, fraudulent charitable appeals, virtual assets and digital payment services to raise, transfer and conceal funds.
Dr. Chang pointed out that while terrorist and criminal actors may not necessarily share the same objectives, they can exploit many of the same vulnerabilities, including porous borders, illicit financial networks, corrupt facilitators, fraudulent documents, maritime routes and weaknesses in critical infrastructure.
"These developments require careful assessment," he said, noting that while Jamaica is not experiencing terrorist activities, the country's geographic location and international connectivity create vulnerabilities that must be continuously monitored.
Therefore, Minister Chang emphasised that national security cannot be achieved through the efforts of the State alone but that all security stakeholders have an important role to play. He said a comprehensive approach must include the private sector and wider society, given the interconnected nature of modern security threats.
Dr. Chang further added that the Government will continue to take decisive action against emerging criminal threats.
"We cannot afford for criminals and collaborators in any way endanger our security and in the process damage our economy...I want to assure you that this Government will not hesitate nor be reluctant to take the strongest action possible to disrupt the kind of criminals that are emerging," Minister Chang pointed out.