The US State department report recently said that CIP applicants in Caribbean countries undergo vetting by the Joint Regional Communication Centre along with Enhanced due diligence (EDD) checks.
But what is JRCC and what role it plays in vetting?
The Joint Regional Communications Center (JRCC) is the sub agency for Caricom IMPACS (Implementation agency for crime and security).
The CARICOM IMPACS Agency comprises of:
- Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) Agency Headquarters, located in Trinidad and Tobago
- Joint Regional Communications Centre (JRCC) A sub-agency, located in Barbados
- Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre (RIFC) A sub-agency, located in Trinidad and Tobago
Joint Regional Communications Centre (JRCC)
The JRCC acts as a conduit to ensure effective communication among Law Enforcement personnel, which is necessary to enhance border control related activities. The JRCC assists regional law enforcement personnel in the detection of persons who are traveling with stolen, lost and fraudulent travel documents, along with the identification of and monitoring the movements of persons of interest, including those who may be a high security threat to the safety and security of the Region.
The JRCC is mainly responsible for the operations and management of the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), which screens approximately forty (40) Million passengers annually, specifically those entering, and travelling within the CARICOM Region by air and sea ports.
JRCC crosschecks databases of international law enforcement agencies including INTERPOL.
At a OECS meeting, The ECCB Governor further called for a consolidation of arrangements with respect to the sub region’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programmes noting the need for harmonisation of the due diligence arrangements, agreement to common standards and common application protocols, and the sharing of information across countries and with the Joint Regional Communications Centre (JRCC).
The Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre (RIFC)
The Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre (RIFC) provides intelligence support to key stakeholders in an effort to detect, deter and control crime within the Region. The Centre works closely with the JRCC in providing intelligence information to regional security agency personnel and other stakeholders, while providing strategic analysis of threat entities in the Caribbean Region.
Regional Crime and Security Strategy Central Coordinating Unit (RCSS-CCU)
The Regional Crime and Security Strategy Central Coordinating Unit (RCSS-CCU), formerly known as the Liaison Office, provides critical technical support, advisory services and assistance to Member States, in facilitating the fulfillment of CARICOM IMPACS’ mandate.
The Unit is resourced with a Regional Crime and Security Strategy Coordinator and Specialist Advisors in Law Enforcement, Military Affairs and Border Security. There is also a Committe Coordinator within the Unit, which allows for a direct link with Member States, Law Enforcement, Military, Customs, Immigration and other regional security agencies.
The RCSS Unit is the main point of contact between IMPACS, Member States and international agencies such as INTERPOL, UN Agencies, OAS and SOUTHCOM.
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