On February 11, the Perry Center hosted its first English language webinar of the 2021 series “Security Challenges in the Caribbean in the Age of COVID: 2021 and Beyond” featuring guest speakers Dr. Ivelaw Griffith, Senior Associate – Americas Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Fellow, Caribbean Policy Consortium, and Mr. Sheridon Hill, Legal Officer, Trinidad and Tobago Police Service shared their remark on the subject.

Dr. Griffith commented on the framework designed for the study of security issues, explaining how non-traditional security threats (drugs, crime, cybercrime) have greater regional salience in the Age of Covid than traditional threats. Dr. Griffith also discussed the Guyana-Venezuela dispute and its potential to destabilize peace and security in the area

Mr. Hill focused on emerging security issues for Trinidad and Tobago in light of the Venezuela crisis, which includes both traditional and non-traditional security threats – especially illegal immigration. He discussed the problem of deportation of illegal migrants and the negative reaction both internationally and internally. Mr. Hill added that Prime Minister Rowley is the current chair of CARICOM and supports Guyana in the dispute with Venezuela and predicts that improved border security and an improved situation in Venezuela will slow down but not stop continuing illegal migration.

Perry Center Dean of Academic Affairs, Dr. Scott Tollefson, moderated the event.