Background 

 

The series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda in the United States on September 11, 2011, fundamentally changed the paradigm of National and Regional Security in North America. The massive casualties and the nature of the attacks demonstrated the need for greater cooperation regarding security at the local, state, national and regional level including the Caribbean, to ensure the safety and prosperity of the citizens of the region. A post 9/11 Security Review of Jamaica indicated a need for greater utilization of Intelligence, Intelligence Analysts and Crime Analysts. As a result, an initiative was launched towards the professional development of Analysts in Law Enforcement in Jamaica. 

 

Support for the training for Analysts came from local Agencies and International Partners. Years later, the Ministry of National Security of Jamaica embarked on a programme to recognize Analysts as a profession as well as to recruit young University Graduates to be trained as Analysts and to work with Uniformed Analysts. However, challenges regarding training, certification and the development of national and international standards remained. The discovery of the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts (IALEIA) by Jamaican Analysts in 2010 has since transformed the landscape of Analysis and Analysts in Law Enforcement in Jamaica. This eventually led to the formation of the IALEIA Jamaica Chapter in 2011.  

 

The first Cohort of such Analysts, were recruited by the Ministry of National Security for its Strategic Evaluation Centre (SEC), then, a newly formed Unit at the Ministry. Subsequently other Cohorts were recruited for “Operation King Fish” the Jamaican Defence Force (JDF) and the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA).  

  

  

The Formation of the IALEIA Jamaican Chapter  

 

The IALEIA Jamaica Chapter was established in 2011 under the influence and stewardship of a British High Commission Consultant in Jamaica, Mr. Philip Powell, who became the first President and so served until January 2015. Subsequently he served as the Technical Consultant to the Jamaican Chapter and is presently a member of the Executive International Board of IALEIA with responsibility for all Chapters globally.  

 

The Jamaica Chapter aimed to be a forum for discussion of analytical and intelligence techniques for Jamaican Analysts, with a primary focus on national security and law enforcement analysis. The Chapter also aimed to provide a forum for Guest Speakers to address and educate Members on a wide range of topics relating to intelligence and analysis.   

 

In 2014 Major V. H. “Dave” Anderson, an IALEIA Member and a Consultant Advisor at the Ministry of National Security, was given the responsibility by the Ministry of National Security to develop Jamaica’s Analysts and analytical resources. His efforts resulted in the Jamaica Chapter and the Ministry of National Security partnering with IALEIA in this development Project. The objective is to ensure that all Analysts in Jamaica are trained in the Foundations of Intelligence Analysis (FIAT) and are IALEIA certified.  

  

  

The IALEIA Jamaica Chapter Development Plan (2015 to 2020)  

  

A five-year development programme was established in consultation with IALEIA. This included:  

 

  • A registration and survey of all Analysts working in the Criminal Justice System in Jamaica. This was conducted to determine each Analyst’s level of training, competence, qualifications as well as the Units/Organizations he or she has worked with.  
  • The registration of approximately one hundred and fifty (150) Analysts with IALEIA by September 2020. (To date 136 Analysts have been registered)  
  • The training of one hundred and fifty (150) Analysts through the FIAT programme by Sep. 2020. (To date 120 Analysts from the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), Financial Investigations Division (FID), Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), the Office of the Contractor General (OCG) (now the Integrity Commission), Ministry of National Security, the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) have been trained in FIAT. Discussions were being held to host and train Analysts from St Kitts and Nevis.  
  • The training of twelve (12) FIAT Instructors from Jamaica and an additional four (4) FIAT Instructors from the wider Caribbean Region by Sept 2020. At least four (4) of these Instructors were to be bi-lingual in English and Spanish. To date, eight (8) Instructions have been trained, two (2) of whom are bi-lingual.  
  • Six (6) FIAT Courses to be held by 2020. Three (5) have been held in Jamaica since with two (2) more scheduled in 2021.  
  • Quarterly Chapter meetings/training sessions/seminars with Guest Presenters. Chapter meetings will also coincide with FIAT trainings and training seminars.  
  • Technical Workshops for Managers, Supervisors and Investigators to be held to expose them to the functions, tools and the importance of Analysts as well as to educate on the working mechanisms and dynamism of Crime Analysts, Criminal Intelligence Analysts and Strategic Analysts.  
  • The creation of a Chapter website by July 2015 to be linked to IALEIA.  
  • Non-binding Partnership with American Military University (AMU) to enhance the personal and professional development of the Chapter Members and the wider Law Enforcement fraternity in Jamaica. 
  • The development of a manual towards Certification. 
  • Initiatives to influence other Caribbean islands to form Chapters and to provide support where possible

The five year development and performance plans was on track to be achieved and in some cases to be surpassed, however the COVID Pandemic has affected the plans for 2020. 

 

Other Notable Achievements 

  • Jamaica has the third largest membership in IALEIA and has 15% of the active Instructors worldwide. These Instructors have instructed on FIAT on behalf of IALEIA, in Jamaica, Trinidad, Phoenix and Tucson Arizona, New York, Sacramento, Chicago and New Jersey 
  • The election of Mr. Philip Powell to the International Executive Board

 

 

The IALEIA Jamaica Chapter Development Plan (2015 to 2020)