SINT MAARTEN/CHILE - Nation Opportunity Wealth (NOW) Member of Parliament (MP) and Chairman of the Justice Committee, Lyndon Lewis, called for stronger regional cooperation, better-equipped justice institutions, and practical legislation to address cybercrime and organized crime during his contribution to discussions on democratic security at ParlAmericas in Chile.
Drawing on his experience at the Immigration and Border Protection, Police Force of Sint Maarten, National Detective Agency, his tenure as Minister of Justice, and his current role as a Member of Parliament, MP Lewis was invited to the ParlAmericas National Congress in Chile as a Panelist on the topic Democratic Security in Latin America and the Caribbean.
MP Lewis, highlighted the growing challenges facing democracies throughout the Americas and the Caribbean. These challenges include criminal influence over public institutions, rapidly evolving digital threats, limited institutional resources, and declining public trust.
“Democratic security means that people can live safely, exercise their rights, participate freely in public life, and trust that public institutions serve them fairly,” Lewis stated.
He emphasized that organized crime poses a threat beyond individual criminal offences, warning that intimidation, corruption, illicit financing, and the manipulation of public systems can weaken the foundations of democratic government. Addressing these threats, he explained, requires independent institutions, transparent decision-making, and consistent parliamentary oversight.
MP Lewis also drew attention to the particular challenges facing Sint Maarten and other small Caribbean jurisdictions, where limited budgets and specialist personnel must meet increasingly complex security demands.
“A small jurisdiction still needs a functioning justice system and credible cybersecurity arrangements. Those responsibilities do not disappear because the population is smaller,” MP Lewis said.
He advocated for regional approaches that allow smaller jurisdictions to access shared forensic services, specialist expertise, and training, alongside clear procedures for cross-border investigations and the preservation of electronic evidence.
Addressing the design of legislation, MP Lewis stressed that stronger laws must be supported by realistic implementation plans. He urged parliaments to consult investigators, prosecutors, the judiciary, businesses, technical specialists, civil society, and victim-support organizations before introducing reforms.
“We cannot assume that passing legislation means the country is prepared,” MP Lewis stated.
MP Lewis called for legislative proposals to include clear responsibilities, adequate funding, training, equipment, and measurable reporting requirements. He further emphasized the importance of tracing criminal proceeds, protecting witnesses, improving reporting channels for victims, and reviewing laws after enactment to determine whether they are delivering meaningful results.
Throughout his contribution, MP Lewis underscored that public safety and democratic safeguards must advance together. Investigative powers, he maintained, should be clearly defined, proportionate, and subject to appropriate authorization and independent oversight, while protecting legitimate expression, journalism, and political participation.
Concluding his remarks, MP Lewis outlined three questions that should guide parliamentary consideration of security reforms:
MP Lewis' contribution placed the needs of Sint Maarten and smaller Caribbean jurisdictions within the wider regional discussion, emphasizing that effective democratic security requires capable institutions, practical cooperation, and accountability to the people those institutions serve.
