The Regional Security System (RSS) is a “hybrid” Organization, in that its security forces comprise both Military and Police personnel who remain under the command of their respective forces. It was created out of a need for collective response to security threats, which were impacting on the stability of the region in the late 70’s and early 80’s.                                                                                 

In October 1982 four members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, namely Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Barbados, to provide for “mutual assistance on request”. St. Kitts and Nevis joined after gaining independence in September 1983 and Grenada in January 1985. The MOU was updated in 1992 and the System acquired juridical status in March 1996 under a Treaty which was signed at St. Georges, Grenada. This Treaty makes provisions, that depending on the nature or extent of the emergency, each country may assist the other Member country with security units if requested.  In some instances there may be a requirement for only police officers or Coast Guard personnel whilst another may require a combined response where the police officers, Special Service Unit (SSU) personnel, military and Coast Guard personnel are deployed together. The original MOU made provisions for a fast-moving, non-bureaucratic organization which    could react to the security needs of Member States if requested. This was first demonstrated in October 1983 when together with the military forces of the United States of America and Jamaica the RSS deployed troops to Grenada to restore democracy after the breakup of the Marxist Government which had originally overthrown the elected government in 1979 and had ruled without the benefit of elections. This intervention would not have been possible without the mutual cooperation and understanding which the RSS MOU had generated between the governments and commanders of security forces.