The Regional Security System 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 the Treaty which was signed at St. Georges, Grenada.

 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 have been impossible without the mutual cooperation and understanding which the RSS MOU had generated between the governments and commanders of security forces.

  a.     The prevention and interdiction of traffic in illegal narcotic drugs;

b.     National emergencies:

c.     Search and rescue;

d.     Immigration control;

e.     Fisheries protection;

f.      Customs and excise control;

g.     Maritime policing duties;

h.     Natural and other disasters;

i.      Pollution control;

  j.      Combating threats to national security;

  k.     The prevention of smuggling; and

l.      The protection of off-shore installations and exclusive economic zones.