Caricom to develop action plan to curb illegal small arms trade

Caricom heads of government have committed to the development and implementation of national action plans to combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, a scourge that continues to rock the region.

This agreement was reached at their just concluded 32nd Regular Meeting in St Kitts and Nevis. At that meeting, heads committed to implementing all necessary actions at the national and regional levels to fully combat the illegality. In a declaration issued at the end of the summit, heads said they would take all necessary measures to ensure full compliance with the 2001 Programme of Action to Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons, as well.

“The heads … solemnly commit to empower national and regional security entities, with the necessary capacities to combat the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and their ammunition, as well as other elements of transnational organised crime, including in the areas of border control, intelligence gathering, forensic analysis, etc,” the declaration reads.

They have also committed to supporting the implementation and enforcement of policies and legislation against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and their ammunition at the national level, as well as harmonisation of legislation in the fight against illicit transfers at the regional level. The leaders have also seen it fit to work together in enhancing the “management and security of small arms and light weapons and ammunition stockpiles, including the identification and destruction of surplus.”

Engagement with United Nations’ effort for the conclusion of a legally binding arms trade treaty was also seen as a necessary move by the regional government heads. “(We) … continue to accord the highest national and regional priority to matters related to combating and eradicating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and their ammunition.” “This has become necessary given “the prevalence of illegal firearms and ammunition in perpetrating acts of crime and violence in the region, and its attendant effects, including loss of life, widespread human suffering, and the spread of fear and insecurity in our societies,” as recognised by the group of heads.

According to them, crime and violence continues to have a negative impact on the socio-economic development and economic viability of Caricom states. They are worried over the ease with which citizens here get their hands on the weapons, especially since they are not manufactured in the region.

However, the heads acknowledged that the delivery of justice to victims of armed violence is an essential element of measures to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade.

The declaration, issued on Monday, stated that heads have noted “the important role to be played by states that manufacture small arms and light weapons and ammunition in preventing their diversion to the illicit trade.” As such, they insisted that “a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach is necessary to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and ammunition.”

“Heads committed to ensuring the region’s full and active participation in regional and international meetings related to the issue of small arms, including in particular the 2012 Review of the 2001 Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects, and the 2012 United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty, and all relevant preparatory meetings.”

In the meantime, the heads have recalled the important role being played by the Implementation Agency for Crime and Security, IMPACS, established to manage the region’s agenda on transnational organised crime, security and related matter.

According to the communiqué issued by the heads upon completion of their four-day meeting, they received a report from the Chairman of the Council for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE) regarding IMPACS. They commended the council for its actions to date, and look forward to the conclusion of the audit of the agency and a further report from the CONSLE on the recommendations arising out of the investigations.