The CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), has partnered with Canada-based non-governmental organization Project Ploughshares, the Institute of International Relations of the University of the West Indies St Augustine Campus, and various regional civil society organizations, to launch a ground-breaking collective effort aimed at reducing the use of guns in the commission of violent crimes across member states of the Caribbean Community. A statement from IMPACS out of Port-of-Spain said the initiative is designed to strengthen the capacity of officials at regional and national levels by providing training, technical assistance, research and a much needed infrastructural upgrade.

Civil society organizations will also be strengthened in order to better engage  both CARICOM governments and regional agencies on issues related to Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW).

All expectations are that this initiative will have a major impact on policy development as well as the day to day operations of law enforcement across the region.

The project is intended to run for three years and will be undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada.

Counsellor from the High Commission of Canada, Laurent Morel-a-l’Huissier, explained that the funds, amounting to approximately TT$12M) would be provided through the Anti-Crime Capacity Building Programme of the government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, as he expressed concern that 60% of gun crime victims were under the age of 35.

Lynne Anne Williams, the Executive Director of CARICOM  IMPACS, thanked Canada for its continuous support and echoed Morel-a-l’Huissier’s concern about the involvement of young people in armed violence. She also lamented their disproportionate representation as victims as well as perpetrators. Describing the Caribbean Community as “severely challenged” on this issue, she explained that “no country in the region had escaped the effects of the crippling reality which was weakening prospects for prosperity”. Acknowledging that “few issues are as complex”, Williams went on to describe the project as an important addition to the menu of responses already mandated by the Conference of Heads of Government to counter crime and promote regional security.

Like Williams, Mr. John Seibert of Project Ploughshares, raised the issue of complexity. He opined that the problem had “no solution that was either quick, simple or free”.  The Executive Director of the Canada- based NGO said that his experience in different parts of the world had taught him that solutions must be based on “the smart use of the results of research and intelligence work; law enforcement that is trained and equipped to connect intelligence and interdiction; and local communities of ordinary, law abiding citizens who are given the opportunity to be part of the solution.”

Siebert and Williams both lauded the inputs to be made by the Institute of International Relations of the St Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies, considered to be aptly positioned to service the research and strategy formulation elements of the project.

Already, this initiative, which addresses all these issues, is coming in for high praise. Describing the project as “a meaningful step in the ongoing efforts of the Caribbean Community to control and reduce crime in all its jurisdictions, the Minister of National Security of Trinidad and Tobago, Brigadier (retired) John Sandy, said that his government “would do what was necessary to ensure its success”. Seizing the opportunity to make an announcement about complementary local initiatives that would underscore Trinidad and Tobago’s commitment to decisive action, the minister made reference to an amendment to the Firearms Act, which he said would reduce the illegal supply of guns to criminals, and a National Mentoring Programme, which he said would be launched in April by former United States Secretary of State General Colin Powell to target the social needs of communities most affected.

The Chairman of the CARICOM Council for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE), Dr. Errol L. Cort, applauded the project highlighting, “the precision with which it responds to the critical needs and priorities of CARICOM Member States”. He attributed this positive result to conceptualization and formulation which put emphasis on, “consultations with targeted beneficiaries” through the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security, which he described as “the appropriate institution within the Region to implement the technical aspects of this initiative ”, as it was designated the Regional Point of Contact on Small Arms and Light Weapons by the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government and CONSLE.
Dr. Cort reminded the gathering , “When a project is focused on the expressed needs of member states it strengthens their commitment, thereby providing a greater likelihood of long-term sustainability”.