THE Caribbean region, inclusive of Guyana, has been severely impacted by the irresponsible and illicit proliferation and transfer of small arms and light weapons and associated ammunition, with per capita murder rates among the highest in the world and 70 per cent of murders in the region involve small arms. This is according to a Canadian funded study in the region last year, at the time advocating an Arms Treaty and according to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, the passage of the Firearms Amendment Bill would have directly addressed United Nations Treaty obligations on Guyana.
Ms. Rodrigues-Birkett was at the time supporting colleague Minister Clement Rohee in the now failed bid on Thursday last to criminalise the trafficking of firearms as well as the importation of weapon parts.
The Foreign Affairs Minister, in appealing to the combined opposition in the House, with a view of gaining support for the legislation, argued that while government believes that conventions and protocols that exist must be lauded, “we must go further.”
The Minister said that in addition to what is contained in the UN Charter dealing with the arms trade there must be an Arms Treaty that includes small arms and light weapons as well as components.
She said that while at present there still isn’t unanimity “this amendment must be seen as Guyana putting in place legislation consistent with what we have been advocating.”
The Foreign Affairs Minister said some of the current efforts to stem the flow of illicit weapons, include that of the Caribbean Security Basin Initiative (CSBI), which sees the provision of training and equipment, among other things, to countries like Guyana.
She said that “in this globalised world we live in it is far easier for people and goods to move…we have to be vigilant,” argued the Minister in favour of having the Firearms (Amendment Bill) approved.  
The Minister noted also that because of Guyana’s geographic proximity to weapon producers it “puts us in the firing line.”
Both Brazil and Venezuela are large scale producers of arms and ammunition.
The Foreign Affairs Minister said that while the problem is not a new one, but rather a bigger one, as a responsible player in the international community that promotes multilateralism “we are a party against transnational crimes including trafficking in firearms.”
The combined opposition did not field any speaker in support of, or against the Bill but simply voted against it with a resounding shout of ‘no.’
This led to a call for a division of votes and each of the 32 members present in the Opposition benches voted against the 28 members of the government side present to support the legislation.
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s Carl Greenidge, was absent along with the PPP/Cs Bibi Shaddick and Manzoor Nadir.
The Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee the following day called the action by the combined opposition Parliamentary Assassination.
At the time of his presentation to the debate in Parliament, Rohee drew reference to statistics produced by CARICOM’s Implementing Agency for Crime and Security in the Region (IMPACS) that lists Guyana as ranking behind Jamaica and Trinidad in terms of seizure of illegal weapons.   
Rohee said that the matter of illegal small arms cannot be seen in a local perspective only but rather in an international context with Guyana doing its part.
The minister said that it must be recognised that the illegal arms in Guyana has become a major problem and requires a holistic approach.
The Home Affairs Minister drew reference also to the establishment of a special ‘Firearms Investigation Unit’ that has been set up by Government within the Guyana Police Service.
He said that the Unit alone is not enough to curb the problem and works along with other departments but reminded also it is better to take a holistic approach.
Rohee told media operatives the following day that the proposed law was meant to give the Guyana Police Service the legal backing when looking to prosecute persons for gun related offences.
The minister said that it cannot be denied that Guyana has large expanses of very porous borders with a country that manufactures weapons hence, “it is quite possible that indeed due to the porous nature of our borders, firearms do enter our country.”
“We are not alone with respect to this challenge of porous borders,” according to Rohee and said “one of the ways to do so, is to legislate….pass laws to make it illegal.”
 Rohee argued, in vain, that as Guyana continues to make its case to the international negotiations with regards the arms treaty the country must lead by example also and “the best way we could do it is to pass laws.”  
Rohee called “on the House to recognize that we, Guyanese are making our contribution to the global fight against trafficking in firearms.”