ATTORNEY-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., is supportive of a common legislation governing firearms use for the Caribbean which will enable co-operation and effectiveness in addressing the use, possession and trafficking of illicit firearms in the region.

These were the sentiments shared by Nandlall during a meeting with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Project Coordinator for the Caribbean, Global Firearms Programme, Roberto Codesal and Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), Regional Crime and Security Strategy Coordinator, Callixtus Joseph on Wednesday.

Codesal and Callixtus are currently in Guyana on a three-day visit to conduct a needs assessment in relation to combatting unlawful firearms use and trafficking in Guyana, with a view to synergise efforts in the Caribbean, South and Central America.

The visit is part of the UNODC “Support to the implementation of the crime prevention and criminal justice component of the Caribbean Roadmap to counter illicit firearms trafficking and misuse across the Caribbean in a sustainable manner by 2030” project which was launched on March 1, 2021 and covers the Caribbean region.

During the meeting, the Attorney-General alluded to the realistic challenges Guyana is facing due to the country’s vast, porous borders which enables trafficking of unlawful firearms, among other firearm-related issues as he welcomed the assistance on the issue.

Nandlall reminded that Guyana’s principal firearms legislation was passed since 1940 and while it has been updated on several occasions, but maintained that new legislation is needed for firearm-related offences to be properly addressed.

He highlighted that most violent crimes in the country involves the use of illegal firearms and ammunition and pledged the government’s unwavering commitment, to confront all forms of violence in the country, including the use of illicit firearms.

The UNODC project is designed to address the scourge of armed violence in the region by enhancing the capacity of criminal justice systems to counter illicit proliferation and misuse of firearms, through the detection, investigation, prosecution, and adjudication of illicit firearms trafficking cases and related offences.

The project has received financial support from Germany, in co-operation with the CARICOM IMPACS, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), and in line with the Caribbean Roadmap.

The project will address capacity building, legislative assistance, promote international co-operation, enhance the tracing of firearms and seek to establish national firearms focal points in each CARICOM country and promote the creation of a firearms network.

Currently, UNODC, IMPACS and UNLIREC are planning a legislative review of Guyana’s laws relating to firearms to determine any gaps and loopholes. Training is also slated for the detection of firearms by air, land and sea and the prosecution of firearms offences.

The Attorney-General indicated that Guyana is willing to partner with UNODC, IMPACS and UNLIREC on this initiative as he emphasised that Guyana has signed on to all international instruments relevant to the use and trade of illicit firearms, including the Arms Trade Treaty and the United Nations Protocol against the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and Ammunition.