The Caribbean Neighborhood (CARICOM) Implementation Company for Crime and Safety’s (IMPACS) Crime Gun Intelligence Unit (CGIU) continues to host sensitisation and consciousness workshops as a part of its efforts to deal with gun crime within the area.
Following from the primary spherical of workshops held in St. Kitts and Nevis in Might 2024, the second session is being held on the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre (LESC) in Barbados from August 1 to 14.
Delivering the function handle on the opening of the workshop, Dale Marshall, Legal professional-Common and Minister of Authorized Affairs, Barbados advocated for a complete technique to deal with gun violence in Barbados and referred to as for higher collaboration amongst communities to share info with the related authorities to apprehend offenders.
“As of September, final yr, we had 292 firearm circumstances ready to be tried. In 2024, the quantity has not modified considerably, we’re within the area of simply over 250. Within the 18 months ending final month, there have been 142 firearm trials,” he revealed.
Marshall reiterated that the battle towards firearms trafficking “must be an all-of-society endeavour.”
Tonya Ayow, Deputy Govt Director, CARICOM IMPACS agreed and famous that: “In an period the place transnational crime is aware of no borders, our collective efforts have by no means been extra very important. Right this moment, as we convene, we recognise that the battle towards firearms-related crimes calls for a united entrance. It’s our collective intention to proceed the operational assist whereas on the similar time, working with our companions to extend the capabilities and capacities of the Member States’ Firearms Models all through the area.”
She added that there have been no ‘in a single day fixes’ to the gun downside at present being skilled within the Caribbean.
Nevertheless, Ayow said that with regular partnerships on all fronts, along with a collective and united effort, there was gradual, however regular progress within the battle towards gun violence and trafficking. In lower than one yr, CARICOM Member States have been experiencing the advantages of the CGIU, which has been working alongside United States (US) companies such because the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI), Customs and Border Safety (CBP) and the Bureau of Business and Safety (BIS) to assist firearm-related investigations by means of the availability of related and actionable intelligence.
Ayow additionally took the chance to thank the US Authorities for his or her assist of the CGIU.
Karin Sullivan, Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy, Bridgetown, Barbados, mentioned the US Authorities has already invested over US$10 million in safety help to cut back firearms trafficking within the Caribbean, with further prison justice assist by means of the Caribbean Basin Safety Initiative (CBSI). “It is a matter we’ve got been working to deal with, one we’re at present working to deal with, and one we’re dedicated to deal with sooner or later,” she assured.
Sullivan said the partnership with IMPACS on the CGIU was pushed by a shared recognition of the impression of crime and violence in regional communities. “By bettering citizen safety and eradicating weapons from the streets, we goal to meet the elemental want for security amongst our residents and residents,” she added. Individuals on the workshop embody representatives from regulation enforcement together with Ministers, Parliamentarians and senior officers from each Customs and Police in Barbados.