Regional leaders are once again looking to the US to examine its role in the proliferation of guns in the region.
The CARICOM Heads were speaking at a round table discussion on day one of the “Regional Symposium: Violence as a Public Health Issue – the Crime Challenge”.
Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley gave one of the strongest rebukes, saying:
"The US has no moral authority to speak to these issues... none!"
Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, during the Panel Discussion on Day One of the Regional Symposium: Violence as a Public Health Issue the Crime Challenge, taking place at the Hyatt Regency. [Image courtesy TTT]
And Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Philip Davis KC, raised the issue of guns flowing from the United States into the region on more than one occasion.
“I've been telling the United States that I'm not going to get involved in their definition or their right to bear arms. But it cannot mean for us in the region, that that right to bear arms also gives the right to trafficking those arms,” he said.
As a crime prevention measure in The Bahamas, PM Davis reported that they instituted a buyback program for guns. However, he said that did not work and so he put a stop to it.
Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Philip Davis KC, during the Panel Discussion on Day One of the Regional Symposium: Violence as a Public Health Issue the Crime Challenge, taking place at the Hyatt Regency. [Image courtesy TTT]
“At one point, we had a buyback program, but that buyback program became a business and industry for some persons,” he explained. “So, I've now reversed that to the point where, until we are able to stop the flow, the buyback program would not be a successful program and will not meet the goal that we wished—that is to reduce the weapons in the hands of criminals on our streets.”
Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness had a similar position on the US’ role in the influx of guns. He said the United States needs to partner with the Caribbean in the same way the Caribbean partnered with the US in the decades long “war on drugs”.
“It is the greatest unfairness that we have diverted resources in other areas in which we could have spent it to fund and support a war on drugs,” Holness said.
Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, during the Panel Discussion on Day One of the “Regional Symposium: Violence as a Public Health Issue – the Crime Challenge”, taking place at the Hyatt Regency. [Image courtesy TTT]
He acknowledged the role they both play, saying they—guns and drugs—go hand in hand.
According to PM Holness, guns are needed to protect drugs that are transhipped through borders. They are then turned to deal with other forms of criminal activities. He noted that in Jamaica, the weapon of choice is no longer the AK 47. It is the AR 50 as well as the Glock, both of which are manufactured in North America.
“We must appeal to our friends in the north to increase their efforts to prevent the flow of guns into the region,” asserted the Jamaican Prime Minster.
