By RHONDOR DOWLAT Saturday, January 17 2009

NATIONAL Security Minister Martin Joseph yesterday announced that there is a troubling significant increase in gun related crimes in the region, especially between the illegal narcotics trade and that of the illegal trade in small arms and light weapons.

Joseph, Chair of the Council of Ministers responsible for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE) was speaking at the First Seminar of Firearms Examiners and Ballistics Experts in the Region which was held at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain.

He assured that the Heads of Government were indeed concerned about the increasing negative impact of illegal firearms and have mandated the necessity for urgent action and attention to counter the phenomenon.

Joseph revealed that in 2000 firearms were responsible for less than one-third of all homicides in many Caricom States. However, he said, by May 2006, gun related crimes accounted for more than 70 percent of criminal activity, illicit firearms are now a significant aspect of a growing culture of violence within the region.

Joseph noted that there were a significant number of cases and, a positive correlation has been recognised between the illegal narcotics trade and that of the illegal trade in small arms and light weapons.

“These weapons are used to protect contraband goods, intimidate users and competitors, protect turf, coerce recruits into gangs, maintain discipline within these gangs and to execute those who threaten to curtail the lifeline of the trade,” Joseph said.

“Gun related violence is also having an impact on public health systems, as well as creating social and economic problems for many Caricom States,” he added.

During the seminar yesterday there were discussions pertaining to effective communication links, standardisation of certification, best practices and the establishment of a formal Caricom Association of Ballistics Experts and Firearms Examiners.

The participants were expected to seek to lay a solid foundation on which a Regional Integrated Ballistic Information Network (RIBIN) can be established and aim to outline a programme of action that will serve the needs of this region and ultimately protect the citizens of the Caricom community.

Executive Director of Caricom Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), Lynne Anne Williams in her address spoke about the challenges of identifying guns used in homicides and the crucial interlinked evidence, which, she said, has become even more difficult. “As we are all aware, armed criminals routinely cross into neighbouring jurisdictions. A shooting incident may occur in one jurisdiction and the evidence of that incident, such as the weapon, may be found in another jurisdiction,” Williams said. “It is against this backdrop that the development of RIBIN, as an integral part of the region’s response to the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons is being implemented. RIBIN will facilitate the sharing of intelligence across jurisdictional boundaries, enabling national and regional law enforcement agencies to overcome the obstacle and delays associated with logistics of physical evidence exchange and to discover and analyse links between crimes, guns and suspects,” she added.

In April 2008, Caricom Heads of Government met in Port-of-Spain at the 13th Special Meeting, which focused on crime and security, the thrust being “to fully ventilate the crime and security issues facing the region and to agree on a strategy and plan of action to stem the rising tide of violent communities”.

With regard to illegal firearms, Heads agreed to: enforce existing regulations that pertain to the use and storage of firearms and ammunition, develop a regional database of firearms which is accessible by all regional law enforcement agencies, increase the capacity of detection and surveillance methods in relation to the movement of firearms, including the importation, sale, transfer, theft and use of firearms and introduce measures to improve systems, procedures, intelligence and training with a view to enhancing border security.