Having recognised that crime and insecurity rank high among the threats and obstacles to social and economic development in the Caribbean, Guyana’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Michael Ten-Pow, is calling on countries that manufacture and export conventional arms to strengthen efforts with Caricom (Caribbean Community) countries to curb the movement of illicit weapons in the region.
Ambassador Ten-Pow made these remarks on behalf of Caricom during the Thematic Debate of the Disarmament and International Security Committee (First Committee) on Conventional Weapons held on Thursday.
He said, “These States have a special responsibility to work with the rest of us in ensuring that adequate controls are in place to safeguard against the diversion of these arms from legitimate uses to illicit markets. We have to work together to completely remove these weapons from the wrong hands as this is the fuel for so many conflicts around the world – conflicts in which thousands of lives are lost and many more injured and maimed.”
According to the diplomat, Caricom is committed to doing its part and will work with all partners to achieve this. He pointed out that the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons poses significant security challenges for the Caribbean region.
“We do not manufacture, export or re-export these weapons nor ammunition, neither do we import them on a large-scale but the extent of their impact in the Region remains a source of major concern. Certain realities in our Region, such as our porous borders; our limited capacity to detect, intercept and seize illegal arms at ports of entry; and unfavourable socio-economic conditions in some parts of our countries make it particularly challenging to stem the illicit arms trade, which operates in tandem with the illicit drug trade and other organised criminal activities. The convergence of these factors has a destabilising effect on our societies and undermines our economies,” he told the Committee.
Ambassador Ten-Pow further posited that it is for these and other reasons that Caricom remains a strong advocate for the universalisation of the Arms Trade Treaty as the framework for regulating the international trade in conventional weapons and for preventing and eradicating their illicit trade as well as for preventing their diversion.
“We are pleased with the progress made since the Treaty’s entry into force in 2014 and welcome the decision of the Third Conference of States parties to establish the working group on Treaty Universalisation as a standing Working Group. Caricom supports the initial work plan of the Group. We are convinced that eradication of the illicit trade in conventional arms would be possible only if the international community works as a collective, bound by the common obligations set out in the Treaty,” he asserted.
The Ambassador went on to say that going forward, the region believes that greater value could be derived from focused debates if Member States aim to generate as many practical measures as possible to inform their work under the Treaty. He further underscored the need for continued assistance and support to developing countries, in particular, to facilitate full implementation of the Treaty.
As the convening of the Third Review Conference of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons in 2018 approaches, Ten-Pow noted that Caricom intends to remain fully engaged on the issues identified for focus during the Conference and to participate actively in the deliberations.
Ambassador Ten-Pow said the Region looks forward to continued and enhanced cooperation with the UN as it seeks to strengthen capacity to fulfil the disarmament objectives.
