"Do more to curb weapon trafficking" St Kitts-Nevis PM urges to gun producing nations

BASSETERRE: St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris has urged the weapon manufacturing nations of the world to do more to curb the trafficking of firearms into the Caribbean.

During his address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Harris said while Caribbean governments continue to do all they can to protect their borders, “it is beyond our power to unilaterally control the flow of guns into the region or the habit that drives the dangerous global drug trade.”

“Throughout the Caribbean, we suffer from an increase in crime connected to the trade in small arms, light weapons and the drug trade,” he said.

“These weapons flow into the Caribbean where they are not manufactured and are linked to an insatiable drug appetite in the West,” the St Kitts-Nevis prime minister added.

Dr Harris used the UN General Assembly to gain the support and assistance of the international community. He said Caribbean governments continue to do all they can to protect their borders “as we work tirelessly to address this scourge.” Reaction of any weapon manufacturing nation is yet to come.

The St Kitts-Nevis Prime Minister, who is also the Minister of National Security, also reaffirmed his administration’s full commitment to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) establishes common standards for the international trade of conventional weapons and seeks to reduce the illicit arms trade.

It aims to reduce human suffering caused by illegal and irresponsible arms transfers, improve regional security and stability, as well as to promote accountability and transparency by state parties concerning transfers of conventional arms.

In St Kitts-Nevis, law enforcement agencies have stepped up their patrols and other joint operations that have so far resulted in the removal of 33 illegal firearms from the nation’s streets for 2018.

(Agency inputs are used to construct the story)