Above: Some of the weapons set for destruction (JIS Photo)
By the Caribbean Journal staff
Jamaica began the destruction of approximately 4,000 weapons and a half-ton of small arms ammunition in a disposal exercise today.
The move, which began with the destruction of 2,000 guns, is part of an effort to combat the illegal trade in firearms.
“The Ministry of National Security considers these actions important first steps towards effectively monitoring and regulating the number of firearms available for illicit use,” said National Security Minister Peter Bunting.
“Gun crimes represent a major threat to the safety and security of our society, so we’re therefore grateful for meaningful support to help reduce the availability of firearms and thus protect our democracy.”
The weapons, which come from the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Firearm Licensing Authority, are either unserviceable, obsolete or recovered by police.
The decision is part of the United Nations Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean’s firearm stockpile management and weapons destruction assistance package for the Caribbean, a programme first launched in 2010.
“We see this as a contribution to the ongoing process of developing a national small arms and ammunition control policy in new legislate in Jamaica,” said William Godnick, programme coordinator with the UNLIREC.
The guns are destroyed using a UN-designed small arms ammunition burning tank.