U.S. Reiterates Support For The Caribbean’s Arms Trafficking Fight

As Caribbean countries grapple with a spike in gun violence, the United States has reiterated its support for the region’s war against illicit guns. Daniel P. Erikson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for the Western Hemisphere at the United States Department of Defence, reiterated his country’s support during an interview with local journalists in Guyana. The state-owned Guyana Chronicle quoted Erikson saying the U.S. government viewed the issue primarily as a law enforcement challenge. The Chronicle reported him stating his country’s dedication to providing the prosecutorial assets to investigate and prosecute cases of illegal firearm trafficking in the region. According to the U.S. official, the challenges posed by transnational criminal organisations are not just military but also require a whole-of-government response, working with his country’s partners in the region. Erikson spoke during a two-day visit to Guyana. Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders held a two-day crime symposium in Trinidad and Tobago in April last year, declaring war on guns and urging the United States to join. The symposium addressed crime and violence as a public health issue. The regional leaders asserted that weapons contribute significantly to crime and violence in their countries, causing death and disabilities and compromising citizen safety. They...