Foreign Affairs Minister Surujrattan Rambachan on Monday told delegates at a regional workshop a large percentage of the victims and perpetrators of gun violence in the Caribbean region are young men,
Rambachan made the point in an address at the opening of the Second Regional Workshop on Negotiations for the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain.
"Research has established that in the main, the victims and perpetrators of gun violence in the region are young men of low socio-economic status. In Trinidad and Tobago, approximately 60 per cent of the victims of fatal firearm assaults were males aged 15-34 years," Rambachan said.
"Of significant note also, is the fact that many of these arms enter Trinidad and Tobago through drug trafficking in pirogues from the South American mainland, which unequivocally establishes the pernicious link between the illicit arms trade and the illicit narcotics trade."
He added: "The flourishing business of guns for hire is a well-recognised outgrowth of drug trafficking. Out of this unsavoury trade has come the contract killer for hire job specialisation. Some of us here in this country know that it has been suggested that even guns that belong to the police service have found themselves in the hands of criminals."
Rambachan said the flow of firearms into Trinidad and Tobago has continued despite legislation to deal with the problem.
"Domestic legislation has proven a necessary but insufficient mechanism to combat the illicit trade in arms.
Rambachan made the point in an address at the opening of the Second Regional Workshop on Negotiations for the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain.
"Research has established that in the main, the victims and perpetrators of gun violence in the region are young men of low socio-economic status. In Trinidad and Tobago, approximately 60 per cent of the victims of fatal firearm assaults were males aged 15-34 years," Rambachan said.
"Of significant note also, is the fact that many of these arms enter Trinidad and Tobago through drug trafficking in pirogues from the South American mainland, which unequivocally establishes the pernicious link between the illicit arms trade and the illicit narcotics trade."
He added: "The flourishing business of guns for hire is a well-recognised outgrowth of drug trafficking. Out of this unsavoury trade has come the contract killer for hire job specialisation. Some of us here in this country know that it has been suggested that even guns that belong to the police service have found themselves in the hands of criminals."
Rambachan said the flow of firearms into Trinidad and Tobago has continued despite legislation to deal with the problem.
"Domestic legislation has proven a necessary but insufficient mechanism to combat the illicit trade in arms.
"Here in Trinidad and Tobago, despite the regulatory provisions of the Firearms Act and the Customs Act, there is evidence that illicit arms and ammunition continue to enter Trinidad and Tobago through a number of channels, including containers and cargo vessels; undeclared items on board pleasure craft and fishing vessels; and shipments of household and personal effects and imported used vehicles."
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