Minister Munroe Critical need for a unified and strategic response to the illicit proliferation of firearms ammunition

Minister Munroe Critical need for a unified and strategic response to the illicit proliferation of firearms ammunition

NASSAU, The Bahamas - During his Keynote Address at the Official Opening of The Bahamas' Inter-institutional Roundtable Meetings for the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, on September 23, 2024, Minister of National Security the Hon. Wane Munroe noted that the convening of national, regional and international partners over the following three days reflected the "critical need" for a unified and strategic response to the "illicit proliferation of firearms and ammunition in The Bahamas and, indeed, the CARICOM Community."

"Despite The Bahamas not manufacturing firearms, the use of illicit firearms as the main weapon of choice in homicides, youth violence, armed robberies, and other serious crimes against the person is alarming," Minister Munroe said, at the event held at the Paul Farquharson Centre, Police Headquarters.

Among those also bringing remarks included Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of National Security Bridget Hepburn; Director of United Nations Regional Centre for Peace Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) Soledad Urruela; and US Embassy Charge d'Affaires Kimberly Furnish.

"Recent data shows that over a five years' period, approximately 90 percent of the homicides in The Bahamas were committed using firearms," Minister Munroe added. "Across the Caribbean, similar trends persist and, according to the Small Arms Survey (2023) of the region, firearms are being used in 70 percent of all homicides.

"This figure is significantly higher than the global average of 30 percent, and rather disturbing considering that the Caribbean has less than one percent of the world's population."

He pointed out that the issues surrounding firearms in the region transcended borders, thereby requiring national, regional and international partnerships.

He added: "The Roadmap for Implementing The Caribbean Priority Actions on the Illicit Proliferation of Firearms and Ammunition across the Caribbean in a Sustainable Manner by 2030 - which is six years away - or the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, as it is commonly known, adds another tool in our national and regional arsenal by adopting sustainable solutions to prevent and combat the illicit proliferation of firearms and ammunition, consistent with international norms and Member States' context."

Minister Munroe noted that, on the global level, the Roadmap provided a credible framework to assist Member States in implementing the United Nations SDGs 2030 Agenda and, specifically, Sustainable Development Goals 16.1 and 16.4, with emphasis on reducing the illicit firearms flow and reducing all forms of violence and related deaths.

He added that, over the following three days The Bahamas Inter-institutional Technical Committee would strengthen its high-level partnerships with participating States, donor states "such as Canada and our friends in the United States, co-custodians such as UNLIREC and CARICOM IMPACS and international partners."

"Further, we will seek to enable law enforcement agencies in the region to work seamlessly across jurisdictions," Minister Munroe said. "With a shared vision, improved legislation and regulations, intelligence sharing and joint operations, training in forensic ballistic operations, and armoury management, we will fortify our collective security framework."

He noted that the strength of their partnership [lay] not only in their shared commitment, but also in the coordination and integration of "their assets, expertise, good governance and our resolve to protect our citizens and secure our region."

"It is this collective effort that will ensure that we remain resilient in the face of evolving threats relative to illicit firearms and ammunition," Minister Munroe said.

He pointed out that, in the current globalized world, criminal networks were leveraging technology to their advantage and were becoming more coordinated in their borderless operations.

"In The Bahamas, like the region, we are keenly aware of how organized crime has infiltrated our societies by exploiting our weakened systems and processes, while targeting our most vulnerable citizens," Minister Munroe said.

He added: "The illicit activities involving firearms, ammunition and other related criminal activities are eroding our way of life. This makes it all the more important that we address not just the manifestations of crime, but the root causes that allow these underground networks to thrive. That is why I am happy to know that The Bahamas' Technical Committee is undergirding our National Action Plan for the Firearms Roadmap with this government's five pillars strategy on crime. This strategy emphasizes a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach."

Minister Munroe stated that it was important that they placed emphasis on preventive programmes for their youth, transform punishment measures and have meaningful programmes for reintegration into society. To accomplish a safer society with less firearms cannot be achieved by any single nation, whether big or small, he added.

"The need for a shared, coordinated response has never been more critical, especially considering what is at stake - which is a safer Bahamas and a more secure Caribbean," Minister Munroe said.

He added that The Bahamas recognized the importance of that shared vision and collaboration in the efforts to combat illicit firearms and ammunition. The cornerstone of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap was the individual National Action Plan by Member States, Minister Munroe said.

"These roundtable meetings not only reflect the exchange of best practices and lessons learnt, but are a reaffirmation of The Bahamas' shared commitment to a safer and more secure future for our region," he added.

"At the conclusion of these meetings, The Bahamas would have made progress in identifying our national priorities, plans and implementation timelines, along with utilizing the monitoring and evaluation reporting platform to share our progress and plans for the future," Minister Munroe continued. "All of this will be done with the continued support of our international stakeholders."

He noted that The Bahamas hoped to have all of that work completed by the next meeting of Member States scheduled for November of that year.

"It is our intent to officially adopt the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap and join the other Member States who have already committed to this initiative," Minister Munroe said.

"We are fully committed to aligning our crime-fighting strategies and strengthening partnerships and cooperation, not only to enhance our national security efforts, but also to contribute to the overall security of the region," he added.

Minister Munroe expressed his "sincere gratitude" to UNLIREC and CARICOM IMPACS for "their leadership and for facilitating this critical initiative," and to Canada and the United States, for their ongoing assistance.

He also extended his "sincere thanks" to the Heads of National Law Enforcement Agencies (HONLEA), Office of the Attorney General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Public Prosecution and The Bahamas' Roadmap Technical Committee for "your ongoing commitment to the safety and security of our nation and, by extension, our region."

Minister Munroe said: "The work and development of this country's nation's National Action Plan to address the illicit proliferation of firearms and ammunition along with our commitment and engagement to international responses to firearms including the United Nations Programme of Action, International Tracing Instruments (ITI), Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and Inter-American Convention Against the Illicit Manufacturing of Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosive and other Related Materials (CIFTA) will have far reaching implications beyond our borders, thereby, shaping the future of our cooperative efforts in combating illicit firearms and ammunition."

"In closing, I would like to reiterate a warm welcome to both our first-time visitors and any returning visitors," he added. "I encourage you to enjoy our beautiful sun, sand, sea and the tasty dishes.

"The Bahamas is truly a special place, made even more so by its people. Through these experiences, I hope you will have a better appreciation of why we are committed to maintaining a safer Bahamas; so that it can be said truthfully that it is better in The Bahamas."

He added: "The Roadmap for Implementing The Caribbean Priority Actions on the Illicit Proliferation of Firearms and Ammunition across the Caribbean in a Sustainable Manner by 2030 - which is six years away - or the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, as it is commonly known, adds another tool in our national and regional arsenal by adopting sustainable solutions to prevent and combat the illicit proliferation of firearms and ammunition, consistent with international norms and Member States' context."

Minister Munroe noted that, on the global level, the Roadmap provided a credible framework to assist Member States in implementing the United Nations SDGs 2030 Agenda and, specifically, Sustainable Development Goals 16.1 and 16.4, with emphasis on reducing the illicit firearms flow and reducing all forms of violence and related deaths.

He added that, over the following three days The Bahamas Inter-institutional Technical Committee would strengthen its high-level partnerships with participating States, donor states "such as Canada and our friends in the United States, co-custodians such as UNLIREC and CARICOM IMPACS and international partners."

"Further, we will seek to enable law enforcement agencies in the region to work seamlessly across jurisdictions," Minister Munroe said. "With a shared vision, improved legislation and regulations, intelligence sharing and joint operations, training in forensic ballistic operations, and armoury management, we will fortify our collective security framework."

He noted that the strength of their partnership [lay] not only in their shared commitment, but also in the coordination and integration of "their assets, expertise, good governance and our resolve to protect our citizens and secure our region."

"It is this collective effort that will ensure that we remain resilient in the face of evolving threats relative to illicit firearms and ammunition," Minister Munroe said.

He pointed out that, in the current globalized world, criminal networks were leveraging technology to their advantage and were becoming more coordinated in their borderless operations.

"In The Bahamas, like the region, we are keenly aware of how organized crime has infiltrated our societies by exploiting our weakened systems and processes, while targeting our most vulnerable citizens," Minister Munroe said.

He added: "The illicit activities involving firearms, ammunition and other related criminal activities are eroding our way of life. This makes it all the more important that we address not just the manifestations of crime, but the root causes that allow these underground networks to thrive. That is why I am happy to know that The Bahamas' Technical Committee is undergirding our National Action Plan for the Firearms Roadmap with this government's five pillars strategy on crime. This strategy emphasizes a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach."

Minister Munroe stated that it was important that they placed emphasis on preventive programmes for their youth, transform punishment measures and have meaningful programmes for reintegration into society. To accomplish a safer society with less firearms cannot be achieved by any single nation, whether big or small, he added.

"The need for a shared, coordinated response has never been more critical, especially considering what is at stake - which is a safer Bahamas and a more secure Caribbean," Minister Munroe said.

He added that The Bahamas recognized the importance of that shared vision and collaboration in the efforts to combat illicit firearms and ammunition. The cornerstone of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap was the individual National Action Plan by Member States, Minister Munroe said.

"These roundtable meetings not only reflect the exchange of best practices and lessons learnt, but are a reaffirmation of The Bahamas' shared commitment to a safer and more secure future for our region," he added.

"At the conclusion of these meetings, The Bahamas would have made progress in identifying our national priorities, plans and implementation timelines, along with utilizing the monitoring and evaluation reporting platform to share our progress and plans for the future," Minister Munroe continued. "All of this will be done with the continued support of our international stakeholders."

He noted that The Bahamas hoped to have all of that work completed by the next meeting of Member States scheduled for November of that year.

"It is our intent to officially adopt the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap and join the other Member States who have already committed to this initiative," Minister Munroe said.

"We are fully committed to aligning our crime-fighting strategies and strengthening partnerships and cooperation, not only to enhance our national security efforts, but also to contribute to the overall security of the region," he added.

Minister Munroe expressed his "sincere gratitude" to UNLIREC and CARICOM IMPACS for "their leadership and for facilitating this critical initiative," and to Canada and the United States, for their ongoing assistance.

He also extended his "sincere thanks" to the Heads of National Law Enforcement Agencies (HONLEA), Office of the Attorney General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Public Prosecution and The Bahamas' Roadmap Technical Committee for "your ongoing commitment to the safety and security of our nation and, by extension, our region."

Minister Munroe said: "The work and development of this country's nation's National Action Plan to address the illicit proliferation of firearms and ammunition along with our commitment and engagement to international responses to firearms including the United Nations Programme of Action, International Tracing Instruments (ITI), Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and Inter-American Convention Against the Illicit Manufacturing of Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosive and other Related Materials (CIFTA) will have far reaching implications beyond our borders, thereby, shaping the future of our cooperative efforts in combating illicit firearms and ammunition."

"In closing, I would like to reiterate a warm welcome to both our first-time visitors and any returning visitors," he added. "I encourage you to enjoy our beautiful sun, sand, sea and the tasty dishes.

"The Bahamas is truly a special place, made even more so by its people. Through these experiences, I hope you will have a better appreciation of why we are committed to maintaining a safer Bahamas; so that it can be said truthfully that it is better in The Bahamas."