S again to support CARICOM in gainst small-arms trafficking

deliberations saw the United criticised for not doing enough to of illicit arms into the Caribbean. me, some CARICOM states had t their patience with Washington ue had expired. The CARICOM issued a declaration underlining o crack down on illegal firearms he pressure against Washington. mble recognised that the epidemic violence in the Caribbean, fueled ns and organised criminal gangs, t to democracy and the stability of eties. ncerned at the high rate of illegal f guns from the United States of he Caribbean Region, the Heads Region’s strong and enduring o support the United States in its gs’.“…given our observation that ecome the new drug, as articulatparate 18 April 2023 Declaration, e United States of America to recjoin the Caribbean in its ‘War on

s further vowed to undertake a ve overhaul of the criminal justice ddress criminal terrorists with a oactive management of prosecucing and the diversion of young k. o pledged to “strengthen regional abilities and collaboration among ensic agencies with a view to improving the quality of evidence and speed the conduct of trials; prepare regional model legislation to bring greater harmonization and efficiency to the development and revision of national laws; immediately and effectively implement the CARICOM Arrest Warrant Treaty; and augment the jurisdiction of magistrates, the consideration of defendants’ options to judge-only trials, and the intra-regional rotation of judges and magistrates to admit or foster their greater exposure.”

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Western Hemisphere at the United States Department of Defense, Daniel Erikson (second from right) at a meeting at the Office of the President. (Office of the President photo)