Security personnel get firearm recovery training

Edmond Campbell, Senior Staff Reporter

DESPITE THE recovery of more than 600 illegal firearms by the security forces annually in Jamaica, over the last five years, the use of the gun as the weapon of choice to unleash suffering, pain and death on many Jamaicans, remains foremost in the minds of the authorities as the collective search for solutions continues.

Over the next 10 days, members of the security forces will participate in a training exercise which will boost their capacity to effectively combat illicit trafficking in firearms and ammunition.

Starting yesterday at least 60 security personnel will be trained as part of a joint initiative between the Jamaican Government and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs' Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC).

Persons to be trained include the police, customs and intelligence officials, judges and prosecutors.

During the exercise firearms and ammunition that have been recovered will be destroyed at a location in east Kingston.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Glenmore Hinds told The Gleaner yesterday that the training exercise was intended to build capacity in firearm training, firearm recovery and firearm destruction.

Something is wrong

Lamenting the propensity for Jamaicans to kill each other, Hinds reasoned that "something (is) wrong with our people".

"We do have the capacity and the panache for killing," the senior policeman argued, noting that in many other countries with more firearms than Jamaica, the rate of killing was much lower.

Determined to get more weapons and ammunition off the streets, Hinds said although he was unable to provide an estimate of the number of illegal firearms that were in the possession of criminals, the recovery of more than 600 each year was a success.

"One firearm has the capacity to kill hundreds of people if you find ammunition to put into it," he pointed out, alluding to the devastating effects of hundreds of firearms in the hands of criminals.

At Jamaica's request, UNLIREC will provide technical expertise and assistance and equipment for the destruction of weapons that have been seized by the Jamaican police as well as obsolete firearms.

"A large quantity of expired ammunition and explosives will also be destroyed, contributing to a reduction in the risk of unplanned explosions at munitions sites," a release from the UN body stated.

The release said a formal destruction ceremony would be held by the Ministry of National Security on February 7 to demonstrate the commitment of the Government of Jamaica to join forces with the UN to combat and eradicate illicit trafficking in firearms and ammunition.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com

CAPTION: Dr Arun Kashyap (left), resident representative of the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), speaks with Dr Gladstone Hutchinson, director general of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), after they signed an agreement which sees the Government securing a US$9.5 million grant to assist with poverty reduction and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; environmental sustainability and energy security; and democratic governance. The signing took place at the PIOJ's New Kingston office. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer