Jamaica to ratify Arms Trade Treaty

JAMAICA IS taking steps to ratify the Arms Trade Treaty signed last year June at the United Nations in New York.

Cabinet has given approval for Jamaica to ratify the treaty, which would require Parliament to amend the Firearms Act and the Gunpowder and Explosives Act to include provisions for the implementation of the treaty.

Minister with responsibility for information, Sandrea Falconer, said Cabinet has given drafting instructions to the chief parlia-mentary counsel.

ADDRESSES CHALLENGES

Speaking at the weekly Jamaica House press briefing on Wednesday, Falconer explained that the ratification of the treaty would assist the country in addressing challenges relating to the inflow of small arms into the island.

"The intention of the Arms Trade Treaty is to regulate international trade in conventional weapons so as to prevent their diversion from the legal market to the illicit market."

The treaty establishes common international standards governing the transfer of conventional weapons, including small arms and light weapons.