We the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) meeting in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on April 17-18, 2023, on the occasion of the Regional Symposium to address Crime and Violence as a public health issue, register our grave concern at the increase in the illegal exportation of guns from the United States of America which is a direct threat to our democracy.
We declare a War on Guns to combat the illegal trade which provides the weapons that contribute significantly to crime and violence in our Region causing death, disabilities and compromising the safety of our citizens.
We call on the United States of America to join the Caribbean in our War on Guns and urgently adopt and take action to stop the illegal exportation of firearms and ammunition into the Caribbean.
We lament the disproportionate share of our national budgets that we are compelled to allocate to measures to address crime, violence and national security as well as mental health and other health-related challenges, that directly result from the illegal exportation of guns to our region.
We underscore our commitment to utilize all human, financial and other resources to rid our Region of the scourge of illicit weapons.
We reiterate that the Caribbean must be a Zone of Peace, which will allow us to achieve our goal of a secure, stable and prosperous Community for all our citizens.
Issued by the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday, 18 April at the Regional Symposium on Crime and Violence.
THE GUN REVOLUTIONS:
Similac baby’s milk! As Similac is to a baby, so are guns to America, Americans have from the beginning have a love affair with guns, beginning with the Colt 45 which was brandished on every citizen’s hips in the old West and now the bushmaster. One of the major contributing factors to the American economy is the sales of guns, in the beginning, guns were never a problem to Americans, everyone strapped on their hips a gun belt and boast out who could shoot the fastest.
The respect for law and order was carried out by all who carry guns after guns were prohibited from being carried openly, the nation’s love for guns did not diminish, they then carry concealed weapons, and for a while, peace reigned in the heart of America until the gun revolution laws were implemented, mind you that was not to stop the guns factories but to monopolize the sale of guns, restricting the gun flow to industries as they see fit.
Guns are big business to America, heck they lobby continuously about their fifth amendment to carry arms, the nation’s love for their weapons is paramount, you often hear mass killings in different states, and the woe and lamentation last but for a while, and is back to the business at hand, the business of making guns, better and deadlier guns, and you expect help from America! What are you smoking, what America does best is to give promises, promises you want to hear, but American business is their business and no other.
You are asking a wolf to kill its pup, now I know you are dreaming, there is internal conflict every day with the gun situation right here in their back yard, they are not able to fully solve that crisis, and the majority don’t want to take away their guns, and majority rule.
My dear people of the Caribbean, look to a different source of prevention to curb the importation of guns to your Island nation, or your cries definitely will end on America’s deaf ears.