The illicit trade in firearms and ammunitions in the Caribbean has reached epidemic proportions.
And despite progress in some areas, officials believe a lot more could be done to arrest the growing problem.
Speaking at yesterday’s session of the 34th Annual Crime Stoppers International Conference at Hilton Barbados, William Godnick, public security programme coordinator with the UN office for disarmament affairs, said the issue of illegal guns and ammunition continued to be a major issue throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
He said, however, Barbados was identified as one of two Caribbean islands that were still below the level of what was internationally considered to be epidemic.
Godnick made the comments during his presentation on intellectual property crimes and trafficking in illicit goods under the topic Armed Violence Reduction, Small Arms Control And Disarmament. The three-day conference, which started on Monday, is being held under the theme Reinventing For The Future. (MM)