Minister of National Security, Dr. the Hon. Bernard J. Nottage delivered the keynote address at the Opening Session of the two-day Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) Technical Working Group Meeting on Law Enforcement Cooperation and Capacity Building, September 24, at the Paul H. Farquharson Conference Centre. The theme for the two-day conference: "Combating Illicit Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Caribbean." (RBPF Photo)

NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Government of The Bahamas is determined to maximize its resources in thwarting all efforts to smuggle illegal firearms into the country, Minister of National Security Dr. the Hon. Bernard J. Nottage said September 24.

Addressing the Opening Session of the two-day Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) Technical Working Group Meeting on Law Enforcement Cooperation and Capacity Building at the Paul H. Farquharson Conference Centre, Dr. Nottage said the Government has implemented a number of strategies that can help to combat transnational crimes such as firearms smuggling including the intensive surveillance of the country’s water by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, improved gun registries, the marking and tracing of weapons, and the destruction of illegal firearms, along with improved interdiction efforts of firearms at the country’s ports of entry.

The programmes are “very important” for The Bahamas as the country has become a transit point for drugs and small arms, Dr. Nottage said -- adding that the programmes have already begun to pay dividends.

“As with other countries in the region, the main source of weapons involved in crimes in The Bahamas has been illegal firearms that have been smuggled into the country. Of the 88 homicides recorded to date this year, 73 of them (or 83 per cent) have been committed by the use of firearms,” Dr. Nottage said.

“The marking of firearms has helped to identify the weapons that have been used in criminal activity and therefore helped to combat crime in our country and in the region. It also helps to combat illicit firearms trafficking as it allows authorities to identify the seized weapons to determine their origin.”

The National Security Minister said the Government will continue its programme of reform of the country’s criminal laws, modernizing and expanding its judicial system and strengthening targeted programmes to address the country’s social ills, all in an effort to reduce the threats posed to society by criminal elements.

“Indeed, The Bahamas’ investment of approximately $232million in the acquisition of nine patrol vessels and the upgrade of Defence Force Bases is a tangible testimony to our commitment.”

Dr. Nottage said the Government has also moved to address the matter of the illegal entry of firearms through its ports by training officers from the Customs and Immigration Departments to identify and seize drugs and illegal firearms.

“Close collaborations among all of our law enforcement agencies to effectively address the problem of illegal firearms and to identify the component parts, together with being aware of the methods of concealment of firearms and ammunition, have been ongoing.

“We were therefore very pleased to sign a Joint Agreement with the Organization of American States (OAS) in 2011 to cooperate with hemispheric partners on the implementation of the Project ‘Promoting Firearms Marking in Latin America and the Caribbean’, giving the country access to training and equipment for marking firearms and tracking them.

“Additionally, in May, 2012, The Bahamas was donated a set of hydraulic shears for the destruction of illegal firearms. I wish to once again thank the OAS and UNLIREC for spearheading these initiatives to provide member states with these very useful tools. They are tools in our arsenal that add to our multifaceted strategy in combating the trade in illegal firearms to ultimately reduce the level of criminality in our country,” Dr. Nottage added.

Dr. Nottage said firearms have become the weapons of choice for the protection of contraband during transportation and are smuggled into the country as part of the shipment of drugs. Evidence also indicates that illegal drugs are traded for illegal firearms in addition to cash.

“These weapons are used for protecting turf, for intimidating customers and competitors, for empowering recruits into criminal enterprises, for maintaining discipline and for executing informers. As such, we have seen a direct correlation between the drug trade, illegal firearms and violent criminality.

“While reducing the trade in illegal weapons is a challenging undertaking, we are satisfied that improved gun registries, the marking and tracing of weapons, the destruction of illegal firearms, along with improved interdiction of firearms at our ports, can help.”