ST LUCIA PM CALLS ON GUN MANUFACTURERS TO LIVE UP TO THEIR COMMITMENTS

September 28, 2022 | By Colin O. Jarrett |

St Lucia’s Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre has called on manufacturers, exporters and importers of conventional weapons to live up to their commitments as he urged the international community to assist the Caribbean in fighting a surge in criminal activity and gun violence.

In his maiden address to the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Pierre told the international forum that while St Lucia and the rest of the Caribbean are not manufacturers of conventional weapons, “our countries have been plagued by a proliferation of illegal small arms and light weapons, resulting in a surge in criminal activity and gun violence”.

He said St Lucia has always been a strong advocate of international frameworks, such as the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects, UN-POA and the Arms Trade Treaty.

These are two examples of multilateral instruments aimed at mobilizing international co-operation to curb the illicit trade in conventional arms and ammunition.