Jamaica's Deputy Prime Minister Horace Chang expressed strong support for a coalition led by New York AG Letitia James, advocating for measures to combat gun trafficking from the US. He highlighted a significant issue of at least 200 firearms being trafficked monthly into Jamaica, contributing to the country's highest homicide rate globally, with serious implications for both Jamaican and American communities.
Chang noted that the alarming homicide rate in Jamaica, standing at 53.3 per 100,000, is largely fueled by illegal arms trafficking from the US, emphasizing the need for legislative changes to address this critical issue. The letter from the AGs underscored that the violence perpetuated by these firearms exacerbates not only crime rates in Jamaica but also drug smuggling routes that impact American cities.
Acknowledging Jamaica's existing collaborations with US law enforcement, Chang stated, 'The flow of guns is still a big problem,' underlining the urgency of supporting initiatives like the proposed Caribbean Arms Trafficking Causes Harm Act. He asserted that efforts to enhance border control and introduce new legislation are vital in reducing crime driven by gun trafficking.
The letter from the coalition of 14 US attorneys general emphasized that gun trafficking from the US to the Caribbean is a critical factor influencing violence and drug issues in both regions, indicating the interconnectedness of illicit arms flows and societal harm in American communities, leading to multifaceted crises in public safety.
#gun-trafficking #caribbean-arms-trafficking-causes-harm-act #jamaica #violent-crime #us-law-enforcement
Collection
[
|
...
]