T&T continues to rank in the top ten for homicides per capita around the world. This is according to a source at the United Nations Information Service.The United Nations Information Service has produced reports with statistics on homicides in 207 countries. The categories are: Homicides by most Populous City; by Firearms; by Sex; and Total Homicides in 2013, and is recorded per 100,000 citizens.
Calculations by the Sunday Guardian showed that between 2004 and 2009, for every 100,000 people in Port-of-Spain, an average of 112 were killed. Further calculations under Total Homicides in 2013 show an alarming average of 330 homicides for every 100,000 people in the country.T&T, meanwhile, ranks consistently among the top ten, with death by firearms emerging as the primary cause, at an average rate of 305 homicides for every 100,000 people between 2004 and 2009.
The reports are compiled from statistics provided by several official sources, including the Organisation of American States (OAS), and then sent to the UN.
How many guns are there?
According to criminologist Renee Cummings, "A major part of the crime problem is the illicit guns that find their way into the hands of criminally involved youth who seem fascinated with violence. Too many young men are involved in gun violence as perpetrators and victim."Indeed, the UN Report on Homicide by sex shows a large disparity between males and females in which the numbers are consistently and alarmingly high for males more than females.
Cummings urged the Government to show the country it had the "political courage "to dismantle and disrupt the illicit gun market by focusing on acquiring information on the number of illegal firearms circulating in the country."She said this would lead to information for formulation of a desperately needed focussed prevention and intervention strategy to get guns off the streets.
