Three US lawmakers are calling on their government to launch an investigation into how guns manufactured in the United States are making their way to the Caribbean.
Members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Congressman Joaquin Castro and Congressman Gregory W Meeks, along with Senator Richard J Durbin, wrote to Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the US Government Accountability Office, asking for the latest country-by-country information on the number and types of US arms being trafficked to Caribbean countries.
“Arms trafficking originating in the United States is drawing increased scrutiny from US law enforcement and increasing concern from Caribbean leaders,” the letter read. “Media reports cite Bahamian claims that more than 90 per cent of guns confiscated and used as murder weapons in The Bahamas can be traced back to US manufacturers and gun shops.”
The lawmakers cite several reports dating back to 2020 which acknowledge the role guns play in increasing rates of violent crimes and homicides in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominican Republic, and Haiti—countries which also have high numbers of illicit firearms trafficking.
The US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives maintains an online database of firearms trace data.
“For the Caribbean in 2021, the database provides information on a total of 1,038 US-sourced firearms recovered and submitted to the ATF for tracing in five Caribbean countries: The Bahamas, 236; the Dominican Republic, 94; Haiti, 106; Jamaica, 400; and Trinidad and Tobago, 202,” the letter said.
“Accordingly, we would like to obtain more in-depth information on the extent of the illicit American arms trafficking in the Caribbean and related effects, as well as current practices, and what more could be done to curtail the flow of these weapons.”
The request also comes as Caribbean leaders have been taking a more united front to combat the trafficking of arms into the islands, including signing on to a lawsuit with the government of Mexico against gun manufacturers.
Minister of Foreign And Caricom Affairs Dr Amery Browne told Guardian Media, “It is quite encouraging that this issue has been attracting additional advocates. It is important to note that the legal proceedings with which Trinidad and Tobago and some other Caricom member states have associated themselves are focused on the actions and lack of action by private sector gun manufacturers in the USA, and are not directed against the US Government which overall has been working well with us toward reducing the incidence of violent crime in our region.”