Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew has voiced strong support for holding the United States accountable for its role in the illegal arms trade, which contributes significantly to crime and violence in the Caribbean and Latin America.
Dr. Drew, who is also St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of National Security, emphasised the need for decisive action against gun manufacturers whose weapons and ammunition are frequently trafficked into the region.
The prime minister’s call came as he addressed members of the media during the 8th October, 2024 edition of The Roundtable.
“There is a case before the Supreme Court of the United States right now. That is going to be significant,” Dr. Drew stated, referring to a landmark lawsuit brought by Mexico against US gun manufacturers.
The suit, which targets major U.S. gunmakers including Smith & Wesson, Glock, Colt and Beretta, claims that the companies’ distribution, sales, and marketing practices encourage sales to so-called “straw” buyers, who often bring the guns to Mexico or furnish them to others who do.
The case challenges whether a foreign country can hold American gun manufacturers legally responsible for the proliferation of firearms that fuel violence outside US borders.
Antigua and Barbuda has already joined the case, and St. Kitts and Nevis is considering doing the same, according to PM Drew.
Dr. Drew argued that legal action against gun manufacturers represents a critical step in addressing the influx of firearms into the region, which contributes to rising crime rates and poses a severe threat to public safety.
“Take them to court and seek redress, because nothing else is working,” he remarked, underscoring the urgent need to curb the flow of illegal weapons that are transshipped across the Caribbean’s waters.
“We have spoken to the United States of America on multiple occasions about the access of guns. They have done a number of measures. We’ll continue to dialogue and ask them to do more, because as we know, 90 plus percent of the guns that come into the Caribbean are made in the United States of America,” PM Drew revealed.
While acknowledging recent steps taken by the United States to tackle the issue, Dr. Drew called for further action and continued dialogue. He stressed the significance of the lawsuit initiated by Mexico which aims to hold gun manufacturers accountable for their products’ impact on violence in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The lawsuit, which has garnered support from multiple Caribbean nations, represents a potential turning point in efforts to address the illegal arms trade. Dr. Drew’s comments reflect growing frustration with the limited progress in combating the flow of firearms into the region and the need for comprehensive legal and diplomatic approaches.““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““
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