Influx of gun, youth hopelessness must be tackled – CARICOM Chair at Security Dialogue

By Kendol Morgan On Jun 5, 2015

Chair of CARICOM, Prime Minister Perry Christie of The Bahamas

A problem that is of special concern to us is the continuing influx of guns, and the increase in gun-related criminality, not only in The Bahamas but throughout the region. I am convinced that there is a great deal more that we can and should be doing to fight this common menace.

As a country that produces the guns that end up taking innocent lives and causing terror in our communities, we implore the United States to become more proactive in controlling the export of guns. We implore the United States to step up the policing of its own borders against arms traffickers.

We must [also] focus on eliminating the sense of hopelessness and joblessness of our young people. If we fail to address it we do so at our own peril.

CARICOM Chairman and Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Rt. Hon. Perry Christie addressing the Opening Ceremony of the Caribbean-United States High Level Citizen Security Dialogue in The Bahamas, Thursday 4 June 2015.