Small arms and light weapons pose grave threat to Region

By Michelle Nurse Last updated Aug 6, 2015

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados, Senator the Hon. Maxine McClean

MINISTER OF FOREIGN Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Maxine McClean, has stressed to the United Nations (UN) Security Council the grave threat posed to Barbados and the rest of the Caribbean by the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.

Speaking during the Open Debate on Peace and Security Challenges Facing Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on July 30 at the UN headquarters in New York, Senator McClean stated that the Government of Barbados continued to oppose the proliferation of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.

She noted however: “On a day-to-day basis, we must focus on the trade in small arms and light weapons which facilitates traffic in illicit drugs and other organised crime, and which undermines our economy and can destabilise society.”