UNLIREC partners with national authorities to strengthen capacity: Four stories from Belize, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago

UNLIREC assists Belize to strengthen capacity in combating illicit firearms trafficking and destroying obsolete ammunition

From 25 February to 8 March 2013, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) – in close collaboration with the Government of Belize – conducted a 10-day training course to combat illicit firearms trafficking for Belizean security and justice sector officials.
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UNLIREC and the Government of Grenada join efforts to combat illicit small arms trafficking on small island states

On 11 and 12 March, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) assisted the Government of Grenada (GoG) in the destruction of over 76,000 rounds of obsolete small arms ammunition and 120 confiscated small arms. On 13 March, UNLIREC also convened a national seminar to review the national firearms act and other relevant policy measures.
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Small arms and light weapons ammunition destroyed in Trinidad and Tobago with the help of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs

On 13 – 15 March 2013, UNLIREC assisted the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in the destruction of approximately 14,000 rounds of small arms ammunition and almost one tonne of light weapons ammunition, including mortars and grenades. The destruction activities took place at the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Teteron and Tucker Valley Demolition Grounds using UNLIREC expertise and equipment. The destruction process included independent monitoring and verification by UNLIREC.
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UNLIREC and Government of Belize strengthen national capacities in forensic ballistics

From 18 – 22 March UNLIREC undertook a technical mission to Belize with the financial support of the British High Commission in Belmopan to provide training and assistance in the area of operational forensic ballistics. In 2012 the National Forensic Science Service of Belize received an Integrated Ballistics Information System (IBIS) from the Government of Canada, a sophisticated piece of equipment that enables the rapid comparison of spent bullets and cartridges recovered from crime scenes. In recent years Belize has experienced a marked increase in armed violence with nearly 95% of all homicides committed with firearms.
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