TCI stands with CARICOM on WAR on Guns 

By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, April 26, 2023 – Despite being unable to attend the CARICOM Regional Symposium on the topic of Crime and Violence, the Turks and Caicos is throwing its full support behind the Caribbean declaration of a war on guns.

Washington Missick, TCI Premier, in a statement on Friday April 21^st, maintained that he has every intention of supporting his regional counterparts.

“The Government, led by Premier Hon. C. Washington Misick aligns itself with the declarations made by the other Heads of Government on the issue,” he said in the brief statement after the April 18th symposium held in Trinidad and Tobago.

Not only did the CARICOM heads declare violence a public health issue, as the region continued to be ravaged by gun violence especially, they declared a war on guns and called directly on the United States of America to help.

“We declare a War on Guns to combat the illegal trade which provides the weapons that contribute significantly to crime and violence in our Region causing death, disabilities, and compromising the safety of our citizens. We call on the United States of America to join the Caribbean in our War on Guns and urgently adopt and take action to stop the illegal exportation of firearms and ammunition into the Caribbean.”

In the declaration document, the country leaders expressed frustration at the chunk of money they have had to spend year on year to combat crimes committed with guns, weapons which are in many cases, American made.  They flow into the region, buoyed by the tidal wave of lax US gun laws and corrupt individuals on both sides.

The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands was not able to attend due to pressing domestic duties, said the Office of the Premier.

It comes as the TCI prepares to lobby for full entry into the regional body – CARICOM – and after 2022, a devastating year of gun related murders which led to a grim #1 ranking for murders in the region per capita last year.