Today marked a major step forward in the fight against gun violence in the Caribbean, as CARICOM IMPACS, in collaboration with CARPHA, officially launched its joint publication “Pathway to Policy: Illicit Firearms and Public Health in the Caribbean,” which provides critical insights into firearm-related issues and gives evidence-based recommendations for the same.
Speaking at the launch on Tuesday, Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander reassured that firm action will be taken to tackle the issue of gun violence in the region.
“No longer must we just sit by and wait to see who’s next because while we were waiting to see who’s next, the person right next to you, the person right in front of you, or you, might be next. Only last year, 624 murders, 92% of that was with gun violence. So we have a firsthand view. Now that we are in the position where we could collect data on the policy, what we intend to do next is to implement strategy and strategic-style arrangements for both prevention and protection of our citizens.”
Minister of Health Dr. Lackram Bodoe highlighted that gun violence is no longer just a security issue, but a public health crisis that is crippling our health system and affecting the lives of many.
“At the South-West Regional Health Authority, it is my information that some 202 gunshot wounds have already been treated. So these are not mere statistics, they represent lives disrupted. As I said, families fractured and communities destabilised. Beyond the physical injuries, of course, violence leaves scars on the mind. There’s the impact of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety.”
Executive Director of CARICOM IMPACS, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Jones, said the joint publication is designed not only to identify problems but also to provide practical guidance.
“Pathway to Policy sets out concrete, evidence-based recommendations on how to respond, from stronger crime gun intelligence and tracing to improved stockpile management to the integration of firearm injury data into national injury surveillance systems and trauma registries. It speaks to very practical questions that Ministers and senior officials wrestle with every day. In short, this study gives us a pathway from research to policy, and from policy to safer communities if we choose to use it.”
The session concluded with a panel discussion involving government officials and experts to build on lessons learni and ensure effective follow-up and implementation.