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.
Since the beginning of its assistance to the Caribbean State, UNLIREC has supported the Government in the destruction of almost 6 tonnes of small arms ammunition and almost one tonne of light weapons ammunition. To date, UNLIREC has trained six members of the Defence Force in safe logistic destruction of ammunition by open detonation and a further 11 members of the security services on destruction by Small Arms Ammunition Burning Tank (SAABT).
All UNLIREC-assisted destruction activities in Trinidad and Tobago form part of a larger UNLIREC Caribbean Assistance Programme, launched in Jamaica in 2010, and carried out in eight Caribbean countries with the financial support of the USA and Canada. Since October 2011, UNLIREC has assisted the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in the destruction of nearly 2,500 surplus, obsolete and confiscated small arms and provided equipment and training to the country in order to guarantee permanent national capacity for destruction processes.
The Office for Disarmament Affairs’ Regional Disarmament Centres, which includes UNLIREC, serve over 135 countries worldwide and assists them in the implementation of arms control and disarmament programmes, such as the implementation of the United Nations 2001 Programme of Action on Small Arms.
The destruction of firearms and ammunition in cooperation with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago is part of joint efforts to combat the illicit trafficking in firearms, strengthen the capacity of the country’s security forces and reduce armed violence throughout the country and sub-region.
For more information on UNLIREC visit [www.unlirec.org]. Please direct all questions or inquiries to Ms Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer at [cowl@unlirec.org].