From 16 to 18 September, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the Government of Jamaica, delivered training on the use of a Light Ammunition Burning Tank to destroy ammunition.
This training was delivered to help Jamaica better manage its stockpile of obsolete, seized and surplus ammunition, which pose inherent risks. Ammunition destruction plays a crucial role in preventing diversion from the legal to the illicit sphere.
The 3-day training consisted of theoretical foundational learning on global, regional and national frameworks for stockpile management, as well as practical destruction of thousands of rounds of ammunition. 15 participants, including 3 women, from the Jamaica Defence Force, Jamaica Constabulary Force, Firearms Licensing Authority and Ministry of National Security were trained in the destruction of ammunition and use of the Light Ammunition Burning Tank, which was donated by UNLIREC.
This UNLIREC-led project contributes to making the Caribbean region a safer one by supporting States in the effective implementation of the ‘Roadmap for Implementing the Caribbean Priority Actions on the Illicit Proliferation of Firearms and Ammunition across the Caribbean in a Sustainable Manner by 2030’ (Caribbean Firearms Roadmap).
Since 2010, 23 Latin American and Caribbean States have destroyed more than 110,000 small arms and light weapons and more than 140 tonnes of ammunition with UNLIREC support.
UNLIREC, as the regional office of the UN Office for Disarmament, seeks to advance the cause of practical disarmament in Latin America and the Caribbean as part of its commitment to support Member States in their implementation of international disarmament and non-proliferation instruments, in particular, the 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms.
This training and donation of the Light Ammunition Burning Tank was funded by the US Department of State, Office for Weapons Removal and Abatement (WRA).