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Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – 3-4th October 2022
On October 3-4, 2022, PGA’s International Peace and Security Program (IPSP) organized a Workshop in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago kindly funded by UNSCAR. This activity, which is part of PGA’ Campaign to Address the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) convened 11 participants representing 3 Caribbean States, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Antigua and Barbuda in addition to the European Union. This workshop sought to address important issues such as armed violence in the Caribbean region as well as an overview of the UN Program of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (PoA) and the International Tracing Instrument (ITI). We also devoted time to discuss the biennial reporting requirements under the UN PoA and the important role of women following the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security.
The First Session of the Workshop was opened by PGA Member, Sen. Wade Mark, followed by an address by the Hon. Dr. Amery Browne, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Trinidad and Tobago, who honored the participants by his attendance. During the course of this two-day Workshop, participants were able to share their own insights and experiences in addressing the illicit trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in their respective countries. In addition, Mr. Jason Francis, Senior Advisor, United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) and Mr. Jamaro Marville, Program Analyst, United Nations Development Program in Jamaica, Belize, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, The Bahamas, and Turks and Caicos (UNDP), gave excellent presentations, respectively, on the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap and on the Saving Lives Entity (SALIENT) in Jamaica. After debates and exchanges, the parliamentarians attending the Workshop adopted the Plan of Action of Port of Spain which includes a number of specific suggested measures/steps for participant Parliamentarians to consider taking within their respective Parliaments upon their return. Finally, the participating Parliamentarians and PGA Staff had the pleasure of visiting the Red House (Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago) during which, our visit was highlighted by the Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Bridgid Annisette-George, during the parliamentary session. During the visit, the PGA Delegation was also greeted by the Hon. Faris Al-Rawi, Minister of Rural Development and Local Government of Trinidad and Tobago.
Within the coming months, PGA’s International Peace and Security Program will continue to collaborate with participants to provide assistance and also to follow-up on the actions they have taken in the weeks following the workshop.
