Delivered by H.E. Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, Permanent Representative of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana to the United Nations and Chair of the CARICOM Caucus of Permanent Representatives

UNHQ, Conference Room A
May 28, 2026

Thank you, Ambassador Wade, for the kind introduction.
Excellencies, Colleagues, 
Good afternoon! 
In my capacity as Chair of the CARICOM Caucus of Permanent Representatives in New York, I am pleased to address you today and to highlight CARICOM’s sustained engagement on small arms control here at the United Nations in New York. 
Let me begin by acknowledging the contributions of CARICOM IMPACS and the Mines Advisory Group in advancing the implementation of the UN Programme of Action (UN PoA) , International Tracing Instrument (ITI) and the CARICOM Firearms Roadmap in our countries. 
The members of the CARICOM Caucus were pleased to partner with you both in organizing today’s Side Event and look forward to a fruitful discussion on leveraging regional, hemispheric, and international cooperation to disrupt illicit firearms trafficking and prevent diversion in the Caribbean. 
Before going any further, I would also like to acknowledge the presence of H.E. Ambassador Parsan of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and other CARICOM Ambassadors/delegations in the room.

Ladies and gentlemen,
CARICOM Member States attach high importance to global efforts to prevent the diversion of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and their ammunition. 
We see effective SALW and ammunition management as a multifaceted process that involves organizations and stakeholders at the national, regional, and international levels. 
In this vein, we have long recognized the value of partnerships and collaboration in advancing implementation of the UN PoA and ITI, as well as the CARICOM Firearms Roadmap. We are grateful for the ongoing support from our partners and welcome this opportunity to share our experience, as a region, in combining political advocacy at the UN with coordinated regional, hemispheric, and international cooperation to address implementation gaps and strengthen national and regional capacities across the Caribbean. 
I have been asked to share a bit about our efforts here in New York, and, in the interest of time, will highlight three important priorities.  
First, CARICOM Member States advocate strongly within the First Committee and elsewhere for effective cooperation at the multilateral level, including technology transfer and targeted assistance, to support developing countries in implementing their arms control commitments and obligations. 
We see this as an important priority for two reasons. First, our region experiences firsthand the devastating impact of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, even though CARICOM Member States are neither manufacturers, exporters, nor major importers of such weapons. As a result, there continues to be a heavy strain on already scarce resources, which could otherwise be directed toward national development. Moreover, the emergence of new technologies and proliferation trends, including ghost guns, polymer weapons, and 3D-printed firearms and accessories, frustrate national arms control efforts and widen the technological gap among States.
For these reasons, CARICOM Member States have always maintained that international cooperation and assistance are indispensable to the full and effective implementation of the UN PoA and ITI by all States. Such cooperation is vital not only for strengthening the capacities of developing countries, but also for improving global arms control through more consistent regulations, greater transparency, better-coordinated export controls, and by strengthening the implementation of arms embargoes imposed by the UN Security Council.

Second, CARICOM Member States regard the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda as an essential element of a comprehensive and effective approach to arms control. Here at the UN, the region collectively advances a biennial resolution within the General Assembly on “Women, Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Arms Control”. The resolution was piloted by Trinidad and Tobago sixteen years ago and calls for women to be equally represented in all spheres, including at all levels of decision-making processes within the context of peace and security. At the level of the Security Council, CARICOM Member States, including Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and, more recently, Guyana, have also championed the WPS agenda in the context of threats such as gun violence, gang activity, and climate risks, as well as by supporting the participation of women in peace processes.
Third, CARICOM Member States remain firm advocates within the UN for adopting a more comprehensive and preventive approach to arms control that not only focuses on interdiction but also addresses underlying root causes and risk factors. In this respect, we consistently champion community engagement, awareness-raising, early intervention, and enhanced social resilience through education, youth programmes, and armed violence reduction strategies. We have also been calling for a comprehensive discourse on global arms control by ensuring that discussions on small arms and light weapons also include a focus on ammunition control within existing control mechanisms. These priorities informed Guyana’s engagement on the Security Council, particularly in the context of Haiti, where we, together with the other members of the A3+, emphasized the need for a holistic approach to addressing the illicit flow of arms and ammunition. One that recognizes the critical importance of international cooperation and assistance to enhance the implementation of arms control obligations.
This year, as we commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the UN PoA, let us be reminded that the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons and their ammunition is not merely a question of domestic crime, but one with global security, health, governance, and development implications. We must continue to work together.
I thank you for your attention and look forward to an interactive exchange during the Q&A segment.