Jamaica has a huge illegal gun problem. More than half of the crimes committed in Jamaica involve using a gun. The problem is so bad that the British government calls on international partners of Jamaica to double their efforts in helping to stem the flow of illegal guns into the Island.
The charge came from UK’s minister for the Americas and overseas territories, Jesse Norman, at the handover ceremony for four Buster density meters to the Jamaica Customs Agency in Port Royal.
The meters are said to be valued at J$3.5 million. And are designed to detect whether a vehicle is carrying contraband in less than five minutes. In addition, they can scan the average room in less than ten minutes.
In his remarks, Jesse Norman said:
“It’s important, I think, to focus on reducing the flow of guns
in the Island. As Prime Minister Holness has said, Jamaica does not produce guns. It’s not a gun producing Island. It does not have an industry of guns. But as with many other Caribbean Islands, it suffers from imported guns manufactured and sold elsewhere. And as we look for solutions to the plague of gun violence in this region, we must all work together.”