Guyana became the second State to ratify the Arms Trade Treaty when it deposited the instrument of ratification at the United Nations in New York on 5 July.

Roxanne Myers, a Co-Chair of Partners for Peace and Development in Guyana noted that, “Guyana was one of the first Caribbean countries in the room when the discussion about the Arms Trade Treaty began. Guyana’s early ratification of the treaty is consistent with the robust collaboration and strong leadership of CARICOM countries throughout the negotiation process.”

Control Arms and Partners for Peace and Development congratulate the Government of Guyana, including the Members of Parliament who acted swiftly to ratify the Treaty just one month after it opened for signature.

“We look forward to continued dialogue with our government as Guyana moves toward harmonisation of national legislation and implementation of the ATT, ” stated Myers. “We are also hopeful that other Caribbean countries will ratify soon. For Guyana it is imperative that our neighbours –Suriname, Brazil and Venezuela –with whom we share contiguous borders also join the ATT. Together we can make our region safer and ease the burden of human suffering that results from the illegal trade and diversion of arms and ammunition.”

In an interview with Control Arms, Guyana’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador George W. Talbot, gave remarks on a wide variety of Arms Trade Treaty topics including small arms, the “real and present danger” posed by diverted arms shipments, and what the ATT means for the CARICOM region. Read the full interview here.

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