Guyana ratifies UN Arms Trade Treaty

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:01 by GxMedia

Guyana has ratified the UN Arms Trade Treaty becoming the second country to do so.

This was included in a correspondence from the Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) to Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman and seen by DemWaves.

“I am pleased to inform you that the Government of Guyana deposited its Instrument of Ratification of the Arms Trade Treaty with the United Nations in New York on 4th July, 2013 thereby becoming the 2nd UN Member State (after Iceland) to ratify this important international treaty (and the first country in the Caribbean and Latin America region to do so),” the missive from PGA Projects Director Peter Bancroft stated.

In congratulating Guyana the official said that the PGA would be pleased to work with the National Assembly in drafting any legislation which may be necessary to give the Treaty full effect in the local laws.

The National Assembly unanimously passed a motion for the government to ratify the Treaty on June 27 with the opposition parties urging that the required action to give effect to the agreement be taken.

The Treaty seeks to “establish the highest possible common international standards for regulating or improving the regulation of the international trade in conventional arms and to prevent and eradicate illicit trade and its diversion.”

It also seeks to contribute to international and regional peace, security and stability by promoting cooperation, transparency and responsible action by States Parties in the conventional arms trade.

Conventional arms cover battle tanks; armoured combat vehicles; large artillery systems; combat aircraft; attack helicopters; warships; missiles and missile launchers; and small arms and light weapons.