UNLIREC Launches Assistance on Private Security and Small Arms Control in Trinidad & Tobago

The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) officially launched its private security technical assistance in Trinidad and Tobago from 2-4 October 2019. This assistance forms part of a wider project aimed at combating illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition in Latin America and the Caribbean by promoting the implementation of internationally accepted norms and good practices in the field of arms and ammunition control by the private security sector. This project is funded by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany. 

As part of this multi-purpose mission, UNLIREC, in coordination with the Ministry of National Security of Trinidad and Tobago, delivered an executive seminar to present the project’s scope and objectives to both national authorities and private security companies (PSCs) interested in benefitting from the assistance. 43 representatives from government entities responsible for overseeing PSC small arms control in their country, representatives of associations of the private security sector, as well as senior general managers from numerous PSCs operating in Trinidad and Tobago attended the seminar. 

This launching event was followed by a two-day technical workshop on good practices and international standards on physical security and stockpile management aimed at enhancing technical capacities for the effective management and control of PSC small arms and ammunition facilities. The workshop was addressed to PSC operational personnel and State PSCs. 

Both national authorities and PSCs stressed the need to address mitigating factors that could be adopted to minimize the risks and threats posed by inadequate management and control of stored small arms and ammunition, and proposed concrete measures to prevent diversion and armed violence. 

The events concluded with participants jointly recommending stronger collaboration between national authorities and PSCs to work towards good governance of the Private Security Sector and to strengthen the control and oversight of small arms and ammunition held by PSCs.