The Organization of American States (OAS) and the governments of Guyana and Ecuador
today signed a pact for a project to promote Firearms
Marking in Latin America and the Caribbean, part of the Inter-American Convention
Against Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms (CIFTA).
A release from the Organization of American States said that the agreement was signed
by the Secretary General of the Organization, José Miguel Insulza, on behalf of the
OAS; the Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the OAS, Ambassador María Isabel
Salvador; the Permanent Representative of Guyana to the OAS, Ambassador Bayney R.
Karran; and Steve Costner, Deputy Director of Weapons Removal and Abatement (WRA)
in the Government of the United States, which finances these efforts.
Ambassador Karran of Guyana said the signing of the agreement “is an example of
Guyana’s commitment to hemispheric cooperation in order to reduce the scourge of
crime and violence, which afflicts our region and many instances of which are
committed by firearms that are acquired illegally.” According to the release he reiterated that
“the Government of Guyana remains committed to combating crime in general,
particularly that involving the use of firearms. Our extended borders make
initiatives such as this one immensely important for public security in our
country.”
