THE recent Caricom Summit and the subsequent statement regarding a ban on assault rifle imports to the region, coupled with the United States of America’s need to participate in a solution for the illegal export of assault weapons to the Caribbean, have been dubbed as words amounting to nothing by some.

I think this requires some discussion.

The statement can be misunderstood as somewhat ridiculous if it is quoted in pieces and segmented to simply speak to the ban on assault weapons for civilian ownership.

This sentiment is reasonable, as obviously there is virtually no citizen in the Caribbean who is allowed to own assault rifles other than in isolated and very unique circumstances.

However, the statement said so much more than that.

It called on the USA to take responsibility for the illegal export of guns to criminal elements in the Caribbean; this to include activities of the terrorists in Trinidad and Tobago who took control of the nation’s Parliament on July 27, 1990 by force.

This is a big deal on several levels. Caribbean territories, to include Jamaica, have been held accountable by the USA for narcotics that have been exported to the USA from Jamaica as a primary importer in the case of ganja, and as a trans-shipment exporter in respect of cocaine.

We were not just asked to take responsibility, we were threatened with sanctions and fined on many occasions when our former national carrier, Air Jamaica, was found to have transported ganja to the USA.

We have been asked to step up our efforts to combat scamming due to the extreme damage it was causing to very vulnerable segments of their society. For this we have passed legislation, formed a joint task force, and sent Jamaican citizens on foreign planes in chains to prison to the USA to serve long sentences.

We have, at all times, complied with their requests, and even demands. To be fair, their demands were reasonable.

We should bond together with our neighbours against the evil among us both. Criminals are stateless, in my opinion. However, cooperation is a two-way street.

Our crime is being fuelled by Jamaicans living in the USA who are involved in illegal activities. Our blood is being shed by the same group, many of whom are now American citizens.

How many US citizens have been sent to Jamaica to stand trial after warrants have been issued on their behalf? I can’t name one.

However, I can name dozens of Jamaican citizens who have been extradited to the United States.

This stance and demand being made by a union of countries is significant. Many say it’s puppies barking at a lion, and that may be true. We are all dependent on the USA for economic survival, for the supply of arms and ammunition for armed forces, and even for protection from European or Asian hostility.

Always remember, though, that our geographical position and proximity to the United States makes us all in the Caribbean a group best kept as friends. Even more som a group they don’t want being obligated to their enemies.

It’s also important that we look on our recent history. Although we have a rich history of fighting back — dating from the formidable Maroons in Jamaica during the 1700s to the worker riots of the 1930s — we have been far less aggressive in our stance against First World interests pushing us around since the good old days.

We are dictated to by First World countries in their drive to control our armed forces under the guise of human rights, to the point where a foreign representative sits at the Independent Commission of Investigation being paid by an unmentioned foreign organisation, with no explanation to our police union or press as to who pays him, what is the deliverable in chained Jamaican lawmen, and how much is the bounty.

After all the above, it was about time the region stood up for something, anything, so that the ghosts of Michael Manley, Eric Williams, and the slew of Caribbean leaders who fought for dignity could rest in peace.

The Jamaicans in the Diaspora, the ‘few’, need to be brought to justice for their contribution to the murders and maiming of Jamaican and Caribbean people.

I say the few because it is a microscopic group that is involved in this negative activity, versus the massive majority that plays its part in keeping our nations afloat.

This can only be done if the USA participates as an entity combating them for the crimes of exporting death to our region.

I personally am baffled as to how some dunce who has to flee Jamaican justice can go to the country with the greatest law enforcement apparatus in the world and become a drug dealer, exporting guns illegally from their shores.

I am literal when I say dunce. I know of several who we prosecuted prior to them going to the USA. They can barely read.

It must be that the crimes they commit and the guns they export are not being taken seriously because, trust me, if the aforementioned law enforcement apparatus wants you, they will get you.

Never underestimate our power as a group. We have consistently done so, resulting in the failure of two West Indian federations.

This could be the beginning of us picking up the pebbles of our pride.

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