From 10 to 13 June 2025, a Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM) Workshop was held at Camp Blizzard in Antigua and Barbuda. The event, organized by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), brought together 20 officials from the Royal Antigua & Barbuda Police Force, the Antigua & Barbuda Defence Force, the Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy, and the Antigua & Barbuda Forensic Services.
Brigadier Telbert Benjamin opened the workshop by encouraging participants to “absorb and assess” the information shared and apply it within their respective institutions. He emphasized the importance of adopting international best practices to combat illicit firearms trafficking and expressed appreciation to UNLIREC and the Government of Canada for supporting the initiative.
The workshop aimed to enhance national capacities in managing and securing stockpiles of weapons, ammunition, and explosives in line with international norms and standards.
It provided a comprehensive overview of best practices in physical security and stockpile management, marking and recordkeeping, and the destruction of firearms and ammunition. Through a mix of theoretical presentations and practical exercises, participants gained valuable insights into effective stockpile management, a critical component in reducing the risks of loss, theft and accidents, while also identifying obsolete or surplus weapons. These efforts contribute directly to national and regional peace and security.
At the closing ceremony, Her Excellency Brenda Wills, High Commissioner of Canada, and The Honorable Steadroy Benjamin, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Public Safety, Immigration and Labour of Antigua and Barbuda, delivered remarks.
Speaking virtually, Her Excellency Wills stressed the importance of training and development in stockpile management to safeguard government-held firearms and ammunition. She reaffirmed Canada´s commitment to supporting Caribbean states in implementing the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap.
The Honorable Steadroy Benjamin, thanked the Government of Canada for its support and urged participants to apply the techniques and knowledge acquired to strengthen their institutions and enhance national security.
The workshop contributes to Goal 4 of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap: “Systematically decrease the risk of diversion of firearms and ammunition from government- and non-government-owned arsenals”. By reinforcing stockpile security and safety, the initiative supports broader regional efforts to combat illicit firearms and ammunition trafficking and crime in the Caribbean.