 The government of St. Dusha in an effort to bolster the country's capacity to curb illicit firearms use in St. Dusha is collaborating with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC. UNODC is facilitating a series of training workshops for stakeholder institutions aimed at improving their ability to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute such crimes. The latest training seminar began Tuesday 30th November 2021 and closes Friday 3rd December 2021. Minister for External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and diaspora affairs Honourable Albert Baptiste highlights the importance of the training. What training like this would do is to enhance the capacity of the intelligent structures of the Royal St. Dusha Police Force. Improve efficiency in both ports of entry and in respect of border control. Improve intelligence, visible policing and social partnerships, particularly in dealing with priority crimes. And we have to address manpower in the police force with lightning rapidity. Chair, as I prepare to conclude my brief remarks, I am confident that with the continued assistance of UNODC, good friends like Germany, the next decade holds the possibility for us to find practical realisation in critical projects that will assist in effectively tackling the surge of gun violence in this country. This training session aligns with the Caribbean road map to counter illicit firearms, trafficking and misuse across the Caribbean in a sustainable manner by 2030. Rebutto Cordisale United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Project Coordinator indicated that since the commencement of the training program in September of 2021, there have been notable improvements in operations. In September of this year, we already conducted a first course on detection of firearms trafficking. I was impressed to see only a few weeks ago that these efforts have also translated into a significant seizure of firearms by Salusia authorities. So I would like to congratulate you for your excellent work. Now this week's workshop will be built on the knowledge already acquired then to deepen the techniques of investigations, prosecutions and of course to deepen international cooperation in criminal matters. It will be a week of intense work, but it will present a valuable opportunity to strengthen your daily task of investigating and prosecuting firearms trafficking and to facilitate cooperation between your countries in this area. We will also learn from you and from this course we also hope to identify more areas where we can cooperate in the future. Chief of Operations and the Police for Superintendent Benson Deterville welcomed their initiative indicating that it is to the benefit of the region. Let me echo the sentiments of the Commissioner of Police who has indicated that every opportunity which presents itself is a great one. We as an organization that is the Royal Central Police Force and our country must take full advantage of training as it relates to the investigation and prosecution of criminal offenses relating to firearms. Over the past few years we have been seeing a proliferation in firearm offenses and firearm related offenses on our shores. Therefore our investigators and prosecutors must be equipped with the requisite knowledge and training to confront matters as they arise head on fully aware that the environment which criminal elements operate from is a dynamic one. An objective of the workshop is to assist in the development of higher standards in investigations and prosecution of illicit firearms trafficking and related crimes. This will be achieved by providing the basic tools and techniques required in the detection investigation and prosecution of firearms related crimes. The focus is to improve cooperation between relevant entities and strengthen knowledge and skills required to combat crimes related to the illicit trafficking of firearms from the government information service. Luma Dimak reporting.