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OAS Donates Firearm Marking Equipment to Belize

  August 8, 2011

The Organization of American States (OAS) will donate firearms marking equipment to the Belizean government tomorrow, August 9, 2011, to be used by the country’s Ministry of Police and Public Safety in an effort to improve controls against illicit trafficking of such weapons.

The donation ceremony will be held at the Central Police Command, located in Belmopan. Various senior level officials of the Government of Belize will participate, including the Ministers of Police and Public Safety; Defense and Immigration; and Foreign Affairs and International Trade. The Department of Public Security of the OAS will also provide training to a dozen officials in the use of the machine.

The donation is part of a greater OAS project aimed towards “Promoting Firearms Marking in Latin America and the Caribbean” which falls within the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials (CIFTA). The OAS seeks to strengthen national capabilities to improve controls against illicit trafficking in firearms, as well as improving the marking of licit firearms.

WHAT: Donation of firearms marking equipment to Belize

WHEN: Tuesday, August 9, 2011, at 9:00 am local time (15:00 GTM)

WHERE: Belmopan Police Headquarters, Belize Police Department, Belmopan, Belize

Reference: AVI-182/11