STATEMENT BY

MRS. ANGELLA HAMILTON BROWN

THE DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE

OF JAMAICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

ON THE ADOPTION OF THE REPORT OF THE 3^RD BMS

NEW YORK

18^TH JULY 2008

Thank you Mr. Chairman,

At the outset kindly permit me to express our appreciation for your efforts and those of the facilitators over these past weeks in working towards achieving an outcome for this meeting.

The Jamaican delegation associates itself with the statement made earlier today by Barbados on behalf of CARICOM and by Indonesia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Mr. Chairman,

The impact of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons is of grave concern in Jamaica and well as in other countries.  This problem is a real one and one that threatens the very fabric of our societies and it must therefore be addressed in the shortest possible time.

Like other delegations which have already spoken, the document that is before us BMS/2008/L3/Rev 1 contains essential elements of our efforts to address the many issues.  The delegation of Barbados on behalf of CARICOM, has from the very start of the process, clearly and emphatically enunciated our position.

Mr. Chairman,

While the text before us does not fully reflect our position, we operate in the spirit of consensus and flexibility and we recognize the exercise of this spirit during consultations at this meeting. 

Mr. Chairman,

Having said this, and given the critical nature of the spread of small arms and light weapons, as well as, the fatal impact of the illicit trade of such weapons on countries, especially those within the developing world, Jamaica supports the adoption of the outcome as it provides a direction for us to move forward.

 I thank you Mr. Chairman.