Proposed Legislation for Human Trafficking and Money Laundering

Michael Peyrefitte

The proliferation of guns and ammunition into the country is forcing lawmakers to take a critical look at existing measures, as well as alternative means of dealing with persons found in possession of illegal firearms.  While the method of gathering ballistics information was introduced several years ago, Peyrefitte says that other options are being explored to crack down on the trafficking of firearms.

Michael Peyrefitte, House Speaker, Belize

“I know part of the presentation that has been given so far that I like very much is the need for better ballistics.  For example, if you find expended shells at a scene or if you find a bullet that’s lodged but destroyed you can then test the bullet and trace it in such a way to a particular firearm.  So even if you are not accusing a person of a crime, you can tell that this expended shell or this bullet came from that particular gun and even if the person is a licensed firearm holder then he or she would have to explain how come their gun fired a bullet at that particular place.  Another piece of the proposed law that I like is the proposed concept of trafficking, if you are found with an illegal firearm or you are found with a firearm that you are not legal to carry and it was not issued by any firearms dealer in Belize.  It was not legally imported in any way, then you are deemed to be trafficking in firearms.  That would be an additional charge against you not just for the possession of an illegal firearm but trafficking in firearms.  Like I said, personally those are the ones in the proposal that I like we have to present it to the attorney general and see what we can do to present it to the parliament.  What I really enjoy here today is that we have four senators from both sides of the isle and it is represented by the speaker, myself, and Minister Hulse is here who is both a member of the National Assembly and the executive.”

FOPREL’s Executive Secretary, Doctor Santiago Rivas Leclair, was in Belize for today’s presentation.