CJ calls for challenge to lax US gun laws

| 04/11/2019 | 22 Comments
Cayman News Service
Chief Justice Anthony Smellie

(CNS): Cayman Islands Chief Justice Anthony Smellie has called for Jamaica to lead a regional challenge against the United States’ lax gun laws, which is allowing illegal trafficking of weapons in the Caribbean. Speaking in the neighbouring island recently, CJ Smellie said that tabling a resolution at the United Nations signed by regional leaders would carry a weight that the US could not ignore.

“While we are all aware of its sense of American exceptionalism, even the United States needs allies, and there are tremendous strengths in numbers,” said Smellie, at a lecture during the Cornwall College Old Boys’ Association’s Homecoming Week, as reported in the Jamaican newspaper, the Gleaner.

“Our countries should bring international pressure to bear,” he added, as he suggested Jamaica should drive the charge.

Last month, the United States withdrew from the UN Arms Trade Treaty, and Cayman’s top judge said there was no reason to believe the US would “recognise, let alone respect and honour, its obligation to relieve its neighbouring states of the devastation caused by the American gun” any time soon. He highlighted the “state of indifference” towards this region by the US as it demands “everything imaginary be done to curb the drug trafficking and money laundering”. Yet it ignores “the obvious connection”.

Smellie raised concerns that the only human right respected by the US when it comes to this region is the Second Amendment in its own constitution. Smellie said the right to bear arms was put above the lives and safety of tens of millions people.

Cayman has seen its own fair share of weapons smuggled into the country, often on ganja boats via Jamaica that have originated in America. The premier has also consistently pointed to tackling gun violence and the arrival of guns here as a priority.


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Category: Crime, Crime Prevention

Comments (22)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Sentencing is prescribed in law.

  2. Anthony says:

    Caribbean Leaders must come together and stand up against the NRA and Donald Trump? XXXX

    • Anonymous says:

      Hopefully Trump should be out, soon than later, I hope. We are already seeing the blue wave rolling in.

    • Anonymous says:

      A regional response could include Latin America, that is suffering beyond measure by the American Gun.

      Just this morning an American family of nine (known to be Mormons), including young children, were gunned down in a remote area of Mexico. While they have no suspects, at least officially, at the moment, CNN said one thing that they do know is that they used American guns.

  3. Good luck with that! says:

    You’re a good man Mr. Smellie but a tad too optimistic to think Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean will have influence over the USA on a good day! The USA has it’s citizens ownership of firearms enshrined within it’s constitution, their own government cannot change that.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    Legalize and Regulate Cannabis and that would be the biggest disruption in the firearms smuggling.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    As usual, Americans respond that their country has no care of whatever “shit-shows” occur “South of the border”. Just like America’s CIA arranging, directing the mass cocaine importations into US in the early 1980s and funneling the profits from back to Nicaraguan Contras to support a war to benefit American interests – damn whatever happened “south of the border”. But the result caused the crack cocaine epidemic throughout American cities, affecting Americans! That’s just one example. America’s history is rife with examples!

    American’s should care what “shit-shows” happen south of the border! Just watch today’s news about American family of 9 massacred in Mexico yesterday. Retribution for American attitudes regarding folks “south of the border”. Not seen anything yet!!. Cartels watch US TV too and see your crazy president spewing hate “south of the border”!!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Didn’t say we don’t care about all the shitshows. Said we weren’t responsible for them.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    Was the CJ on an official visit and is he speaking on behalf of the CIG and the people of the Cayman Islands?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Hope not..

    • Anonymous says:

      The Chief Justice was on a private visit—he had been invited to speak by the Cornwall College Old Boys Association, of which he is an alumnus.

      By the way, careful reading will show that he was calling for Jamaica to initiate a regional challenge.

      For those that tend to discount the influence of Jamaica as a country, concentrated regional power and influence should not be sold short.

  7. Anonymous says:

    the NRA will be reading this and having the biggest laugh of their life, with all the school shootings, and other public shootings including presidents being assassinated, I really can’t believe someone would even believe the US cares about what happens in the Carribbean, with guns, keep dreaming

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    • Anonymous says:

      I started to say the same thing in the first post but was too shy at first. The anti-American opinion expressed by Smellie is typically Caribbean but perhaps overly political for a judge sitting on a speck in the ocean. If he wants to get into foreign affairs he should consult Boris (or some Brit) first. The larger point is that America bears no responsibility at all for the massive shitshows south of the border. All of your problems are home grown,

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  8. Gray Matter says:

    Jamaican Drug Money not looking guns- from US… with the money the JA Govt looks the other way. Them man is a fool

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  9. Good Joke says:

    Sir, With all due respect. To use Jamaica as a victim country is completely unrealistic and laughable.

    The majority of firearms coming into Jamaica come from South America. Simple facts. The majority of drugs come through, or from Jamaica. Simple facts. Deal with the drugs, then the firearms will stop coming.

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    • Gray Matter says:

      Where do you think the guns are made?… Play blind if you want…. Drugs ( Ganja) manufactured in Jamaica… Gangs start In Jamaica… then the spread of the cancer… AKA: Cartel .
      With due respect ; You need to get out more and expand your mind.

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    • Anonymous says:

      BS, 90% of the guns in Jamaica came from the US, facts.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Guns may come via South America, but they originate from the US. See CNN news today on the gunning down of a family of nine in Mexico—with American guns.

      Also, can’t get rid of the drug trade by focusing on drug countries. It is American’s insatiable demand for illegal narcotics that fuel the trade.

      Until you quell the desire, the trade will continue, regardless of the terrible wreckage it leaves in its wake on families, communities and countries.

  10. Anonymous says:

    I think it’s safe to say that there are far more illegal firearms (things like AK-47s) in circulation in places like Jamaica, Mexico and Honduras that come from sources outside the USA. That’s where the real threat comes is. Many of the AKs in use come from Nicaragua, which seems intent on supplying the whole region. With the wheels falling off in Venezuela that’s probably becoming another major source of weapons.

    I saw this in Europe in the 1990s. After the fall of Communism the armouries were opened up and everyone grabbed what they could to sell on. In 1992 the going rate for an AK in St Petersburg was US$100. A couple of years later in the UK the same money bought you a 9mm Makarov pistol, with ammo and spare mag, fresh out of Serbia, delivered off a ferry in Hull.

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  11. anon says:

    Guns regn supreme in the U.S. Much as I sympathise with the sentiment, it is wishful thinking.

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  12. Anonymous says:

    A waste of breath. Smellie should focus on things he can change like over-lenient sentencing in the courts.

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