Village Gamer

Canada is continuing its mission to combat transnational crime in the Caribbean Basin by providing Barbados with ballistics identification equipment manufactured by Montreal-based Forensic Technology Inc. The Honorable Diane Ablonczy, Canada’s Minister of State of Foreign Affairs, announced earlier this month that Canada and the Caribbean states are establishing a Regional Integrated Ballistic Information Network (RIBIN) for the Caribbean Basin, with an initial investment of $800,000. Those funds will be used to purchase IBIS TRAX-3D equipment that the Royal Barbados Police Force can use to link crimes, guns and suspects, both locally and throughout the Caribbean to other IBIS-equipped sites.

Ablonczy explained that RIBIN will help CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Member States identify and track bullet casings through ballistic identification and information sharing. She believes that the RIBIN the network will lead to more successful investigations and prosecutions for crimes committed with firearms.

“Security issues in the Caribbean are of great concern to Canada, and have an impact throughout the hemisphere,” said Minister of State Ablonczy. “Transnational criminal activity not only undermines democracy, prosperity and the rule of law within our hemisphere, but also affects the safety of Canadians and the security of Canadian interests at home and in the region. Insecurity in the hemisphere affects us all; so it is also true that improved security will benefit us all.”

The Canadian Government is providing $2 million and is funded by the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program (ACCBP). The ACCBP supports countries in the Americas to prevent and respond to threats posed by transnational organized criminal networks operating throughout the western hemisphere.

The IBIS TRAX-3D systems are being implemented by Forensic Technology Inc., Regional Security System of the Eastern Caribbean, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Justice Section and were deployed in January, 2012.

“IBIS TRAX-3D is an excellent tool for helping police link firearm crimes and identify suspects. As more Caribbean countries join RIBIN, more evidence of transnational crime is gathered, thereby enriching the network and providing more investigative leads for police,” said Robert Walsh, President of Forensic Technology Inc. “We are honoured that the Canadian government and the Department Foreign Affairs and International Trade have entrusted us to help CARICOM Member States in a way that will truly make a difference.”