Port-Louis – Mauritius has amended its Firearms Act to implement the provisions of the Arms Trade Treaty to which it is a signatory, the Parliament Office in Port-Louis said on Thursday.
The office said that the amendment is part of efforts to increase the Island’s visibility as a safe haven for doing business.
Also for tourism and to give the Police an important tool to better control the movement of arms within the country and those in transit.
In a report, the Parliament Office quoted the Mauritian Prime Minister, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, as having underlined the importance of the domestication of the treaty through the bill.
He said that the bill will also enhance the national control system on the export, import and transit activities related to conventional arms.
Furthermore, the country’s legal framework to combat terrorism and piracy will be strengthened.
“Making our extended territorial water and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) safer areas at a time when Mauritius is developing its ocean economy and aspiring to become a petroleum hub in the Indian Ocean region,” Jugnauth said.
One government source said that the aim of the Arms Trade Treaty is to prevent and eradicate the illicit trade of conventional arms and their unauthorised use.
“Including the commissioning of terrorist acts and acts of piracy, through the control of the export, import, transit, trans-shipment and brokering of these arms.
“To transform the way global arms trade operates while setting new standards and enshrine in international law, strict controls on the arms trade which has been poorly regulated for long.
“It will no longer be acceptable for arms to be transferred to regimes that will use them to harm innocent people and violate human rights,” Jugnauth said.
Under the Treaty, before any arms transfer takes place, the supplying Government must assess associated risks of the deal against strict criteria, including whether the arms might be used for human rights violations, war crimes or the commissioning of other unlawful acts.
If there is a substantial risk of this happening, the deal will not be authorised by the seller.
He said the Firearms Act aims, amongst others, to empower the concerned Police Officers to carry out checks at the places of firearm licence holders to ensure that firearm licensees are complying with the conditions attached to their licence. (PANA/NAN)
Mauritius amends Firearms Act in line with Arms Trade Treaty
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