For small island states in the Caribbean, the risks posed by aging stockpiles of conventional munitions are real and urgent. Poorly stored or obsolete ammunition can become unstable over time, creating the potential for unplanned explosions.
Geography can make the safe storage, transport, and disposal of munitions difficult, while limited resources can hinder national capacity to deal with the problem effectively.
Unplanned explosions not only endanger lives but also damage infrastructure, weaken security, and place enormous strain on national resources. The Caribbean has already witnessed the tragic consequences of unplanned explosions at munitions sites.
In Guyana, an ammunition depot explosion in 2005, killed several people and caused widespread destruction. In 2020, an explosion at the Guyana Defence Force’s Arms Store Complex in Timehri killed three soldiers and injured one while they were preparing pyrotechnics for demolition. In Barbados, a blaze at an ammunition storage facility led to serious disruption in 2011, forcing the evacuation of nearby communities and disrupting vital security operations. In 2020, a munitions container exploded at the Barbados Defence Force’s Paragon base, injuring two soldiers and causing a fire that was quickly contained.
These examples highlight the dangers posed when stockpiles are not properly managed and underscore the importance of investing in safe disposal and storage practices. That’s why the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS) and MAG are working together to strengthen national capacities for conventional munitions disposal (CMD) across the region.
Reducing risk whilst building capacity
Recognising these risks, CARICOM IMPACS and MAG have been working together to reduce the threat. Recent operations funded by the U.S. State Department Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname have seen the destruction of 6.7 tonnes of explosives (17,434 munitions items).
These activities are carried out as on-the-job training, ensuring that local security forces gain hands-on experience in safe munitions management and disposal. This approach directly enhances national resilience by building local expertise.
Over time, states become increasingly self-reliant in preventing accidents and managing stockpiles responsibly. By embedding practical expertise into local teams, CARICOM IMPACS and MAG are helping Caribbean states to move beyond reliance on external technical support.
The long-term benefits of the reduced risk of accidents and increased national capacity instil greater confidence that communities are safe from the threat of unplanned explosions.
A sustainable future for Suriname
A major milestone was recently achieved in Suriname, where MAG has provided the Surinamese National Army with equipment necessary for CMD operations. This equipment enables local security forces to continue safe disposal activities independently, with remote technical support from the MAG team based in Trinidad and Tobago.
Carmen van Dijk, Directorate of National Security in Suriname said: "MAG started working in Suriname in 2023, and since then personnel who received training are now well aware of the whole management chain of firearms and ammunition. Those personnel are taking the good practices shared by MAG and are implementing them in their everyday work. Trained personnel have just successfully completed a second round of munitions disposals operations and will complete more over the next two year until there are no more obsolete munitions in Suriname. It has a great impact on Suriname.
"We also have three people from Suriname selected to take part in training of the IATGs with MAG’s assistance and mentoring. We will have the honor of taking part in a final assessment with MAG, CARICOM IMPACS and GICHD where those three people will hopefully become part of a regional roster of experts and can be of assistance to any country in the region when necessary.
"CARICOM IMPACS assistance to the region can not be described in words. They have done so much for Suriname not only through their work on the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap but all the work they do in the region. They are always ready and available to assist member states in any way they need."
For Suriname and for the wider region, this represents a shift toward self-sufficiency, where local expertise and regional partnerships combine to reduce risks and protect lives.
