Suriname has officially launched a comprehensive digital firearm tracking system designed to monitor weapons throughout their entire lifecycle—from import and ownership to eventual destruction. The system, developed in collaboration with CARICOM’s Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), represents a significant advancement in regional security cooperation.
Justice and Police Minister Harish Monorath emphasized that the registry will provide complete traceability for every firearm in the nation. “From production and purchase to import, ownership, use, and final destruction—even after destruction, it remains recorded that the weapon was actually destroyed,” Monorath stated during the system’s inauguration.
The registry encompasses all firearms in Suriname, including handguns and hunting rifles owned by civilians, weapons from shooting associations, and arms belonging to police, military, correctional facilities, and other legally authorized entities. Any weapon not registered in the system will automatically be considered illegal, with stricter sanctions to be implemented in the future.
The digital infrastructure forms part of a broader regional strategy and interfaces with similar systems across Caribbean nations—a critical feature given the influx of illegal weapons from neighboring Brazil, French Guiana, and Guyana.
Trained personnel operating the system adhere to international standards, with the Directorate of National Security assuming coordinating responsibilities. The registry integrates with Suriname’s recently digitized firearm license system, which now enables complete online application and payment processes.
Minister Monorath addressed security concerns by highlighting multiple protective layers and warning mechanisms designed to prevent cyber threats and data breaches. Parallel to the registry implementation, authorities are advancing additional projects including the destruction of illegally obtained weapons.
Michael Jones, Executive Director of CARICOM IMPACS, noted that the digital transition significantly enhances operational efficiency and analytical capabilities. “The shift from paper to digital enables faster information analysis and recognition of patterns that previously remained invisible,” Jones explained. The regional interconnection substantially improves tracking capabilities for illegal firearm distribution networks across Caribbean borders.