Jamaica
signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997, ratified on 17 July 1998, and the
treaty entered into force on 1 March 1999. In 2001, drafting instructions for
implementation legislation were sent to the Jamaica Chief Parliamentary
Council.[1] Jamaica did not
attend any Mine Ban Treaty meetings during the reporting period, but it welcomed
progress made in implementation of the treaty and called for more assistance for
demining and mine victims when it gave a statement on behalf of Caribbean
Community (CARICOM) members to the UNGA First Committee debate on disarmament in
October 2001.[2] It also
cosponsored and voted in support of pro-ban UN General Assembly Resolution
56/24M in November 2001. Jamaica submitted its initial Article 7 transparency
report on 20 June 2000, and an annual updated report on 1 May 2002. Jamaica has
never produced, stockpiled, transferred, or used antipersonnel landmines, and is
not mine-affected.[3] In a
letter to the ICBL, the Foreign Minister stated, “Jamica remains committed
to international action aimed at eliminating landmines” and noted that
“Jamaica supports the provision of rehabilitative assistance to countries
whose citizens are affected by landmines as per article 6 of the
Treaty....”[4]
[1] Article 7 Report, submitted 1 May
2002. [2] HE M. Patricia Durrant,
Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United Nations, CARICOM Statement to
the First Committee of the UNGA, New York, 12 October 2001, p.
4. [3] Article 7 Report, submitted 1 May
2002. [4] Letter from Minister of
Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade K.D. Knight to Elizabeth Bernstein,
Coordinator, ICBL, 11 July 2002.
