The Ministry of Public Security, in an advisory in yesterday’s Stabroek News, announced that from Tuesday at 9 am it will begin receiving illicit firearms no questions asked and persons submitting will not be prosecuted.
It warned that when the one-month amnesty is up, persons found in possession of illegal weapons and ammunition will be prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the country.
The advisory listed stations throughout the country where firearms, ammunition or explosives could be handed in between 9 am and 4 pm.
It said that all transactions in this amnesty period “will be treated with strict confidentiality.”
The stations in A Division are the Timehri, Ruimveldt, East La Penitence, Brickdam and Alberttown police stations. In B Division guns can be turned in at the Fort Wellington, Blairmont, Central, Albion, Whim, No.51, Springlands and Mibicuri police stations. In C division, the police stations are: Sparendaam, Beterverwagting, Vigilance, Cove and John, Mahaica and Mahaicony.
President David Granger last week indicated his full confidence that the amnesty will be successful.
“It is our view that persons who feel themselves threatened by others who have illegal guns are going to report them and persons who are in possession of illegal guns have no reason to be fearful and could hand in their guns,” Granger said last Wednesday.
Granger said the aim of the programme is to move a large amount of illegal guns off the streets and give the people an opportunity to deal with it legally. He further stated that after the one-month trial for the programme, there will be a big crackdown and persons who are found in possession of illegal firearms will face the full brunt of the law.
