A member of the public yesterday turned in a gun at the Brickdam Police Station; the fourth since the Firearm Amnesty commenced last Tuesday, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said yesterday.
Blanhum revealed that a. 32 pistol and a quantity of matching rounds were handed in. Additionally, at 7 am yesterday at the Parika Police Station, he said, three 16 gauge cartridges and three 20 gauge cartridges were handed over.
He informed that last week citizens handed in 1,191 live 7.62 x 52 rounds; a single barrel shotgun with one cartridge; two .32 pistols; 49 x .32 live rounds and one 9 mm empty magazine.
According to Blanhum, the illegal items were handed in at the Brickdam Police Station and stations in the West Demerara area.
In June, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan announced government’s intention to introduce a gun amnesty programme aimed at reducing the number of illegal guns on the streets and in the wake of an increase in gun-related crimes.
The programme will last for a month after which government will decide whether it is worthy of continuation.
A number of police stations throughout the country have been listed as locations where firearms, ammunition or explosives could be handed in between 9 am and 4 pm.
The police stations in ‘A’ Division are: Timehri, Ruimveldt, East La Penitence, Brickdam and Alberttown. In ‘B’ Division items can be turned in at the Fort Wellington, Blairmont, Central, Albion, Whim, Number 51, Springlands and Mibicuri police stations. In ‘C’ Division, the police stations are: Sparendaam, Beterverwagting, Vigilance, Cove and John, Mahaica and Mahaicony.
In ‘D’ Division they can be handed in at La Grange, Vreed-en-Hoop, Leonora and Parika police Stations; in ‘E’ Division at Kwakwani, Mabura, Wismar and Mackenzie and in ‘F’ Division, 25 police stations and checkpoints were listed. In ‘G’ Division members of the public can turn in illegal weapons at the Suddie, Anna Regina, Charity, Wakenaam, Leguan and Aurora police stations.
Assurances have been given that no questions will be asked and persons submitting will not be prosecuted.
Meanwhile, Blanhum told Stabroek News that the force will be broadening its public awareness strategy so as to encourage persons to hand in weapons and ammunition.
He said this will be in the form of live call-in television programmes hosted by ranks and a religious leader or member of the Cops and Faith Community Network. NCN has so far been identified as one television station where such programmes will be aired.
