Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo today lauded the gun amnesty programme recently launched by the Ministry of Public Security.
A statement by the PM follows:
The Firearms Amnesty Programme has already seen considerable success as exhibited here today. Thirty firearms and 1457 rounds of ammunition have been surrendered and this is an indication that there is willingness on the part of the Guyanese to bring themselves within the law.
I pledge my support and the support of the Office of the Prime Minister to this Amnesty Programme and encourage all persons who have illegal firearms in their possession to bring them in during this period. My colleague Vice-President Ramjattan made it clear recently that once the amnesty concludes the Police will deal condignly with persons who are found with illegal weapons.
I fully support this and urge the Magistracy and the Judiciary to take judicial notice of the prevalence of crime involving the use of firearms. There should be no discretion in imposing sentences under the law for illegal possession of firearm.
As a judicial officer myself, I am of the view that our Courts must review granting of bail involving repeat offenders arraigned for illegal possession of firearm or the use of firearm in the execution of robberies.
The Firearms Amnesty opens the door to those with illegal firearms to come forward and surrenders their weapons. In the remaining days I hope to see the deliver of more weapons and that family members of holders of illegal weapons would plea with them to come clean.
We all have a common duty to make our homes, our streets and our country safer. Say “NO” to illegal guns!
Finally I wish to commend Vice President Ramjattan, the Commissioner of Police and the Guyana Police Force and civic leaders in our religious community for the work that has been done so far specifically with regard to this Firearms Amnesty and the fight on crime. I have seen recent statistics which have shown that crime and deaths on our roadways are down. We need this to continue to allow every Guyanese to live in peace and comfort, without worry about their safety and wellbeing.
