Making it clear that the ongoing gun amnesty programme only speaks to possession offences, Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud yesterday said that ballistics tests will be conducted on all weapons and ammunition handed in to ascertain whether they are linked to any crimes.
Persaud told reporters during an inspection of what has been handed in thus far, that ballistics testing had started on the 13 weapons and ammunition brought in by members of the public but so far none have been matched to any crime scene. This testing will be applied to whatever is handed over as at September 30 when the programme will come to an end.
“[For] several reasons. Intelligence. We can reopen investigations,” he said when asked why police would want to know if they were used in any crime if there is no intention to prosecute those who hand them in. He went on to explain that the immunity is only for possession and as such if found to be linked to a crime the information will be pursued.
Persaud informed too that the police will not be pursuing the persons who hand in the weapons. “That person has absolute immunity so they would not be prosecuted for possession of the firearm,” he said.
Asked about the weapons and ammunition being destroyed, Persaud said that this has been done in the past, not only with firearms but other items seized.
From September 1 to the end of yesterday police had received five shotguns, five pistols and three rifles along with 1,457 rounds of varying kinds of ammunition. Additionally, a component of a firearm was handed over. These items were on display for the members of the media and Persaud, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo to see.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum informed that the delivery points were stations in three police divisions: ‘A,’ ‘D’ and ‘F’. The time set aside for the handing in of guns and ammunition is between 9 am and 4 pm.
In June, Ramjattan had announced government’s intention to introduce the programme aimed at reducing the number of illegal guns on the streets and in the wake of an increase in gun-related crimes.
At the end of the one month trial period government will decide whether it is worthy of continuation.
Ramjattan in his remarks urged reporters to help get the message across to the public that they should bring in illegal weapons.
“…You have another 15 days to bring in whatever firearm you have that is not legally licensed and so forth. Ensure that family and friends who are hiding…, bring them out because as I have indicated immediately after the month ends there will be a crackdown to get that which is illegal and it might be very harsh on that occasion so bring them out now. Save yourself the harshness of the law as it relates to unlicensed firearms,” Ramjattan said.
When asked whether government will look at tabling a bill to increase the penalty for illegal gun possession, he noted that members of the government, supporters and other members of the public have been lobbying for this but “quite frankly I haven’t done anything [as regards] any legislative arrangement for changing that because the law is pretty tough as it is.”
Ramjattan later registered his disappointment at assault rifles not being among the lot that had been handed in. He nevertheless expressed hope that before the month expired some will be handed over.
“That is a little disappointing… I would have preferred lots more of those major arms to come in but they haven’t. What can I say except, please those who have them bring them in,” he stressed.
With regard to an incentive being offered in exchange for the handing over of illegal weapons, Ramjattan made it clear that the government has no money to fund such a programme. “We don’t have the monies at the present moment. We are constrained by financial arrangements… So we wanted them voluntarily given. If at the appropriate time we have finances we can probably do a buy back…to have this [the gun amnesty] is good news,” he said.
He said an extension of the programme will depend on what happens in the next two weeks.
According to Ramjattan, the programme thus far has been a success.
“All of these here coming out of the hands of those who had them before and bringing them to the police station, this is a big plus. This is a big positive,” he said.
Noting that gun amnesty will not be a regular occurrence, he said that the aim is to give members of the public who have illegal weapons, the opportunity to bring them in so that “when the police start doing their work… they wouldn’t suffer the penalties as I said, which the law provides and so we don’t generally do amnesty regularly. That is not the international practice but we do it sparingly so that the people will bring all that they have to avoid that kind of penalty.”
Meanwhile Nagamootoo urged the magistracy and the judiciary to take note 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,” he said.
While registering his full support for the programme, he said that it opens the door to those with illegal firearms to come forward and surrenders their weapons. “In the remaining days I hope to see the delivery of more weapons and that family members of holders of illegal weapons would plead with them to come clean,” he stressed noting that all have a common duty to make our homes, our streets and our country safer. He urged all to say “no” to illegal guns.
Later, Nagamootoo told reporters that the law is strict and makes it very clear that a person found in possession of a firearm who cannot produce a licence will be prosecuted.
He opined that the fear of punishment which is several years in jail, is perhaps what is preventing people from coming forward. “In this first phase we have to address that issue at law…,” he said before stressing that the amnesty only allows persons the opportunity to surrender firearms for which they do not have a licence. Thereafter the police will have to do their job, he stressed.
