Patrolling Guyana’s borders to prevent the entry of illegal weapons is a humongous task that Guyana cannot undertake alone, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan has said, while highlighting the need for additional resources for the construction of police stations and watchtowers.
“We have seen an increase in guns coming in through the Brazilian porous border …that is a massive, massive border for which there aren’t plenty controls because of our limited set of resources. [Also] a number of these weapons are coming in some through the border with Venezuela, we understand, and they are then reaching other mid-Guyana townships like Bartica and so on and then they are being transferred out from there into Georgetown. So, it is especially important that we get more resources to ensure that that kind of trafficking in arms is halted but of course that’s difficult,” he told the Ministry of Presidency in an interview last week.
Ramjattan was asked specifically about government’s plan for gun control. In response, he pointed out that there are existing prohibitions against firearm usage, licensing of firearms and the abuse of firearms. “That is primarily what we have to do to get guns off people who are not the rightful owners…and [get] control of illegal firearms that are being used for robberies…and working out better border controls although that is gonna be a monumental task—preventing them from coming into Guyana,” he said.
According to Ramjattan, based on all the information that exists, illegal guns once entered the country through containers through the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the wharf system. He said that the GRA, the police and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) have strengthened their systems along Guyana’s coast but gun smugglers are now using the porous borders as the alternate route.
He stated that government recently engaged officials of the US State Department. He was referring to a Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) dialogue held in Washington last month.
“I was there and I pleaded with them that I needed strengthening of our border controls under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative,” he said, while adding that the response has so far been positive as the US officials have pledged support since they do recognise the difficulties Guyana faces with securing its borders.
He indicated that he is unable to say in what form this support will come but stressed that he did request drones and aerial surveillance to complement the establishment of a mounted branch to do patrol duties and the construction of more police outposts in border areas. Speaking about construction of police outposts, he, however, said that this is extremely difficult for government because of the lack of funding.
He pointed out that when persons want to traffick in arms and they see the police coming, they can go in the other direction and to deal with this “towers” would need to be constructed. “So it a humungous set of expenses to install that kind of operation but we are pleading with our partners, especially the Americans who understand that they will have to play a role and I hope with the new administration of Donald Trump, we are going to have that kind of continued support,” he said.
He also spoke of the successes of roadblocks, which have earthed at least a dozen illegal firearms in recent weeks and information-led operations that have resulted in weapons being found hidden in homes. “I want more of these people interdicted this way so that we can have less guns out there. Turning his attention to licensed firearm holders renting out their weapons, he said that he wants by year end to have all of the licences granted reviewed. He also made mention of persons who were granted licences because they were into business and gold mining but are not in these professions anymore. He made it clear that these persons should not be granted firearm licences anymore.
