The Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) yesterday charged that firearms and ammunition assigned to its Security Department are now illicitly in the possession of the Special Project Unit (SPU) of government holding company NICIL.
It was the latest flare-up in tensions between the two sides over sugar estate assets and funding for the industry among other areas. Neither the SPU nor the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) have responded to Stabroek News on the controversies.
In a statement, GuySuCo said that the arms and ammunition in question are located at the Rose Hall and Skeldon Estates and are “currently being unlawfully used by representatives and agents of NICIL-SPU”.
GuySuCo said that the estates were vested in December of 2017, and since then NICIL-SPU has been refusing to return the firearms and ammunition claiming that they were vested as a part of Skeldon and Rose Hall Estates.
“The Corporation would like to inform NICIL-SPU that fire-arms cannot be vested; and these weapons are licensed exclusively to the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc”, the statement said.
It added that the Laws of Guyana, Firearms Act, Chapter 16:05, Section 16 (1) it states that subject to the Act, no person shall purchase, acquire or have in his possession any firearm or ammunition to which this Part applies unless he holds a firearm licence in force at the time.
Further Section 16 (2) of the Act further states that, ‘subject to this Act, if any person purchases, acquires or has in his possession any firearm or ammunition to which this Part applies without holding a firearm licence in force at the time, or otherwise than as authorised by such a license, or, in case of ammunition in quantities in excess of those so authorised, (that person) shall be liable…’
GuySuCo says that the matter was reported months ago to the Commissioner of Police and other relevant authorities but it is still awaiting the return of the firearms and ammunition. “The Corporation is requesting that the relevant authorities act speedily to ensure that the weapons and ammunitions are returned.
“The Corporation, its officers, employees, servants and agents shall not be liable for any injuries, loss of life, damage to property or any other claims resulting from the use and/or misuse of the said firearms and ammunition… at the abovementioned two Estates from 31 December, 2017 to the date when they are returned to the Corporation’s possession”, the statement added.
