ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – The Dominica government Thursday announced a month-long gun and the illegal possession of ammunition amnesty ahead of going to Parliament and significantly amending the legislation allowing for stiffer penalties for gun-related crimes.
National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore told a news conference that the amnesty would begin next month, and the proposed legislative changes would also allow persons to be denied bail while awaiting trial on gun charges.
“A gun and ammunition amnesty will commence on the first of October, 2023, and end on the thirty-first of October, 2023,” he said, recalling that such an amnesty. He had been offered in 2007.
He said that based on the current situation, he felt the need to propose that another gun and ammunition amnesty “be offered to the nation for a short period.
“Let me just say that a gun and amnesty program is a period for nonprosecution that allows people to surrender their illegal or unregistered firearms without fear of legal jeopardy or being charged or prosecuted.
“This amnesty is directed to two distinct sets of people. Firstly, those who know that they have illegal firearms or ammunition, and secondly, those who are perhaps innocent custodians of a weapon, component, or shot and possibly even unsure about its legal status but are too frightened to do anything about it.
The National Security Minister, flanked by Police Commissioner Daniel Carbon, said the illegal firearms and ammunition can be surrendered at any police station.
He said the Roosevelt Skerrit administration would go to Parliament following the amnesty period to amend the existing legislation.
“Once this (amnesty) period has expired, the government will go to Parliament, which will significantly strengthen our gun and bail act. Close every loophole (and) after that, if you are found with an illegal firearm or ammunition, you will go to jail for a minimum of five years.
“If you use an illegal firearm after that to hurt somebody…or God forbid kill somebody, you will wait in jail until the trial date of the case,” Blackmoore said.
He said when the government had repealed the Firearms Act in 2011, the intention of the Parliament was clear.
“Penalties must significantly increase,” he said.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Skerrit urged Illegal firearm holders to turn in their firearms to the police after the island recorded 12 murders this year.
“The police are taking a zero tolerance to these things, and I want to urge people with illegal firearms to make a way in getting it to the police. The police can facilitate you in getting it to them.”
Skerrit said the police have been working with some groups to get the illegal firearms off the streets.
“I have said to many people that when you have a firearm, you always run the risk of using it, and when you sell it, you will be selling it to someone who will come back and kill you, or kill your mother, or kill your brother,” Skerrit said, adding “and so, the possession and the trading of firearms is not for a country like Dominica. It is too small for this.”
and then 