ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC—The government of Grenada has implemented changes to the Firearm Act, which will now place firearm-related offenses on par with murder and treason.
According to Attorney General and Minister for Legal Affairs Claudette Joseph, as of July 30, magistrates will no longer be authorized to issue bail for a person charged under the Firearm Act because offenses under that legislation, the offense will be elevated to “very serious”.
“It can be seen from the new penalties by this amended legislation we are elevating the offenses committed under the Firearms Act as severe offenses warranting an application to the Judge to be admitted to bail in the same way as an application is required to be made to the Judge when the offenses of murder or treason are committed,” Joseph told the Upper House on Wednesday as she debated the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) 2024.
This Bill seeks to amend the Criminal Procedure Code, Chapter 72B, to extend the categories of offenses in respect of which a Magistrate shall not admit a person to bail to include offenses under the Firearms Act, Chapter 105, that are punishable by imprisonment for a term of five years or more.
Currently, the Criminal Procedure Code authorizes a magistrate to grant bail once the charge is not for murder, treason, misprision of treason, and treason felony.
Joseph said the state now puts firearm-related offenses on the same level as nonbailable offenses.
“And so, anyone committing these offenses will not be able to get bail from the magistrate anymore because of the serious nature of the offense,” Joseph told the members.
Described as draconian, the 28 Amendment to the Firearms Act is coming at a time when Grenada is recording a high number of firearm offenses.
Between January to June of 2024, the police have confiscated 35 firearms.
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