KINGSTON, Jamaica– The House of Representatives has given its nod to the new Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction, and Regulation) Act which establishes a dual regime, distinguishing between prohibited weapons or unregulated firearms and activities connected to them and guns that are authorized or registered.
Minister of National Security Dr. Horace Chang said the legislation, passed by the House on Wednesday, will be kept under constant review.
“We have indicated seven years for review because of the nature of the Jamaican society, cases still take a long time to plea, and we can monitor it effectively on an empirical basis up to seven years,” he explained.
Minister Chang noted that it was essential to send a message to the country that, as a Parliament, “we are strong on the issue [of crime and violence].”
“We intend it to be a Bill to act as a deterrent and will bring to bear some success on dealing with what is our most troubling activity in the society,” he said.
The legislation outlines the objectives that speak to establishing a framework that prohibits firearms and ammunition that are illicitly traded and which regards possession of those banned firearms and ammunition as the foundation on which other heinous and violent crimes are committed.
In addition, the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) will be established as a corporate body under the new legislation.
As a corporate body, the Authority will have its own legal identity. It will now be empowered to perform several activities, including entering into contracts in its name, initiating and responding to legal claims, acquiring real and personal property, and using its official seal.
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