Gun Amnesty Programme to launch September 1
Written by Gina Webmasters, Published in News, Georgetown, GINA, August 14, 2015, Source
Government is on track with its preparations to launch a Gun Amnesty Programme (GAP) on September 1. This is in keeping with an initial plan announced by Vice President and Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan.
The Minister stated that the move, which will be twinned with a “Buy Back programme” is one of several strategies being implemented to address the crime situation.
The issue was raised and discussed during at the first meeting of the high-level team on security. The Administration was brought up to date with several measures that could be utilised to encourage persons to hand over illegal firearms to authorities.
Initial feedback from the Guyana Police Force suggest that members of the public may not want to hand over illegal firearms to police ranks and as such alternative methods to collect the firearms are being explored. This may see a civic or an independent organization being used to facilitate the process.
There has been an influx of illegal weapons and firearms in Guyana, over the years via various means, and Government has signaled its intention to address this important matter, as many of these weapons are used to commit violent crimes.