– says licence renewal should not be automatic
BY VAHNU MANIKCHAND
Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee is calling for the country’s gun laws to be reviewed and the firearms licence renewal process to be reassessed in light of the recent upsurge in gun-related crimes.
Addressing a conference on the prevention of interpersonal violence held at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Geogetown, the minister said everyone wants a firearm but some have been using it illegally, making reference to the businessman who killed his wife before turning the gun on himself over the weekend.
“People are behaving in this country as though this is the United States where they have the right to bear arms, but you don’t! And I’m considering approaching the president to ask him, let us review these gun laws, irrespective of what the hell Granger might think, whether Granger supports us in Parliament or not,” Rohee added.
The minister pointed out that it should be debated whether persons have the right to carry firearms, and if not, what are the alternatives for them in terms of their security.
Crackdown
He noted that the police should step up their intelligence and aggressively go after those who sell, buy, lend and trade firearms.
Rohee said those with firearm licences should be reviewed, pointing out that he had requested for his ministry to be included in this process.
“Right now, we don’t have a say, but we are looking at that. The Home Affairs Ministry in conjunction with the Firearms Licence Approval Board should have a say on whether to renew or not to renew a firearm licence. It should not be something automatic like the visa in the United States… there should be no automaticity attached to this. We have to begin taking strong measures against this because people with guns in their hands are taking strong measures and embarrassing this country,” Rohee said.
The minister also urged the conference to focus intensely on the fight and prevention of violence, noting that fighting violence is much broader than crime fighting. He challenged the conference participants to channel their attention during the two-day forum on prevention and protection against violence. He stated that education is a vital key in tackling violence and should be encouraged at every forum.
Rohee disclosed that to assist the police in their quest to end violence, the force has employed some 500 neighbourhood police to act as watchdogs for violence in their communities.
“The police can’t be there 24/ 7 so the neighbourhood police are in the neighbourhoods on a daily basis and they ought to know what is happening in each neighbourhood, it is their business to know,” he stated.
