• says guns should be left to Police, Army

The APNU+AFC government is aiming to have less guns on the streets by limiting the issuance of firearm licenses to private citizens. As a matter of fact, it is President David Granger’s personal view that weapons should only be used by law enforcement authorities.

The President, speaking during the recording of his weekly programe, The Public Interest, revealed that there are legitimate firearm license holders in Guyana who rent their weapons to criminals. As such, the Head of State explained that he is working in collaboration with Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan to reduce the number of gun licenses issued.

“So we would like to see fewer weapons in the hands of private citizens; it is my personal view that weapons should be used by law enforcement agencies – the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force.”

According to the President, “We will try to detect people coming into the country will illegal firearms so there is a plethora of measures which will be implemented and our whole policy is aimed at getting guns off the streets and leaving guns in the hands of the police and the army.”

Border control

Meanwhile, President Granger explained that Guyana’s biggest problem has to do with the 1100km border shared with Brazil, which is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of small arms.

He revealed that many of the illegal weapons in Guyana are traced to Brazil. “So we will in the fullness of time reduce the issuance of legal firearms and by enforcing stricter border control through aerial surveillance, through mounted police and eventually through drones.”

According to the Head of State, government is also establishing a core of wardens who will have law enforcement powers. He said they will be operating in the gold mining and timber producing areas.

“They will also be operating in the tourism sector to provide protection and they will help us to detect people who have illegal firearms and bring those people to justice,” the President said.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported recently that former Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Retired Brigadier General Mark Phillips noted that incidents of gun-related crime in the country are at their highest, and has ranked the issue as the most pressing matter facing the society.

Speaking in a private capacity at the opening ceremony of a one-day security forum and expo, organised by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Phillips said he is aware of efforts made by government over the years to improve the security situation of the country while simultaneously addressing crime.

“I place at number one violent crime, because notwithstanding the crime statistics that speaks to a reduction in crime, it is my firm belief as a citizen of Guyana that the high incidence of gun-related crimes is today the most pressing problem in the Guyanese society”, Phillips had said.