…says holders must be able to defend gun ownership

By Zena Henry
FORMER Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee is adamant that local gun owners must first be notified that their firearm licences will be taken away, and then they must be given an opportunity to defend their gun ownership.Rohee, who has already forecast possible “controversy” if the upcoming licence revocation process is not handled property, was speaking directly to those gun owners designated as “wrongfully”

being issued with a firearm licence.

Persons whose licence application never made it to the Firearm License Approval Board are among those that can be classified as having wrongfully received a firearm licence. Likewise, persons who have acquired criminal records prior to receiving their licence; those who acquired criminal records after receiving their licence, but were able to keep their weapons; and those who met none of the criteria but were issue a gun licence can all be considered as having wrongfully received firearm licence.

The possible sale of gun licences has not been eliminated from the equation. Rohee noted that, while in office, he would have personally received letters and information from members of the public about persons they believed were not deserving of a firearm. He said he would receive letters from persons saying that someone was involved with drugs or other illegal practices and did not deserve a gun, “but that was only hearsay,” the former security head stated. He said that when information was then passed down to the police, investigations would show that the allegation was based out of vexation or a vendetta with someone who had a grievance with someone.

When asked whether during his tenure he was aware of the possible sale of firearm licences, Rohee questioned, “How does one prove that? You have to get the evidence. Someone must confess, they have to come forward, and that is the problem with them (government). They better know what they are doing, or they will get themselves in trouble.”

Rohee said that although Guyanese do not have the constitutional right to bear arms like obtains in the United States, “anyone is free to apply for a firearm”; and that is why people must be given an opportunity to defend their firearm licence, he said. As a feature of natural justice, he continued, they must be given an opportunity to say why they must be able to keep their licence. Rohee opined that if this is not done, the government could find itself with a number of court cases if they do not provide “incontrovertible evidence”.

“Who is deserving” of a gun licence is not the decision of the minister or the police force when there is a firearm licensing board, Rohee stated. He said it was for that same reason, based on a ruling by former Chief Justice Ian Chang pertaining to the Disciplined Forces, that a gun licensing board was recommended and then established.

The former security minister said that once government finds that firearm licences were sold to the public, then the “appropriate” action must be taken. He reiterated that citizens must, however, be given a chance to explain themselves, or it will be another witch hunt, “this time on citizens who they (government) think are undeserving of a firearm.”

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan disclosed that there are “too many guns” on the streets. He said a review of all gun licences will take place to ensure those who have gun licences deserve same. He said depressed persons are killing themselves and others, while situations under which persons received gun licences have also changed.

Some officials are convinced that undeserving applicants legally acquired gun licences through a facility of Police Commissioners, CoPs being the last authority to receive gun licence applications before they are sent to the Board for approval.

Former cop, PPP security personnel, and self–confessed death squad member Shawn Hinds stated last year that seized guns were sold to criminals by police. Hinds himself came under fire when the public questioned whether the “questionable” character who body guarded then PPP appointed Town Clerk Carol Sooba had license to carry a weapon in the City Hall compound. It was never made clear whether Hinds had a firearm licence, and whether he had received same under the previous administration.