Dear Editor,
LAST week the nation was set upon by a hydrogen bomb that sent accusatory ripples of malfeasances across the country with revelations that the Top Cop had granted himself licences to use and trade in firearms. The commissioner of police (CoP) is of the view that he did nothing wrong. As ugly and awkward as this is, he may be right if his application received vetting from both the minister and the Firearm Licensing Board (FALB). The CoP claimed that he followed a decades-old tradition, whereby outgoing CoPs self-granted firearms.

As it should be, the action was reversed by ministerial edict. This should not be the end, the system cries out for a change in procedure. Changes in the law together with the force’s SOP should ensure that gun licence certificates are cosigned by the either the minister or the chairman of the FALB, or both. As it is, firearm licences require only the CoP’s signature, giving plenty room for abuse of process. There were accusations against some former CoPs that they took it upon themselves to sign firearm licences without it having passed through the legal process. I have heard stories of ministers in the past administration calling the CoP directly and licences were issued to people on the spot.

This episode exposes cracks in the system, which the minister should take urgent steps to rectify. As a privilege of the office, the CoP upon retirement should be granted automatic right to own one defined class of firearm by simply writing to the minister to exercise the said privilege. Subsequent firearms should be applied for the usual way after he leaves office. Otherwise, the CoP can grant himself enough weapons to start his own private force. I have received reliable information that former CoP Henry Greene had granted himself five high- calibre personal firearms.

It has been over two years since a software was developed to enhance police records, it contained a firearm record-keeping module that monitors firearm applications. There was strong resistance to the use of the software and particularly strong resistance to the implementation of the firearm module from inside the force; word is that this software is still not being used by the police, it begs for a question. The President should contemplate a forensic audit of all firearm licences.

When responding to the media, Mr Seelall Persaud took sharp political jabs at the government for its stance. In a politically laced remark he essentially accused the government of political double standards in revoking his licences, indicating that a sitting CoP did the same during the PNC administration of the 1980s. It wasn’t wrong then, why should it be wrong now.

Minister Ramjattan came under fire for his abrasive media response on the issue; he has since apologised and that should be the end of the matter. This speaks to a wider issue: Ramjattan is genuine when interacting with the media, he usually doesn’t employ subtleties intended to convey veiled messages, as we say in local parlance; he is a straight shooter (no pun intended), that’s his personality. Such personal traits give rise to less political correctness, this frankness and willingness to let the guard rails down should somewhat be celebrated by the media rather than exploited: egging on and teasingly baiting the minister into banter that did not reflect his finest self. Having said that, Minister Ramjattan and several of his Cabinet colleagues who aren’t hitting the bullseye with the media should surrender their public pronouncements and off-the-cuff utterances on sensitive subjects to an imbedded handler, someone capable of skilfully stepping in and dealing with the media before things go south, otherwise the blessings that come from being genuine can be a curse (pun intended for sure).

During the course of the week, the Rastafarian movement staged a protest exercise to raise awareness and to make demands for the decriminalisation of marijuana, claiming among other things, that it is part of their religious sacrament. In full view of law-enforcement officers and running cameras, they were lighting up, smoking and passing ganja spliffs among themselves. This is a blatant disregard for law and order and high disrespect for law enforcement. This should not have been condoned. It is distasteful and doesn’t help their cause. Surely, they want the law to be changed (and they enjoy some public support) to decriminalise or have non-custodial sentences for possession of small quantities. While this putters on, the existing laws on the books should be respected and obeyed. This is no small matter; an automatic minimum jail sentence of three years is imposed if found guilty of marijuana possession. The Rastafarian community and organisers of the march should apologise for this lapse. Their target was the President, but why should His Excellency engage a group of people who are not willing to display simple public courtesy for established legal institutions. After correcting this lacuna, this group should be engaged and listened to by the government and a national conversation should take place between citizens and law makers as part of a larger attempt at reform.
Regards,
Lenno Craig