Ramjattan tells Guyanese… BRING IN YOUR ILLEGAL WEAPONS ‘Your Christmas will not be nice if you don’
guyana chronicle news
THE gun amnesty period has been extended to October 14, and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, yesterday urged citizens to bring in their illegal weapons and ammunition, since the administration “will not let up” after the two weeks’ amnesty extension is over.Following the Guyana Prison Service parade march on Brickdam, Minister Ramjattan told reporters that if citizens want a nice holiday, they should bring in their weapons and ammunition forthwith.
– The Welfare Section of the GPS in the march yesterday to kick-off Prisons Week activities
The minister said the gun amnesty period has been extended because of its good results, especially seen within the last week, when 50% of rifles and guns were handed in. He said, “People are getting more aware as to the necessity of bringing in firearms and ammunition, and because of that, it was decided we should extend it, after speaking to some stakeholders.”
Ramjattan added that the legal process entails making an order by the subject minister and gazetting it. He said the gazetting process occurred on Wednesday, and the order took effect from Thursday and will last until October 14.
Minister Ramjattan is hoping that, with the extension, more weapons will be handed in at police stations across the country. He said his gun amnesty message is resonating, and he suspects that, after his announcement last week, there will be a crackdown and people will decide to hand in their firearms in that final week. He opined that more people are realising the seriousness of it all, hence their positive response, and thus it makes a lot of sense to give the people another two weeks’ respite.
“I suspect lots more (guns) will come in in terms of where we see more arms coming in from — the ‘F’ Division — that is, the interior; and the message might have gotten out late in that area, but we are seeing a couple coming in from the Coast as well,” Ramjattan said.
The following Police Stations remain places where the firearms could be handed in during this amnesty period. The period of acceptance is between 09:00 hours and 16:00 hours daily:
• A Division – Georgetown and East Bank Demarara Police stations at: Timehri, Ruimveldt, Providence, East La Penitence, Brickdam and Alberttown.
• B Division – Berbice Police stations at: Fort Wellington; Blairmont; New Amsterdam; Albion; Whim; No. 51; Springlands, and Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder.
• C Division – East Coast Demerara Police stations at: Sparendaam, Beterverwagting, Vigilance, Cove and John, Mahaica and Mahaicony.
• D Division – West Demerara Police stations at: La Grange, Vreed-en-Hoop,
Leonora, and Parika.
• E Division – Linden, Kwakwani and related areas Police stations at: Kwakwani, Mabura, Wismar, and Mackenzie
• F Division – Interior Police stations at: Bartica, Kurupung, Aranka, Enachu, Issano, Lethem, Annai, Aishalton, Karasabai, and Monkey Mountain
How the weapons were handed in ‘A’ Division (Georgetown/East Bank Demerara) 1,192 rounds of 7.62 x 39 ammunition; three .22 pistols and three magazines, along with 78 rounds of .22 ammunition; three shotguns and 23 cartridges; one 9 mm Luger pistol with nine matching rounds; four .32 pistols, along with one magazine and 347 matching rounds; three (3) air rifles; one .25 pistol and six rounds; one .22 revolver; one .38 revolver and 20 rounds; and one .357 revolver.
‘
C’ Division (East Coast Demerara) Two air rifles; three 9mm spent shells.
‘D’ Division (West Demerara/East Bank Essequibo) One air rifle; one 9mm magazine; three 16-gauge shotgun cartridges; three 20-gauge shotgun cartridges.
‘E’ Division (Linden/Kwakwani) One air rifle; one improvised shotgun; two shotguns
– Inmates Outdoor Party yesterday in the march, equipped with their tools ready for work
‘F’ Division (Interior Locations) One hundred and fifteen shotguns; one AK-47 rifle; one .32 pistol; one cartridge; eighteen .32 rounds; ten 7.62×39 rounds
Summary (Firearms) collected during Amnesty
Shotguns – 121 Pistols – 10 Air rifles – 7 Revolvers – 3 Rifle (AK-47) – 1 Total: 142
