There are no immediate plans to continue the just-concluded gun amnesty, according to Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan, who says plans are underway for a major crackdown to get more illegal weapons off the streets.
Giving a final report on the programme, which ran from September 1 to October 14, the Guyana Police Force yesterday announced that a total of 186 illegal guns were handed in. Of this number, there were 153 shotguns, 13 pistols, 10 air rifles, nine revolvers and an AK-47. The programme was initially due to conclude on September 30, but given its success government took a decision to extend it for another two weeks.
Ramjattan told Stabroek News yesterday that now that the programme has ended, the “crackdown” will begin. Between now and the end of the year, he said, at least a hundred more illegal guns are expected to be recovered by police ranks.
“Lots of guns are still out there,” he emphasised.
Asked if he is satisfied with the amount of guns netted during the amnesty, he said he was, particularly when what is known of the Guyanese culture is taken into consideration.
“It is better than nothing. It was a far cry from what we felt might have been handed in,” he added.
Nonetheless, Ramjattan lauded the programme as a success. He said government had looked at all the available options to get illegal guns off the streets and out of the hands of criminals and the amnesty was the one chosen. Now, he added, it is time for enforcement.
“We will get a clamp down,” he said, before adding that “we are on our way” towards removing illegal weapons from the streets.
So far for the year, police have taken possession of about 78 weapons. The number was not included among the statistics for guns handed in during the amnesty. Ramjattan said these weapons were recovered from January to present and resulted in some persons being charged. He said it is expected that police will recover more.
At September 30, police had received 142 illegal firearms and a quantity of live rounds. During the two-week extension, 44 more guns were handed in.
Ramjattan had told the media that more than 50% of what was currently in the police’s possession had been handed over in the last couple of days toward the end of the initial period. The hand in started off slowly but picked up at the days went by.
Police, in the summary released to the media yesterday, said that for ‘A’ Division (Georgetown/East Bank Demerara), they received 1,192 rounds 7.62×39 ammunition, five .22 pistols and three magazines along with 88 rounds of .22 ammunition, five shotguns with 49 cartridges, a 9 mm Luger pistol with nine matching rounds, four .32 pistols along with a magazine and 347 matching rounds, five air rifles, a .22 revolver, four .38 revolvers and 126 rounds, a .357 revolver, a .32 revolver with seven .32 rounds and 51 rounds of .25 ammunition.
In ‘B’ Division (Berbice), a .32 pistol with ten .32 rounds, a 16-gauge shotgun and ten cartridges and four 9 mm rounds were handed in.
With regard to ‘C’ Division (East Coast Demerara), two air rifles, a .32 revolver with five .32 rounds and three 9mm spent shells were handed in, while ranks in ‘D’ Division (West Demerara/East Bank Essequibo) received two air rifles, a .32 revolver, a 9 mm magazine, three 16-gauge shotgun cartridges, three 20-gauge shotgun cartridges and 31 .30 cartridges, the release said.
It added that in ‘E’ Division (Linden/Kwakwani), an air rifle, an improvised shotgun and two shotguns were collected.
In ‘F’ Division, ranks received 144 shotguns, an AK-47 rifle, a 9 mm pistol, a .32 pistol, seven cartridges, eighteen .32 rounds, ten 7.62×39 rounds and four 9 mm rounds.
Last week, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum had said that ballistic tests conducted on 90% of 171 guns surrendered at that time had found no link to any crime.
In June, Ramjattan had announced government’s intention to introduce the programme to reduce the number of illegal guns on the streets, in the wake of an increase in gun-related crimes.
Ramjattan had urged members of the public to make use of the amnesty, while emphasising that upon its conclusion persons found in possession of illegal arms and ammunition would face the full brunt of the law.
