Govt set to return firearms to indigenous residents

The firearms which were handed over to Police during the “firearm amnesty” in 2015 will soon be returned to indigenous residents.
However, a planned trip to Region Seven to commence the distribution process was thwarted due to inclement weather conditions on Monday.
A team headed by Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan that also included Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock and Minister of Public Affairs Dawn Hasting-Williams was on site to depart the Eugene. F. Correia International Airport on Monday to facilitate the distribution.
The team was to meet with residents of 11 indigenous communities at Chinoweng, Phillipai and Kamarang.
In addition to the firearms, they were also taking along 121 permits to distribute to the residents.
Minister Allicock said persons have trekked from very long distances to meet up at the respective locations either to receive their firearms or their permits to purchase firearm. However, safety remains important.
Of the 140 firearms received from Region Seven indigenous villages during the amnesty of 2015, only nine were serviceable, and were being returned to the respective owners.
The ministry will be working towards a new date for the distribution.
In 2015 following the launch of Government’s gun amnesty programme, several Amerindian farmers had expressed outrage, saying that they were duped by the Public Security Ministry into believing that when they handed in their firearms, they would have been issued with licences.