Bailey restates call for public to hand in firearms, ammo 

Police in St. Vincent and the Grenadines have restated their call for holders of illegal firearms and ammunition to hand them in under the amnesty, noting that nine weapons and  219 rounds of ammunition have been handed over so far.

“… it means that there are nine persons outside who can testify and verify that ‘I handed in my weapon to the police  and I was not tricked, I was not charged’,” acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Trevor “Buju” Bailey said on NICE Radio on Thursday as he restated the call.

He said those people can also testify that they handed in ammunition without being charged.

“It means that  there are nine less firearms pointing at people on the streets of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to aid or to commit any crime against any citizen or visitor alike and there are 219 less rounds of ammunition to be fired,” he said in a call to New Times, the opposition New Democratic Party’s daytime show.

“So we are well and truly on our way in ridding the streets of St. Vincent and the Grenadines of these illegal firearms,” the nation’s chief crime fighter said. 

Bailey noted that the amnesty began on March 1 and ends on May 31.

“Now, as outlined before, it is a no-question-asked amnesty, no data collection and if any person  surrenders an illegal firearm that he or she has in their possession within this period, we the police are saying that there will be no repercussions in terms of there’ll be no arrest, you will not be arrested and charged and taken before any court,” he said.

Bailey said that the nine weapons handed over to police are in good working condition and one of them was “brand new”.

“Working firearms. Firearms that can take life and cause severe injuries to persons,” he said.

“I want to take the opportunity as well to continue the appeal, to say to persons in St. Vincent and the Grenadines that here is an opportunity to contribute towards your country productively in the sense that you will be getting rid of any illegal firearm, ammunition or any component part of a firearm that you have in your possession within this period up until May 31,” he said.

He said the amnesty does not limit the type or firearm or ammunition that can be handed in to the authorities.

“So let’s say, for argument’s sake, someone has an M4, or M-16 or AK47, you can hand in that weapon as well,” he said.

“A shotgun, a nine millimetre — any weapon whatsoever,” he said.

Bailey urged holders of unlicensed firearms not to wait until the police execute a search and find firearms or ammunition at their home to say they were going to hand  them in.

“Now, if that happens, you have not surrendered the weapon. The police came to execute a warrant and they discovered the weapon. So you may very well be charged,” he said. 

“So, to avoid a situation like that, we’re saying that you should hand in the firearm at this time; hand it over to the police.”

He said that someone who intends to hand in a firearm can call ahead and tell the police of their intention in case they come up on a random police stop-and-search. 

The senior police officer further said that there is no limit to the number of firearms that a person can surrender during the amnesty period and noted that people can also surrender component parts of firearms.

In addition to the police, under the amnesty, a person can hand over an unlicensed firearm to a justice of the peace, minister of religion, Member of Parliament or politician, or a lawyer.