Action has been taken to move all firearms from Local Government municipal stations to police stations.
Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro, by letter dated April 22, 2026, wrote to Minister of Rural and Local Government Khadijah Ameen with the recommendation that the firearms be transferred to the purview of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS).
The move comes following the murder of Municipal Police Acting Corporal Anuska Eversley at the San Fernando Municipal Police Station and the theft of a large number of firearms and ammunition from the facility last Sunday.
Minister of Rural Development and Local Government and Member of Parliament for St Augustine, Khadijah Ameen.
There is no definitive number as to how many firearms were stolen, but Eversley’s murder uncovered a racket in which guns had reportedly been stolen from the municipal station for months and sold to the criminal underworld.
In his letter to Ameen, Guevarro noted that preliminary reviews have identified administrative irregularities in the Firearm User’s Licences issued to the City, Borough and Regional Corporations under the Ministry of Local Government.
“In order to ensure proper accountability and compliance with the Firearms Act, it is recommended that all firearms assigned under these Firearm Users Licenses be immediately lodged for safekeeping at an appropriate police station, within the relevant jurisdiction, following consultation with the Senior Superintendent of Police for the Division,” he stated.
The Commissioner stated that officers will then be able to be issued firearms for duty at the respective police stations at which they are lodged, thereby maintaining operational continuity while ensuring lawful custody and control.
Guevarro stated: “This measure should remain in effect pending the completion of a full audit and verification exercise, as well as the regularisation of the relevant Firearm User’s Licenses. I am kindly seeking your intervention to have these instructions relayed through your Permanent Secretary to all relevant Heads of Departments who have custody and control of firearms as part of their remit.”
Ameen responded to the Commissioner and accepted his recommendation.
When contacted by the Express yesterday, the Minister stated: “I can confirm that immediately upon receiving the advice of the Commissioner of Police a directive was issued to all CEOs of City, Borough and Regional Corporations to comply forthwith. TTPS will be working with us to ensure compliance.”
The Express understands that the allocation of firearms to the municipal police follows a process in which the Assistant Commissioner of Police with responsibility for municipal policing submits requests to the Police Commissioner outlining the number of firearms and ammunition required. The Commissioner would, in turn, authorise the purchase based on the requisition received. On Monday, at a news conference, Guevarro said there will be an audit of the firearms and ammunition at the San Fernando Municipal Corporation and that policy changes would follow.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Wednesday spoke about the illegal activities—the alleged sale of guns from the municipal station—which has reportedly been occurring for about eight months.
The Express reported that the depth of the police probe into the killing of Eversley is far-reaching and also points to municipal police officers falsifying station records to cover up the stolen items.
The Express was told police are investigating the claim that Eversley was a key figure in these illegal activities and regularly brought men to the station, including a fellow municipal officer who is a suspect in her killing.
—Anna Ramdass
