National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore says twenty-one illegal firearms have been recovered in Dominica so far this year, including four rifles and two shotguns.
He made the disclosure during the launch of the Missing Person Alert System on Monday.
Blackmoore commended police and Customs officers for their efforts to intercept weapons.
“Twenty-one firearms have been recovered so far, or used so far,” he said. “ And you’re talking about four rifles, two shotguns, and the rest, I think, pistols.”
According to him, among the pistols, they are convertible, which means they can be used as rifles, and they are semi-automatic, which he listed as very dangerous.
“And I want to commend the police and the customs officers for demonstrating that sense of seriousness,” he said.
Furthermore, Blackmoore stressed that those firearms can only do one thing, “ kill people.”
“And the reason why I make a reference to that, I got some information from the Chief of Police, as to the number of illegal firearms that have been intercepted so far for the year,” he stated.
Recently six firearms were recovered, one of which is a 7.62 rifle, said Blackmoore.
“This rifle is meant for the battlefield, and Dominica is not a place for that,” Blackmoore remarked. “Now there is no battlefield in Dominica. This is a beautiful, peaceful country, and as we move into the Creole Festival and the celebration of our independence as a nation, it is critical for us to welcome our visitors and our friends in an environment of peace.”
He mentioned the investment made in the procurement of scanners at the various ports of entry, saying, “those interventions are helping.”
While acknowledging the importance of due process and saying the government could not direct judges, he argued that the justice system had a responsibility to public safety.
The minister referred to previous gun amnesties and cash rewards for information as also being part of measures intended to encourage the surrender and recovery of illegal weapons.
He pledged continued support for police and Customs, while urging residents to resolve disputes peacefully.
