Source: Loop Caribbean
Residents and citizens of St Vincent and the Grenadines, who possess illegal firearms, now have a chance to turn over their weapons without any questions being asked.
Photo: Royal St Vincent Police Force
The National Firearms Amnesty (NFA) 2024 began on Friday and will run until May 31, 2024.
The NFA is a program run by the government in collaboration with the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) aimed at bringing a sense of order and security to the multi-island nation.
“The Amnesty seeks to remove illegal/illicit firearms from off the streets, and from the hands of criminals. The objective is to improve the safety and security of our citizens and visitors,” RSVGPF said.
“The Amnesty is a ‘No questions ask’ and ‘No prosecution’ initiative. Persons who hand over their illegal guns during the specified period will not be prosecuted or questioned about the firearm. It is not a ‘buy-back’ initiative either. No one will be paid for handing over an illegal firearm.”
Anyone with an illegal firearm can hand over their weapons to the nearest police station or a minister of religion, head teacher, justice of the peace, parliamentarians/politicians, lawyer/solicitors or an authorised firearms dealer.
Last year, police seized 37 illegal guns, some of which are suspected to have been used by criminals who committed the country’s 55 murders.