Police Force takes gun amnesty discussions to the community

The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) is stepping up its community interactions as it moves to inform the citizens of the pending implementation of a gun amnesty.

In a release, the RSVGPF said it wishes to notify the general public that a National Firearms (Gun) Amnesty will come into effect on Friday March 1, 2024 for 91 days and end on Friday May 31, 2004.

The objective of the amnesty is to enhance and improve community safety and security by reducing the ongoing threat of illegally held firearms and ammunition in the state, as well as reducing the likelihood of such firearms falling into the hands of criminals as a result of break-ins, theft, or accidental loss.

The National Firearms Amnesty seeks to achieve this objective by allowing persons the opportunity to surrender to the police firearms and ammunition that they hold without the benefit of a licence granted under Section 4 (3) of the Firearms Act, without fear of prosecution for contravention of the Firearms Act. The Amnesty also extends to replica or imitation firearms, ammunition, and any parts of firearms.

To this end, the RSVGPF and its partners will hold several town hall meetings and walkabouts in various communities to sensitize residents about the amnesty and other related issues. The table below shows the areas and times for the first set of meetings and walkabouts:

The police are urging residents in the communities identified to attend and participate in these sessions and help to remove illegal firearms from the hands of criminals and ‘off the streets’ of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.