Deputy Commissioner says police have ‘things under control’ on crime for 2025

The Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) is taking an “extremely” serious stance on anything to do with firearms in 2025.

“…whether they have or do not have, for 2025, once you threaten anyone with a firearm, we are going to take drastic action…” Deputy Commissioner of Police, Frankie Joseph said on Monday, January 6, 2025 during the police ‘On the Beat’ programme on NBC Radio.

The Deputy Commissioner said the police would no longer be advising civil action on anything to do with a firearm, and persons who as much as mention the use of a firearm would be dealt with by the law.

The veteran lawman said that there are too many firearm offences being committed in SVG and the police are doing everything in their power to control incidents in which firearms can be used to offend.

He stressed also that licensed firearm holders should exercise caution and only operate within the extent of the law when it comes to their weapon, underlining that threats mentioning firearms would be treated very seriously even if the person does not brandish or possess a weapon.

Last year this country recorded 54 homicides; there were 55 in 2023.

Of the 109 homicides, over 90 per cent were firearm related.

In an effort to combat gun crimes, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves announced last December that SVG will soon establish a Gun Intelligence Unit. The proposed unit will work along with Major Crimes Unit to tackle gun crimes.

Deputy Commissioner Joseph reminded that last year, there was a firearm amnesty that ran from March 1 to May 31, that saw 19 firearms and 300 rounds of ammunition being taken off the streets. Apart from that the police seized 31 firearms and 2996 rounds of ammunition, and several persons were charged .

“….so all in all, even though it was a very challenging year for us, we managed at the end of the year, to get our things together and pull back what was taking place…,” Joseph said, while noting that the country was on track “to easily touch 60 homicides” but the police managed to stem the flow.

“I want to assure the public that this year we have things under control going forward,” the lawman promised.

Up to the time of going to press two homicides had so far been recorded for this year, both occurring on Thursday, January 2, 2025, and both gun related. The first was Albert Lorenzo Lewis, a 63-year-old farmer and welder of Hopewell, and the second, Fountain resident, Andrew “Gringo” Williams who died at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) after he was shot in Glen.

Eros Cain, a 64 year old chauffeur was arraigned at the Serious Offences Court last Monday, January 6, 2025 in relation to Williams’ death.