KINGSTON, Jamaica — Chief Executive Officer of the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) Dr Kenroy Wedderburn will demit office on November 1.

Wedderburn had indicated from early September his desire to depart the FLA to pursue new career goals, the Ministry of National Security said in a release today.

He is credited with the streamlining and improvement of the operational efficiencies of the FLA over the past four years into a model agency of the ministry.

Under his stewardship, the FLA reduced the wait time for firearm licensing applications from approximately two years to less than 12 months.

The Ministry of National Security has expressed its appreciation to Wedderburn.

Meanwhile, the ministry said it has assigned Director of Protective Security Lincoln Allen to act as CEO of the FLA.

Allen, a small arms control policy expert, is the Government officer who deals with all local and international policy matters pertaining to firearms. He was an instrumental member of the team tasked with the establishment of the FLA in March 2006, and served on the Board of the FLA between 2010 and 2012, the ministry said.

The Firearm Licensing Authority is mandated to provide transparency and integrity in the regulation of firearms and ammunitions used by Jamaican residents.