WHITEMAN... this is a general move to ensure that firearms are kept, owned and operated by persons who are efficient and responsible

THE Firearms Act is to be amended to allow for an independent authority to monitor the issuing and renewal of gun licences, fulfilling government's commitment last year to strip the constabulary of the function.

Minister of Information Senator Burchell Whiteman said the bill is to ensure that any irregularities which may have occurred in the past can be corrected, and that there is a body of persons of "high integrity" having the final responsibility for the issuance and renewals of the licences.

It will also increase the penalties for breaches of the Firearms Act, and will provide for the authority to have investigative powers to more effectively monitor the applications for licences.

There will be an appeal body, also comprising "very eminent persons", to deal with appeals brought by persons who feel aggrieved by their failure to be approved for licences.

The authority's investigative powers will help them to monitor, very carefully, the performance of those who hold licences.

The bill will also require an assessment of the fitness of the users of the licence to be determined, so that when these persons apply for a renewal they can demonstrate that they are capable of using a firearm.

"All of this is in support of a general move to ensure that firearms are kept, owned and operated by persons who are efficient and responsible in the use of them," Whiteman said.

Firearms licences are managed by the constabulary, but there have long been allegations that the process is riddled with corruption.

Following a request from opposition spokesman on national security Derrick Smith for an investigation into the issuing of firearms licences in 2002, former police commissioner Francis Forbes ordered an audit of gun licences.

A specific investigation was done at St Andrew North Division (Constant Spring) where there were allegations of rampant corruption in the issuance of gun licences.

But Forbes, before demitting office, complained that "we had a major difficulty in that persons who spoke to the investigators told them everything, but declined to give written statements. Some of the witnesses ran away afterwards and some of the firearm licensees who were being investigated ran away, too."

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