Stemming the illegal gun trade
Dear Editor,
Successive Governments have demonstrated that they lack the political will to do what is necessary to stem the trade in illegal guns which we blame for the escalating crime wave. Our security forces make the same lame excuses, among them blaming our vast coastline, for not being able to manage. So I often wonder what advice they are giving to our Government.
We are told that the authorities know of “over 145 illegal ports” through which these illegal guns and ammunition come into the country. Security Minster Mr Montague is telling us, among other things, that: “The acquisition of the two ships for the JDF and the purchase of a surveillance aircraft will help to prevent guns and ammunition from entering the country,” and that “we must choke off the supply”, Really now!
Since we’re already identified 145 illegal ports, why not monitor all vessels leaving our shores? Would it not make sense, and be cheaper in the long run, to train and employ a corps of fish/game wardens and station them 24 hours at these ports, and have all our fishing boats register when they leave and return to port?
The wardens would give a tag to each boat on their departure. The boat operators would be required to keep the tag on-board in case they are intercepted by the coastguard or marine police, and return the tag when they get back to home port. The crew of any boat found without a tag or outside of designated areas must be arrested and the police must be called to investigate any boat crew whose whereabouts cannot be accounted for.
It does not take a rocket scientist or a foreigner to tell us how to solve this. Our legislators must do what is necessary and pass relevant legislation to combat this gun trade.
Authnel Reid
reidaut@icloud.com