KINGSTON, Jamaica – The People’s National Party (PNP) is expressing concern about news emerging that the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) has granted gun licences to individuals who are deemed to be involved in lottery scamming, gun running and other serious crimes.

The PNP today called for the immediate removal of the leadership of the FLA and the Board of Directors as well as a full and complete investigation by the police, and where breaches are found those responsible be brought to book.

“Placing licensed guns in the hands of criminals is taking sides with the lawless against law-abiding citizens. With the nation gripped in fear on account of the high murder rate, this development suggests that this government, while making pronouncements against crime and violence is actually supporting the efforts of known criminal elements by providing them with legal firearms,” the party said in a release today.

The party alleged that when the former FLA board was disbanded and a new body appointed last year, known political activists were called to serve.

According to the PNP, it pointed out at the time that this development was opening the floodgates for corruption and partisan influences to take over the very sensitive operations of the FLA.

“The removal of the technical leadership of the agency, and replacing it with political facilitators, including three former JLP candidates as chairman, deputy chairman and CEO, ensures that the decisions of the organisation will always be suspect,” the PNP release said.

“We, therefore, call on the Minister of National Security, the Hon Robert Montague and the Prime Minister, the Most Hon Andrew Holness to act urgently and responsibly in this situation.”