Black Immigrant Daily News

A two-week gun amnesty is to take effect on Saturday, November 5 following the approval of the Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction and Regulation) (Firearms Amnesty) Order 2022 by the Senate, on Friday, November 4.

The amnesty is slated to end at midnight on Saturday, November 19.

The Order, which will facilitate the amnesty, was moved by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator Matthew Samuda. It was approved by the House of Representatives on November 1.

Samuda said the amnesty is the last opportunity for those who hold or are in possession of illegal firearms or ammunition, to avoid significant prison sentences, and forms an important milestone in Jamaica’s fight against illegal guns.

He urged those possessing illegal firearms or ammunition to make full use of the amnesty.

“There is significant data… to show that members of gangs cannot be rehabilitated in three and a half years, which has been the average of many of our firearm sentences; this changes that,” the minister said.

Matthew Samuda (file photo)

“This gives us a fresh start in the war against illegal firearms. It is not a panacea, it’s not a silver bullet, it’s a part of a suite of investments, a suite of interventions (and) legislation, which must come together for us to break the back of this scourge,” Samuda added.

Breaches of the new Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction and Regulation) Act, 2022, which is now in effect, will result in penalties ranging from 15 years to life imprisonment.

The minister said once the amnesty expires, the full force of the law is expected to be applied to anyone found in possession of an illegal firearm or ammunition.

Samuda stated that firearm amnesties, such as the one that is the subject of the Order, are not unique to Jamaica, because they have been used successfully around the world as an operational tool to reduce the high levels of armed violence resulting from the proliferation of firearms and ammunition.

He further said for the last 25 years, Jamaica recorded, on average, 1,270 murders annually, the vast majority of the homicides have been committed with illegal firearms, adding that the firearm is the weapon of choice for murders and other acts of crime and armed violence in Jamaica.

The minister said since 2018, the security forces have taken more than 3,200 illegal firearms from the streets, and in excess of 53,000 rounds of ammunition. Each year, the forces have seized upwards of 625 firearms.

He added that as at October 31, 2022, a total of 652 firearms had been seized, representing an 11 per cent increase over the 585 that were recorded for the same period in 2021.

Peter Bunting (file photo)

“I want to emphasise that the aim of this measure is not to reveal the identities of the persons who comply with the amnesty. The amnesty is also intended to provide an opportunity for licence holders who are in possession of expired authorisations to surrender their weapons to the (Firearm Licensing) Authority (FLA),” he said.

The conditions for the surrender of firearms or ammunition are outlined in the Order. These may be handed over to a sub-officer or senior sub-officer on duty at any police station; any designated officer at a Firearms Licensing Authority (FLA) location; or to an attorney-at-law on behalf of an individual seeking the amnesty, for delivery to the nearest police station.

Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, Peter Bunting, said the Opposition is in support of all efforts to tackle the issue of crime in the country, “so long as the methods employed are within the ambit of our laws and constitution.”

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The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has issued Government of Jamaica (GoJ) email accounts to justices of the peace (JPs) to improve the public’s access to justice services.

The GoJ email addresses went live following a virtual launch recently, and thereby allows members of the public to contact JPs using the address format: firstname.lastname@jp.gov.jm.

In encouraging JPs to buy into the digital age and to not be left behind, Minister of Justice, Delroy Chuck, explained that the new email addresses will increase access to the services they offer.

“The more means of communication JPs have, the better, but more importantly, if JPs use this new email address, there will be greater communication between the ministry, custodes, JPs and the citizens of Jamaica. It will increase accessibility, as there will be one email address everyone will know,” said Chuck.

Also speaking at the launch, Minister of Science, Energy and Technology (MSET), Daryl Vaz commented on the Justice Ministry’s efforts to increase access to justice.

“This email system is directly aligned with our efforts to facilitate digital access and inclusion for a better Jamaica. The inclusion of technology into the Jamaican justice system further enhances the streamlining and digitisation of the services of the Government for effective governance, transparency and accountability – essential pillars for our advancement as a society,” said Vaz.

Additionally, Vaz highlighted the partnership with MOJ and MSET through the National Broadband Initiative that has resulted in the provision of internet connectivity in almost all parish courts across the island.

The Government Official Email Account initiative is intended to increase accessibility to, and communication with, JPs, as well as to strengthen their capacity to manage their communication to increase productivity in their functions.

Custos of St Thomas, Marcia Bennett, encouraged JPs to utilise the email services, and spoke optimistically of the expansion of services JPs will be able to offer by using the new communication tool.

“This (medium) will facilitate improved communication between justices and the people of Jamaica. JPs will now be able to reach places where some of us can’t go, and link with organisations and communities we interact with,” said Bennett.

“I encourage all JPs to log on to this new tool, as it will help to manage time, save more on resources, and propel and expand the services (that are) offered by justices of the peace,” continued Bennett.

There are over 9,000 JPs commissioned island-wide who are constituted, empowered and governed by the Justices of the Peace Act, 2018.

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Three Barbados Community College (BCC) students pursuing studies in tourism are recipients of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) Tourism Development Scholarship.

The trio include: Ana-Melissa Roach who is pursuing an Associate Degree in Applied Science – Culinary Arts, Hannah Benjamin, who is an Associate Degree in Applied Science – Hospitality student and Chrisana Williams who is studying an Associate Degree in Applied Science with a specialty in Tourism and Travel.

The $10, 000 scholarship which was launched this May, in partnership with the Jean and Norma Holder Hospitality Institute of BCC, is accessible to students pursuing further education in hospitality and tourism.

While congratulating the recipients in a ceremony at the Hastings, Christ Church institute, BHTA chairman, Renee Coppin spoke about the importance of investing in the human resources of the tourism sector, especially following the tumultuous COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are excited because a lot of you know that right now the industry coming out of COVID is suffering from a number of deficits in terms of business coming in. We have lost good people and we may not have people coming at the pace to replace them.

“It is especially important to us that we invest in the future of this industry and this industry is people-driven and people-centric and so you are very important. The role you are playing now in pursuing these studies [and] the role you are going to play in this industry in ensuring that it continues to be a major economic driver for this island are very, very critical,” Coppin remarked.

Students able to apply for the scholarship include those studying an Associate Degree in Applied Science and Culinary Arts – they will receive $3, 500 per year over two semesters. Additionally, students pursuing an Associate Degree in Applied Science with a specialty in Hospitality Studies will receive $3, 000 a year over two semesters, this also applies to those studying the Associate Degree with Applied Tourism or Travel .

The scholarships will cover books, petty fees and uniforms.

Students applying for the scholarship will be required to be studying full-time or part-time with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

BCC principal Annette Alleyne, thanked BHTA for the timely collaboration. She noted that although the programmes offered at the Jean and Norma Holder Institute were “world-class”, it featured some of the more expensive programmes offered at the BCC, which deterred cash-strapped students from continuing their studies.

“The offer of these scholarships is not only timely but is one that would allow any prospective students who mainly have financial challenges to aspire to becoming enrolled in the training of these programmes.”

“The programmes here are already quality programmes but that financial assistance, especially in this current economic environment will be critical to allowing students to continue their studies, or as one of the recipients said ‘hassle free’.”

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Vidéo Grand JT des Territoires

Retrouvez, chaque semaine, le « Grand JT des Territoires » de Cyril Viguier, diffusé sur TV5 Monde, en partenariat avec France-Antilles.

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