AMNESTY APPEAL CONTINUES AS ...
Westmoreland leads in shootings, St James in murders
Published:Tuesday | November 8, 2022 | 12:08 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
There are further appeals for Jamaicans in the western end of the island to support the ongoing 14-day amnesty under which holders of illegal firearms can hand over the weapons without penalty.
The amnesty began on November 5 and will run until November 19, ahead of the imposition of harsher penalties under the new Firearms Prohibition and Restriction Act, which includes a minimum 15-year sentence for illegal possession.
Addressing Sunday’s Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Area Council Four meeting for the Hanover Eastern and Western constituencies, Senator Charles Sinclair urged Labourites to spread the message regarding the freedom from prosecution for surrendering weapons under the amnesty.
“For some strange reason, Jamaican youths believe that having a firearm is like having a cell phone, but it is not like having a cell phone,” he added.
On November 1, the police revealed that 652 illegal guns had been seized islandwide this year.
The vast majority of the island’s 1,329 murders recorded up to November 5 this year were committed with illegal guns. There were 1,027 shootings recorded across the island for the period.
Westmoreland heads the list of 19 police divisions with the most shootings with 128 incidents, a 14 per cent increase on the 112 recorded over the corresponding period last year.
Meanwhile, St James has been the most murderous division with 181 homicides, 1 35 per cent year-on-year increase.
Despite its good intention, some critics believe some gangsters will be fearful of turning over their weapons under the initiative.
Assistant Commissioner Clifford Chambers, head of the police’s Area One division, expressed hope that the amnesty would reap success.
“I know there might be trust issues, and I would want persons to consult an attorney to get some guidance if they have trust issues, but I really hope that those who are in possession of illegal firearms really accede to the amnesty request and turn in the illegal firearms,” Chambers told The Gleaner on Monday.
“I honestly hope the amnesty is effective because since the start of the year, we have recovered far more firearms than we had recovered in previous years,” Chambers added, noting that to date, 212 illegal guns had been seized in the Area One division encompassing St James, Hanover, Westmoreland, and Trelawny.