Cole Bay:--- United Peoples (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Jules James has expressed his concern over the level of gun crimes committed lately saying a gun amnesty should be considered in order to get guns off the street. Owning a firearm without a license is against the law and every gun removed from the street is a success story.The amnesty would be an incentive for individuals and an opportunity to hand in unwanted, unlicensed or illegal firearms as well as ammunition. This should be looked at from the perspective of being part of a wider firearms reduction strategy.
Persons who bring in a firearm would not be charged. The arrangement would be a sort of 'NO Questions Asked.' "It is imperative that we find ways to reduce crime and criminal activities in our multi-cultural society through intervention and transformation," the MP pointed out.
James intends to work with Parliament, the Minister of Justice, the Chief Public Prosecutor and the Chief Police Commissioner to arrange the grace period, since this would have to be regulated.
James added that the private sector should be brought into the fold where this becomes a public-private sector initiative with the latter providing the cash reward for firearms and ammunition that are brought in. There is at least one company that has committed to this initiative by offering US$1000. MP James has consulted other businesses and has also received some assurances of commitment to contribute toward this project as well.
The logistics would have to be sorted out, such as these items being turned in at the Police Station on certain days and by a specific cut-off date noting that all monies raised would be to reward people and that the process would be a free ride for non-functioning guns.
MP Jules James says that the country needs to also work with other regional countries with respect to the prevalence of illegal firearms and ammunition in perpetrating acts of crime and violence in the region, and its unintended effects, including the loss of life, human suffering, and the spread of fear and insecurity within society.
"One of our immediate priorities should be in cutting off the flow of illegal guns into the island. We are not going forward if we retrieve five guns in our amnesty project and 25 more guns come through our borders.
"Our Caribbean societies have had easy access to illicit small arms, light weapons and ammunition. The Caribbean Basin does not manufacture, export or re-export these weapons, nor import them on a large scale," MP Jules James said.
James says that last time he checked, Sint Maarten does not have any legalized gun trader but yet our island is infiltrated by these illegal weapons. It's as if we have a fire arms race, no wonder the spate of gun related incidents.
"Small arms and light weapons was an issue discussed at the 32nd Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in St. Kitts & Nevis back in July. A regional approach is needed to deal with this issue in order to protect our communities," MP Jules James said on Sunday.
James added that since foreign affairs falls under the responsibility of Holland, Sint Maarten should bring up the matter with respect to the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons at the United Nations (UN) level.
"The only international process that addresses the illicit trade in arms is the 2001 United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons. In 2012, a review of the aforementioned programme of action will take place at the 2012 United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty.
"Sint Maarten should discuss the approach with our other partners in the Kingdom, such as Aruba and Curacao and then discuss it with Holland and the Kingdom approach can be brought forward to the UN with this particular subject. Sint Maarten and the other Kingdom partners do not have a seat in the UN, only Holland. UN treaties and conventions are binding on the Dutch Kingdom which also includes Sint Maarten.
"These two approaches, the gun amnesty and dealing with the global picture of small arms and light weapons at a higher level are two initiatives worth considering and working on," MP Hon. Jules James concluded.
MP James attended a number of parliamentary meetings with respect to crime during the past two weeks. After mulling over the information provided, he has offered two suggestions for public discussion.
