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We do not issue firearms licences- Ministry of Home Affairs

Jan 20, 2012 News

 

The Ministry of Home Affairs says that while it is involved in the process leading up to the approval of firearm licences, it does not issue the licences.
The ministry’s stated position is in response to and an attempt to clear the air on recent statements made by the President of Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association, Patrick Harding, in sections of the media.
In a recent article in the local media, Harding stated that “several requests made to the Home Affairs Ministry for miners to train their own security officials have not been responded to.  That aside, the issuance of firearms is another issue awaiting the attention of the Home Affairs Ministry”.
The Ministry of Home Affairs described the statements as erroneous, which it strongly abhors.
According to the Ministry, its interest in seeking to support the mining community, particularly, as it relates to security, is evident in the many meetings convened at the Ministry and other levels, in the past.
It informed that over the last three years, the Ministry has issued “no objection” for firearm licences for approximately 35 miners/or dredge owners, some of whom live on the coastland, but work in the interior.
This amount, the Ministry said, does not include those approvals that would have been issued by the Guyana Police Force, independently.
It is to be noted that in some instances, multiple licences were issued, for both handgun and shotgun.
The Ministry of home affairs stressed that it is not in possession of applications for firearm licence from miners, submitted through the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association to the Ministry, for its consideration.
It however assured the mining community of its commitment to providing the highest level of security, possible, and welcomes the interest of miners to be integrally involved in this process.
Within the past year or so, Guyana’s interior has become the crime capital of the nation, leading the country in murders, although most of them are described as the disorderly or domestic type.
And with gold prices skyrocketing, armed robberies are also a major problem although the police have made progress in arresting several gang members who were making life miserable for miners.

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