Govt. pushes non-lethal weapons permits to cut gun licences

Apr 03, 2026 News

(Kaieteur News) –The Government of Guyana is moving ahead with plans to introduce non-lethal weapons permits as it grapples with an overwhelming demand for firearm licences.

This has resulted in a severely “clogged” system. The initiative, which is now in an advanced stage of review, is aimed at reducing the number of gun licences being issued while still allowing citizens to protect themselves.

In February, President Dr. Irfaan Ali disclosed that he had tasked the Ministry of Home Affairs with bringing amendments to cater for non-lethal but effective weapons. The announcement was made during the opening of the Guyana Police Force Officers’ Conference, where the Head of State painted a worrying picture of the current licencing system.

According to the President, he reviews more than 100 firearm licence appeals daily, an indication of the heavy backlog facing the administration. He noted that the Government is considering a “tiered and graduated” system that would better regulate access to weapons, while maintaining public safety.

“This phased approach will help meet the needs of everyday citizens while keeping our communities safe,” the President said.

Providing an update on Tuesday, Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond, confirmed that the proposal is now at an advanced stage. “We are currently reviewing that, and it is in an advanced stage to have those kinds of weapons issued,” Walrond said, explaining that the move is intended to ensure citizens can still feel protected without resorting to lethal firearms.

The push for alternatives comes against the backdrop of ongoing concerns about firearm safety and misuse. Only recently, a troubling incident surfaced involving a 10-year-old Georgetown primary school student, who reportedly took his father’s licenced firearm from home and carried it to school in his bag.

Investigations revealed that the weapon belonged to the child’s father, who had noticed it missing for several days but failed to report it to the police.

The incident has reignited concerns about how licenced firearms are stored and monitored.

Minister Walrond stressed that firearm holders must take full responsibility for their weapons.

“The fact that when you have a licence firearm, it’s a serious issue. It should always be kept on your person or it should be kept in somewhere that is safe,” she warned.

She was also quick to defend the Ministry’s licencing process, insisting that there is no room for careless approvals.

“The law requires for you to do strict scrutiny of every single applicant, which is what I did, since I have been in office, have done and continue to do. So you will not get reports of ad hoc licence being issued out of the office of the Minister of Home Affairs. They are all done well scrutinized for those who are done and they are done very carefully,” Minister Walrond explained.

The idea of limiting firearm access while promoting alternatives was first raised last year by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo. Jagdeo had warned of the dangers of issuing tens of thousands of firearm licences across the country.

“Now just imagine if you have to give out 50,000-gun licences in Guyana, what could happen? And often the weapons end up in the hands of criminals because they come into our home and they take the weapons, etc.,” he stressed.

Jagdeo also highlighted the need for transparency in the system, noting long delays often frustrate applicants and can open the door to corruption. “People have been waiting for years. We have to find a way addressing this and the president is looking into it personally. He’s looking into this matter to devise a system that would allow us to be responsive to people but without putting 50,000 guns in the hands of people,” he said.

He further called for a broader national discussion on the issue, stressing that it is not just a government problem. “It has to be dealt with once and for all and society has to deal with it, our society, not just a government,” Jagdeo declared.

With the proposal now nearing completion, the Government appears set to shift its approach to public safety, moving away from widespread firearm ownership and toward controlled, non-lethal alternatives.

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