Antigua : A “remarkable” 30 unlicensed guns were pulled off the streets over the past two months, following a number of sweeps by police. The amount is more than double the 14 unlicensed weapons confiscated between January and early September this year.
National Security Ministry Dr Errol Cort revealed the figures in an exclusive interview with the Media yesterday and pledged increased security measures to protect visitors and residents in Antigua & Barbuda.
He said out of the 30 weapons seized between September 12 and November 8, at least 15 were found at the home of one individual who runs a shooting range. Investigations into the discovery remain ongoing.
Despite the police netting that many weapons, gun crime continues to plague the community as reflected in statistics which show that seven of the eight murders for the year involved the use of a gun, while there were at least three shooting incidents this week alone.
“As National Security Minister, I am indeed concerned in respect of the apparent increase in shootings and gun related crime in Antigua,” Dr Cort said. “However, I have had discussions with the commissioner of police and his deputies and I’m assured the police are doing all in their powers to bring this situation under control.”
The minister added that with immediate effect, police, with assistance from the Defence Force, would be stepping up patrols across the country.
In addition to increasing general patrols, the areas experiencing a spike in gun crime would see even greater police presence within the communities, which would include Point, Villa and Gray’s Farm among others.
“The police, through (the) tactical unit, have sought to place officers in these areas that we are seeing an increase in shootings, so a number of police officers are in these areas operating,” the national security minister revealed. “(Thursday) night we were able to retrieve an illegal gun and ammunition and we are searching for a second individual … .”
The minister urged residents to lend support to the police so that they could solve and prevent crime while he pleaded for people who have or know someone who has unlicensed weapons and ammunition to turn them in to police.
For years, the national security minister has lamented the influx of guns into the country and said concerted efforts are needed among those protecting the country’s borders and ports of entry.
“We don’t manufacture guns … Guns are coming in and the first issue is to be able to deal with the porous nature of our borders … How do we prevent the wider problem? It takes a concerted effort from all the key stakeholders … It’ll take time because it costs money but government is moving in that direction,” Dr Cort said yesterday.
Recently, the Antigua & Barbuda Coast Guard was gifted two new vessels that would assist in patrolling the borders.
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