National Security and Justice Minister, Rayburn Blackmoore, has vowed that government will make all resources available to the police to “hunt down criminal elements” and rid the island of illegal firearms.
He made the statement in light of the shooting death of Elio Edwards at Macoucherie on Easter Monday.
Blackmoore described such incidents as “unacceptable” carried out by “bandits who do no apparently value life.”
“This sort of action is certainly unacceptable and cannot be allowed to continue,” he stated.
He noted that the fundamental responsibility of the state is to protect its citizens.
“If therefore the state fails to take appropriate and decisive action, the possibility of a lawless state, and of course an environment of trepidation, can emerge,” Blackmoore said.
He noted that the state will “waste no time and will provide the police with all requisite resources to hunt down these criminal elements and to rid our streets of illegal firearms.”
“We have to ensure that Dominica remains one of the most peaceful, if not the most peaceful, country in the region,” he remarked.
The National Security Minister also said event organizers must take a look at security plans whenever they stage activities.
“There is also the responsibility on the part of persons who organize those events,” he stated. “At least to sit with the police and put in place the proper security plan that will guarantee the safety of persons who come to enjoy themselves.”
He pointed out that proper plans, such as the presence of the Red Cross, must be in place in case of an emergency during such events.
“So those kinds of protocol have to be established and followed,” Blackmoore said.
Edwards died from gunshot wounds sustained in the incident.
One man is in police custody assisting in the investigation.
gun control is not an option, the public has no idea where this road is taking it, you let them impliment this first step and who knows weh it will end, it is a true fact that where gun control laws are applied the crime rate rises cause people cant protect themselves, ask the v enezuelans whats going on allnow since chavez took the guns about 10 yrs ago, it is now the most dangerous country in the world, if not first place but second place none the less it is always in the top 5 and all the other countries and states weh this is applied the results are the same, cant people see this? blackmore has no idea of the streets or what the people think, its not in their interest, cuz gun control proves more profit for militarization of the police force as we see with the task force and drug squad these guys step out armed to the teeth and constantly disobey the civil rights act we presently have in dominica, this needs to be debated in public office or house of assembly.
peace
I have some advise for you Mr Minister of National Security; (One) water-up up the gun legislation that was watered-down when the last fire-arms act was passed in parliament; it’s got no teeth and cannot bite. (Two) advise our Police officers (Task Force and Drug Squad) to be more pro-active and show up in full force, at more places where the public is likely to gathered in large numbers such as the event at Macoucherie. It worked in the past and can work now; your presence and no nonsense, robust, approach is a deterrent to the criminally minded. It’s good to provide the Police Force with all the resources it may require but what good is it if the approach is to mediate only after the crimes have been committed.
To Mr Blackmoore .
Hello and good morning my people. Well Mr Blackmoore you made a number of important statements that you would like to implement therefore I have those following recommendations. First start with changing the Bail Act as follows. No Bail for Murder,Robbery,Rape,Kidnapping ,Assault First Degree, Assault Second Degree committed with a dangerous instrument,Burglary First Degree and Burglary Second Degree if the victim is home. Also no bail if you commit a new crime if you are on Bail for a previous crime. Second we must review our Penal Code and our Criminal Procedure Law and update it as needed to reflect current trends in crime. Third the Police Department must properly train a Crime Scene Unit to properly collect,Store and present evidence in Court .
I previously asked how did these D/cans get guns? How did they get into the country? For a country which does not have a gun shop, I am shocked that some people and many of them have guns which they use to maim and kill their fellow people.
Mr. Blackmoore you must also issue stringent directives for the workers who are responsible for searching the luggage of passengers who travel by air and sea in addition to searching them to ensure that they do not get away with illegally bringing guns to D/ca.
Up to this point the Law has been too lax. Whenever they use guns and are also found with guns, let the punishment fit the crime.
Yes be tough! You must also increase the punishment for those who use guns during a robbery and who use it to harm and murder their fellow D/cans.
All guns should be licensed. When they want their gun licensed, you should ensure your staff inquire about the origin of the gun and how it was obtained. A gun license should not be issued to everyone.
Before you start talking your foolishness, please update us on the following outstanding matters: The GON Emmanuel fire bombing at his home and the “Monga Freeman murder.” To date, no one has been held accountable.
What about the homeless man who was set ablaze in Pottersville?
Start with these three cases before you open your mouth again.
Additionally, Levi needs to be fired!
The policing model in Dominica is out of touch and out of step. Put them on patrol in the community instead of playing dominoes at their respective stations.
Equip them with small three cylinder vehicles, bicycles and other methods of transportation so that they are always present. You have quite a bit to do before you can “Talk Tough” on crime. Presently, all you’re talking is pure foolishness.
Finally, reinstate “Hanging immediately.” To ……. with the Mercy Committee and those “False Prophet…
requisite……requisite….lol
no law no constitution, fish rotten from the head first
There is a stark difference between talking tough on crime and being tough on crime My Dear Minister Blackmore. Your party had fifteen years to talk tough. I guess it did not work. But what’s a criminal to do when a country’s leader publicly declares that no law can keep him back anyway. We now have magistrates granting bail to some alleged illegal gun owners, people who commit murder or possess drugs. Talking tough on crime is cheap. Being tough on crime on the other hand is an expensive undertaking that should include harsher sentences for all individuals who commit similar offences. And all criminals should be punished including those who hide their ill gotten assets in modest or expensive houses, cars, land, hotels and the list goes on
Mr. Blackmoore,
while gun related crimes are on the rise the restrictions, for law abiding citizens, to own a liscensed firearm has seriously and arbitrarily been increased. It is admirable that resources are “now’ being made available to rid the land of illegal firearm.
Fact: Criminals have guns
Fact: Guns Defend against guns more efficiently
Fact: Law-abiding citizens who are prevented from aquiring guns legally will opt to get it illegally (thereby increasing the number of criminals in the country)
Fact: Dominica is already a lawless state for many citizens
Advice: Assist law-abiding citizens to maintain their law-abiding; help them to help themselves
Advice: Lawlessness fades away when citizens are empowered. An empowered poeple will develop and empowered country.
Advice: Find out from the citizens what the fundamental responsibility of the state is.
whoever you are……you are a well educated person I must say. You have hit the nail right on its tete. You could not have said it better.
“He noted that the fundamental responsibility of the state is to protect its citizens.” Blackmoore. that is just the usual cheap talk of the DLP. Boy listen to what you said and answer the following: 1. Isn’t GON Emmanuel a citizen of the state? 2. If yes, are you sincerely satisfied that the state has really done its best to ensure that the person or persons that set his house on fire on Christmas of 2010, are brought to justice? 3. Can you honestly tell us that the state has no idea of who committed such crime?
Stop using the elderly couple as your political scapegoat. When are your guys going to stop taking low and dirty blow. Can you hold the government responsible for EVERYONE’S criminal behavior. SOUR GRAPES!
Stop using the elderly couple as your political scapegoat. When are your guys going to stop taking low and dirty blow. Can you hold the government responsible for EVERYONE’S criminal behavior. SOUR GRAPES! In the best interest of the country come forward with the information that you are sitting on and make sure you make it public or shut the front door. Why DNO always publish the propaganda
‘Same Old’ what a pathetic response. GEEME was not part of the government team that came on radio night after night to insinuate that the same OLD ones you speak of were the ones who may have been responsible for burning their own house; so to support that you must be sick!; Instead of responding to GEEME you must respond to the Minister in that context. and while I am at it GEEME was not part of the government but the Minister was and still is who sat there an allowed a Police Chief to give back an unlicensed firearm to a crab hunter in the North even when the firearm was a court exhibit; but I guess you will use the same OLD line that I am political because I am taking shots at a poor Old crab hunter; all you have no shame boy!!! one
Firstly, my condolences goes out to the young man and his family who lost his life. No matter how bad I heard he was no one should EVER take the life of another. Dominicains, presently Mr Blackmoore is trying to find ways and means to resolve the matter of all the crimes that is happening in our beautiful island. Let us all put our hearts together in giving him the support to eradict this problem.
It is not the guns alone in relation to crimes which is the major problem mr.blackmoore but the laws which are just not suitable at all to suit the devastation which is made by these worthless criminals..there are less murder cases in dominica than burglery with weapons ,such as those that were done in the gas station ,suki’s and at people’s home.each criminal should have their finger prints taken when by law,which makes it easier to trace them because as soon as they are caught they are let out free from the court to start again..hence the reason why the population have no trust in the gov’t , police officers can see that the gov’t is not showing any respect to the effort that is put into catching criminals,because in a short space of time the criminals are nagging the police who arrested them..now the criminals are shooting back at the police ,lost bullets might kill both the police and civilians,if the gov’t fail to protect the people,who will? the laws must changed to deter…
blackie tell me who you hanging with in mahaut . good citizen or bad citizen
Jesus Christ didn’t only hangout with good citizens.
so you saying blackie is like jesus Christ. I so sorry for you
That is not the point and you know it. He is in a position of ‘trust’ and as such should not hang out with people of shady character as a matter of principle. Otherwise what message does it give to law abinding citizen? Furthermore, the root to all evil in Dominica is the ‘underground economy’ in Roseau consisting of drug dealers, prostitutes and their pimps and people of means frequenting them. I guarantee you once the police puts constant pressure on these individuals and places, things will be improving trasticly.
Blackmoore I agree with everything you said. Would just like to see real action. You guys tired offer amnesty for guns and nobody brings anything. Then all goes quiet. Every week make a raid. We all know who them bad boys are. Just don’t beat people to death.
Well, well, well!!! It is very interesting that Mr Blackmoore is concerned about the safety of our citizens here in Dominica. The reason a great deal of my friends and acquaintances are starting to feel unsafe here is because of the Juridical system in the courts here!! Firstly murderers are allowed to go free on some technicality take the case of Joe Costello murdered at Pagua Bay. The three men who were apprehended for his murder were all set free because of lack of evidence that got lost by the police!! Other people who are accused of murder are allowed bail!! You now have four policemen and one police woman charged with murdering a person in the cell while in their custody! This happened in August and it has taken all this time for the policemen and one woman to be charged with either murder or manslaughter, one policeman to my knowledge has been granted bail! How can young people be afraid of the law here?? When no justice is seen to be done???
Blackmoore you and this regime are jokers,i cant take this serious,these same criminals commit these acts then give them bail,so please man
Talk is very very cheap Blackie. You all must set the example so the youth can follow, Until politics is eradicated from within the ranks policing in Dominica will remain a damn joke. When monkey see, monkey will do.
Assertive, NOT Aggressive!
For once I agree with the Minister. I would suggest that we start having detector/screening equipment, like thy at use airports at every event. I don’t mind the inconvenience if it stops people carrying weapons into public places.
Dream on as long as this regime is in power dominica will stay lawless.
That’s the only positive comment I have seen.
u right because you just compared blackie with jesus christ… that was idiotic not positive