President of the Dominica Association of Evangelical Churches (DAEC), Pastor Randy Rodney, is suggesting putting in place a ‘middle person’ if there is to be a genuine gun amnesty in Dominica.
He was speaking in light of a series of violent gun-related crimes on the island which left three men dead.
Speaking on the local radio station, Q95, he also expressed concerns that Dominican men are not able to communicate with each other.
He is of the opinion that people with illegal firearms will not surrender them, even if there is an amnesty because they fear reprisals.
“People who have illegal weapons, even if there is an amnesty where they can bring it to the armory, they are not going to do that,” he stated. “They will not do that because they fear reprisals and even if you say that they would not be charged at the time, obviously somebody’s brain is going to tell them that if I take it to the police and the police is responsible for looking at me, they are going to be looking, their eyes are going to be on me.”
According to Pastor Rodney, this where a middle person comes in.
“So if you have an amnesty, a genuine amnesty, you must have a person whom you trust, who these people have confidence will not reveal their names and nature,” he stated.
He is concerned that men in Dominica are not able to communicate with each other in a proper way.
“Our men don’t know how to converse with other people far less other men,” he said. “So that if you find two men who are short on language in terms of their ability to communicate effectively it’s going to always end up in a row, which now that row speaks with guns.”
I would like to add that Pastor Rodney and fellow clergy personnel can be part of that brain trust to collect weapons in a gun buy back or amnesty program. The laws on the books, enforcement of laws and prosecution of crimes must also be strengthened to signal to loved ones that justice will be served. This will serve to alleviate the need for “Vigilante Justice.”
For the first time in forever, I am siding with Pastor Rodney. I would add to that, holding some open meetings with young men that are non-religious and teaching them how to communicate with each other, using proven harm-reduction techniques. We do it all the time at work to help resolve internal staff/management conflict and throughout my years of employment, not one weapon has been fired to address a dispute at work. Pastor Rodney identified the problem. Now let’s support him in operationalizing a solution.
You need a non-profit organization named “Safe Streets” – a group of intelligent guys dressed in a sportish uniform clothing who work the streets in Roseau up to late night. The objective is to intervene and mediate arguments in order to bring about a speedy and peaceful resolution to the problems before they escalate and spiral uncontrollably. The goal is to restore common sense and peace in the troubled communities. The organization should be funded by both the Government and the private sectors as well. Good food for thought.
its a well known fact that criminals NEVER hand in there guns during a buy back or am amnesty. buy backs and amnesties only serve to take guns from law abiding citizens who will only use them for hunting or home/ self defence.. you all honestly think that them drug man will give up all there guns? your a fool if u believe they will. you think the drug cartel hit man ( the sicario ) that is currently on island taking out drug dealers that steal or double cross his boss is gonna walk in and hand over his gun?
Change the laws, 50 years to life will make you think twice of owning a gun or killing someone.
Dominica gun issue will not go away unless they change the law on crime. You cannot have a murderer walking the streets days or months after he commits a crime. You have people nursing injuries and the perpetrator is out on bail. For starters if you murder someone you should not be granted bail. The laws in Dominica is not deterring crime it’s encouraging it. You have people shooting people in broad daylight on an island of 70 thousand people and in a few months the system permits them to post bail to kill again. Putting a police officer on every street corner in Dominica is impossible. Dominica needs to protect it’s citizens and visitors by taking these criminals off the streets imposing harsh sentences. I have never seen a gun walking the streets of Roseau. They need to have a parole and probation system in place. If you cannot control yourself on the streets we will keep you behind bars until you can show us you are reformed. Guns and knives don’t kill people. People kill…
Pastor this is a very good idea I mention this a long time ago. However, this has to be done by law enforcement. And to reinforce the rule there are criteria for the amnesty. first there must be a time-line that all who has a legal gun can drop it out in a designated location no question ask for a duration of time, after the time expires there should be an implementation of laws to enforce the rule, again their should be a law enforcement agency to follow-up any policy that is in place. This should be done between Government official and law enforcement in a small group. If they need my opinion they can contact me via- email.
You idiot,, you think people are going to give up their guns nothing? The Government needs a gun buy back program. Who the hell cares about amnesty, what does that do to someone who illegally owns a gun. If you really want to make an impact buy the guns from the criminals and increase jail time.
I commend the pastor for offering a suggestion to bring some semblance of sanity to the escalating, out of control gun violence. We rely too much on politicians to lead the fight against wrong doings. Many of the protests and resistance should come from civil society. I’m not a ardent supporter of gun amnesty. This has been tried in many jurisdictions and has failed repeatedly. It’s however better to attempt something than to sit lazily on your laurels like the relevant authorities have done. Only when a government is inclusive, willing to accept ideas from a broad section of the population, including the opposition parties, will the country experience progress and prosperity for posterity.
So Pm, you and Blackmore did not k ow Alireza Monfared was a wanted criminal running from justice then? So why did you help him hide by giving him a Dominica passport? Why didn’t you send your police to arrest him since you knew where he was hiding and why he was hiding? Why then should I believe the government is interested in the safety and security of Dominica when they helped a wanted criminal hide from justice for six months?
I totally agree with you sir, great suggestion.
In Mark 10:25 Jesus said It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” . Similarly I say it is easier for me to believe that dictators around the world will finance and arm their supporters with illegal guns than to put any serious gun amnesty in place, especially when those dictators know their future is in trouble and they need their supporters to shed blood to defend them. I am talking about countries that are governed by dictator but I don’t believe we have a dictator in Dominica
Let’s be real pas. Randy. Do you really believe that Skerrit and Blackmore interested in gun amnesty with an election that many believe he will lose? Look pas. Randy during the 2014 election Skerrit is on record telling laborites in Wesley that if they vote uwp, the blood of the people would be on them. Not too long ago the commissioner of police made mention of guns that arrived in Dominica from Florida and according to him, they knew who was responsible. Tony Astaphan, the official voice and face of the DLp told us that the guns did not come in a brown or red barrel but in a BLUE barely. Has anyone in Dominica, especially the person (s) been arrested or brought in for questioning? What we have seen from this cabal is, if someone is a uwp supporter and has a license gun they will go after them but if you are a dlp and known to have an unlicensed gun like your brother bubbles it’s ok. Dlp illegal guns are for the battle of armagadon, after Skerrit is voted out
In all the mess,chaos, confusion that this conuntry has degenerated into under the lazy Skerrit led DLP, this man/pastor Rodney,has resolutely and stridently stood up for denouncing the bad and elevating the good..Well fone Sir!!! Many pastors glibly preach “God did not give me a spirit of fear”,,but their actions or inactions suggest that they are in perpetual state of fear. Shame on them !!!..Many are even purchased ($$$$$$$$$$$$$$$). Because the police force is largely a broken institution since 2004, I tend to agree with the pastor ..Some of these political officers ,exhibit diarrhoea of the tongue,therefore the public distrust them.They talk ,and talk,even of their incompetences..I am all for designated middlemen to help to reduce the number of illegal guns on island
Skerrit Must Go
Skerrit Must Go
Lazy Skerrit Must Go Now
Sing ? pastor for your position. % again your dislikes for norms and stability is outside in the cold. Sounding like a old washing machine that goes round and round continually that’s like your personality. When it ☔️ Is raining you blame, when the sun ☀️ is hot, Maria, shooting, landslides, thief, ? anything at all blame SKERRIT. As a functional being what are you doing to better the lives of Dominicans? It’s over 2 years since you are ? a song with no lyrics and it isn’t resonating try a different song writer because it’s stale and boring.
At least this looks like an attempt for positive action. I hope something gets done and fast. Trust comes at a high price because should it go wrong then the repercussions could be severe for our little island for years to come.
May God guide you all.
Bless you Pastor Rodney and well said. I concur with what you propose. We hope that the authourity concerned will listen and consult you for how best to implement and offer support and confidence to the police authority in charge..
Gods Guidance.
Ya Satan and his acolyte, the slicker trying to change his screen name again. What do you have to offer regarding the fire in Marigot. The people elected you to be there in times of need a phone call isn’t all’