Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has sent a stern warning to illegal firearm holders in Dominica, noting that his government is “very serious” about the presence of illegal firearms on the island.
His comments came while addressing a press conference held at the Ministry of Finance Conference Room on Monday.
“In respect to illegal firearms, let me say it very clearly, and let me warn everybody in Dominica who is in possession of an illegal firearm, we are very serious about the presence of illegal firearms,” he said. “Illegal firearms [are] the most dangerous thing. It is a global challenge because the majority of homicides you are having is through illegal firearms.”
The Prime Minister said his government is working with the United States to address the source of these firearms, “but we in Dominica we have to address the handling of those firearms.”
Just yesterday a man identified as Kimon Emmanuel succumbed to injuries as a result of gunshot wounds to his upper torso following a shooting incident that occurred in Roseau, while another male is a patient at the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital (DCFH) nursing gunshot injuries relating to that same incident.
“I continue to speak to people about the dangers of having illegal firearms,” he noted. “This is something we have to get rid of and my urge to people is that those of you who have them, you need to dispose of them.”
Skerrit continued, “We need to get it to the police so that it can be properly disposed of.”
He added, “I say to a lot of young people that this illegal firearm that you have may very well be the one that will kill you or kill a relative of yours.”
Skerrit further warns that if the police are aware of anyone in possession of an illegal firearm that individual will be under intense scrutiny from law enforcement.
“I have said to the police, I do not want them going around harassing people for marijuana, but if we know you have an illegal firearm you certainly will be harassed by the law,” he warned.
Meanwhile, he believes that the court needs to play its part as it relates to fines and sentences that parliament has put in place by legislation.
“Because that has to be a societal effort to eradicate the presence of illegal firearms in the country,” Skerrit remarked. “We must never come to a point where we do not feel safe in our country. We must never come to a point where we feel uneasy in our country.”
The Prime Minister added that Dominica is very peaceful, “[and] we need to maintain this, but for us to maintain it every one of us must play our part…”
“The government has a role to play, yes the police has a role to play, but at the end of the day, each of us has a role to play in maintaining law and order and enhancing the peaceful nature of our country,” Skerrit advised.
your wife have snipers and navy seal
Well you should have read my comment re the shooting over the weekend. I believe your DLP administration has lost its way years ago. Why did it have to reach this stage before you impulsively had to come babble hot air? The police seem to have one duty only, which is to intimidate opposition supporters and parliamentarians. Its a failed police force with no leadership. Good thing i did not listen to you, LIAR Roosevelt. Your major preoccupation is certainly not Dominica or the Dominican people.
here we go again.. hope u and your team are ready to go behind those snippers…..make sure u tell that to your next….so … belching bubbles
What a waste of time. Just talk. They only seriousness we need to see is laws that increase punishment and enforcement without prejudice or interference. You guys been in office for years had two amnesty most gun related murder and violence, stolen weapons from police, gun imports yet no strict legislation. you call that serious. All you do is spew garbage about opposition when in press conference.
Here we go fresh off the ‘talkshow’ held by Lying Roosevelt today. Twenty consecutive years at the helm of government and only now speaking out against illegal guns. Only DNO and DLP affiliated news entities take this imbecile serious.
After listening for the first thirty minutes I tuned completely out. The Lying fellow is quite stout on loose talk but meager on substance.
start with the gunslinger former minister