Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Roosevelt Skerrit has promised that tougher legislation will soon be passed to corner owners and users of illegal firearms in Dominica.
Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony for a $3.5 million police station in Grand Bay Wednesday, the prime minister said that the new legislation will order that any persons found holding firearms without the relevant license will be sent straight to prison.
“I will say that before the end of this year God’s willing we shall go to the Parliament to pass legislation dealing with illegal possessions of firearms in Dominica,” he said.
“And I will say that this piece of legislation will be draconian in its nature because if you are not a licensed (holder of a firearm) you have no business with a firearm, and you cannot use a firearm to scare people and cause people to be afraid of going to the beach and going to the river and going from home to home. We cannot have that in Dominica … I give you the assurance that we shall go to the Parliament to do so … if any one of us is found with a firearm unlicensed then you go straight to Stock Farm prison,” he reiterated.
mr PM we need woodfordhill road in barbargreen they a doin a good job so far come and look at it for your self NOW is the time to do the road good BECAUSE our partty need to stay in power
Rubbish
Who will this law apply to? is it just the chosen few??? or will it apply to all no matter who you are or what title you have. AT Savanne Paille Mr … gun which he used to scare a group of people standing on the road outside his ? apartment building????!!!!! was found not to be license what is happening to him is his name too big or is he not include???
DO TELL
@Gary: Oh…and one more thing….Since when is “due process” nonesense?.
@Gary: I beg to differ…Have YOU read what the writer wrote IN ITS ENTIRETY?.If you say no,then I suggest that you go back
and read it. On the other hand,if your answer is yes,then sadly it is either one,or two conclusions.1. You lack the mental capacity to understand what the writer wrote. 2. You are thinking from your rectum or you red shirt .Which one is it?.
I read the comments,
and no where in what was written,did I see any criticism of the legislation by the writer . Quite the contrary.The writer was subjective,and objective in his/her points of view.
So your attack is pointless,baseless,and unwarranted.
And please do get your facts straight and correct…The fundamental part of law pertaining to that matter is..”one is presumed innocent, until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt”…not how you stated it.
You are attacking that person like you are a rabid dog.I strongly suggest that you run to the nearest Vet.for the appropriate shots….Or are you just barking for your supper because there are no more handouts .
I always look forward to reading comments from”UPTOWN REBEL”,because he/she always have something meaningful and intelligent to contribute.Unlike you,who always seems to politicize everything,and have nothing substantial or intelligent to offer.
Stop with the Party politics.And be objective in your thinking…Then you might just learn something from the writer.
@UPTOWN REBEL!!!:
Have you read what you have written. I do not think so.Do you read and understand,that I do not think also You’re criticizing the legislation that the Prime Minister is proposing. You have shown little or nothing to understand what the legislation is about but quickly talking nonsense about due process. Don’t you know that with any legislation the accused person has a due process and has to be proven guilty or innocence by his pairs in a court of Law, so why are you so malicious in your thinking that this piece of legislation is different from all the of legislation ever passed in Dominica and that it is aimed at denying people rights and eroding Democracy.Why are you thinking that way and wanting to distort the truth or are you just ignorant about the legislative process in Dominica.
GRET !!! it’s tiem that we put toff mesures in Dominica.we CAN NOT let gun men, drugs men, child molesters and so no. to put our lovely country on bad name.
Well,well,well…..It is very sad and troubling to say the least, to see how people are quite willing to give up their Rights in a free and Democratic society,because of a growing concern and fear that results from the escalation of gun violence,and the use of guns in the commissions of crimes…..”No trial,just send them straight to prison” one person wrote….”Why should there be a trial”?, wrote another…” Build a bigger prison,we need more prisons”,said another….Wow!…
This is the state of Democracy today in Dominica.The mentality of some of the people,or the majority of the people?….Just makes me wonder.
Do people really know what their Rights are?,or how they happen to possess those Rights?…Do they really care?…Well i don’t know.
Do we know,what one of the fundamental principles of Law pertaining to any individual is?
Can you abuse the Rights of some to preserve the Rights of others?…These Questions,i will leave up to you,you decide.Think before you answer. And be very careful what you ask for….Please,..examine your conscience…..
What i gathered by the statements made my the PM,is this…There are going to be a new and tougher legislation introduced to Parliament, to deal with the possession of illegal firearms.This is a very good thing…In other words…,there is going to be a “mandatory” jail term for anyone caught with a firearm or firearms in his or her possession;whether it’s on your person,auto mobile,or place or abode without the proper and relevant license,…You will be arrested,brought to trial, and if convicted,you will go to jail. Period!..
Now as to the mandatory sentence(jail term).that will be determined. Maybe..5yrs.or more per firearm for first offense,plus, or in addition to what ever crime that the firearm(s) was use to perpetrate,then you will have to serve that punishment as well without having them run concurrent…The Law makers will have to determine that. I do believe that this is what the Prime Minister meant. He is right, and on point. This is what you should be expect from your Leader…..So i don’t know what all this “hoola-baloo” is all about.
That, friends, is a very good thing.Dominica needs to implement strict and tougher Laws dealing with illegal firearms.Absolutely, the Government must protect law abiding Citizens(or citizens on a whole) from criminals and criminality.It is a step in the right direction….Most Countries have strict Laws pertaining to certain crimes…In some,there is the mandatory death penalty or life imprisonment for illegal drugs(narcotics).Malaysia,and i believe Singapore also,to name a few.
So one has to be aware of the Laws of the Countries when traveling there.
Any foreigner who wants to come to Dominica for the purpose of,or involving him or herself in criminality ,will think twice about the possession, or use of illegal firearms…One of the first rules in crime fighting,and the lowering of crime, is the prevention of crime.
I am 100% with the Prime Minister on this one…So let’s all put our shoulder to the wheel and help make beautiful Dominica a much safer place for us,our children, visitors and guests.
May GOD bless and protect Dominica and its beautiful people.
All the best to you.
Peace profound!!!
MANCHAT!!!!
They gonna use machette and knives so make sure that is part of the package.
MR.SKERO,EVERY TIME I LOOK AT YOU I REMEMBER U ON YOUR POLITICAL PLATFORM CHANTING,DO THE SKERRO,DO THE SKERRO,YOU PROMISE THE YOUTHS JOBS AND LOANS,WHEN YOU WIN THE ELECTION YOU DISAPPEAR. I SUGGEST ALL THAT CEMENT AND SEEL YOU AND THEM CHINEES ARE WASTING TO BUILD THOSE LARGE USELESS SIDE WALKS,SHOULD BE USED TO BUILD MALLS AND APPARTMENTS,SO THAT YOUNG DOMINICANS CAN HAVE JOBS AND A NICE LITTLE PLACE TO START THERE LIFE. YOU SHOULD LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES OF THE OTHER ISLANDS. POLITICIANS FOOL THERE GRADN PARENTS AND PAIENTS, PLEASE SIR THIS GENERATION YOU CANNOT FOOL.WITH THOSE OLD TRICKS, WHERE THERE IS A STRUGGLE THERE WILL BE WAR.
@Truth B Told: Boy you seemed to have lost your mind. With the ecconomy, Korea, Iraq, and BP in the gulf and American Gov’t is busy. But i’ll tell you one thing they are watching: The Skerrit and Chaves Relationship. That is the straw that is breaking the camels back for Dominica where America is concerned.
mr. p m you trying to hard egnor drugs problems leave it for the police just like bush egnor gay rights obama egnor immigration .
Thiese two topics: confiscation of properties and sending people to jail caught my attention hence my analysis was automatic and quick as the pattern has finally become clear. We have a situation of clear and soon to be manifested danger.
(1) The P.M is attempting to overlooked by proposing this law.If you havesomething to hide pretend the opposite. They will most likely bypass you. Now the second topic: Who will begiven gun permits in DA? Business men etc gros bougs etc.Now who are our new business people the new arrivals.They have began beating our people soon they will be shooting them. I see a dictatorship in the making those with economic and political power and their friends new or old local or denizens. Skerrit is not even insidious with his cheap plan he thinks is psychology. Take the guns from the streets and we alone will have so we can control. be aware the seeds of desent have began to germinate. This is how the steel is tempered for the up rising.I undestand more each day why their are uprisings all over the world and the history and patern unfold crystal clear daily Jan 1959Cuba, , Mar 13 th 1979 Grenada , Nicaragua Surinam etc etc.becomes more logical.
signs of things to come…pass laws after laws to suit yourself.
Dictatorship head rising above the water slowly, but surely.
There already are laws in place for that purpose, why aren’t they being enforced?
That’s the next level,,,,if we cya beat it,,,we will pass new legislation…but be careful they come back to bite you
@SUM FING WONG: Would that apply to the one who defended the villas by holding the gun with expired license to the person’s head? Mr PM I hope you are serious and not blowing hot BUBBLES!!
I support that law all the way once it is administered justly.
15 years when caught with an unlicensed gun. 15 years when caught with bullets in your pant pockets. the gallows and must be enforced when having committed a senseless murder.
I don’t understand some of the comments here. It seems there is a growing culture of guns in this country and something has to be done to curtail or else we will become like Jamaica.
So then, why some of the negative comments? Sure Dominica faces many challenges and it is going to take years to “solve” some of them. But it seems there is just a general negativity among many people on this forum. What are we putting first? Country or party?
Once again i will only say this much. Will this law be equal to all?
@draw dem out: I heard once “bullets have no eyes”. Imagine that the person at the end of a gun’s barrel is your family member, we’ll see how much you like those “stringent” laws.
Caught with an illegal firearm? GO TO PRISON! Plain and simple.
I WONDER, EVERYTIME SOMETHING COME GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY SOME IDIOT DOMINICAN, HAVE TO MAKE SO STUPID COMMENT AS IF THEY CANT READ OR UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HURTING THE COUNTRY , WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET THERE??
@truth:
You are obviously not very up-to-date on world affairs, our Honourable Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit is certainly not on any “black list” in America. On the contrary, he is respected and revered as one of the most successful and dedicated leaders in the Caribbean region.
You should get your facts straight before posting such absurd comments. You do a great disservice to the Government and People of Dominica. Why don’t you try to do something positive for our national development, rather than bring Dominica down.
I believe Farmers and people recognized hard working dominicans should be given better access to hunting guns (shot guns) not assult rifles. Still, there are more people in Roseau who are allowed gun licenses (friends of the big man) than poor country people who need a gun for hunting.
Mr. Prime Minister, I advised that the law to be tabled should be so draconic; that when these thugs, who’s only purpose in life is to steal, kill, use Crack Cocaine, and reek havoc, creating chaos in the country thinks of the severity of the penalty they will bare for possessing a gun, it will make them disgorge their guts, literally.
When one realizes they might be spending thirty years, incarcerated for the possession of a firearm, it might cause them to think twice before touching a gun.
Twenty-five years in jail is actually a life sentence, if that’s what it takes to rid our country of the crimes that has overwhelmed us in recent years, I say by all means pass the legislation.
There are people who will rise hell about it, nonetheless, a law has no effect on individuals until they break that law.
Those who brakes a certain law, must be punished by the statues of that law!
If I do not want to spend half of my life in jail, I should not break the law that will put me away for the rest of my life!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
When you say.Sir,”that any one found with an illigal fire arm, or unlicensed fire arm will go straight to prison”..what is it that you are really saying?..Are you suggesting taking away peoples Right to “due process”?..I would not want to think so,…Because you are forgetting one thing Sir….Dominica is a Demorcracy!..We are under the presumption of Law whereby one is innocent until proven guilty beyond a resonable doubt…
You simply cannot arrest a person or persons,throw them in jail without a fair and proper trial.That is not how it is done in a Democracy…. Dominica should be no exception. No,no.
Believe it ,or not,everyone has certain Rights under the Law..even the accused,..and you the State,simply cannot violate those Rights under any such circumstance,without having some serious repercussions.
You will only be opening a pandora’s box.There will be much more problems for you(the State) in the future.
As the Leader of the Country,I can understand how frustrated you are about the rise of crime in the Country; I an quite sure Sir, every law abiding citizen are as well;especially crimes involving to use of fire arms. Yes, there is a greater need for concern,and i do believe Sir, that you care. Because Government have a right to protect the Rights of its citizens.Which is to include, the Right to Life,Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
What i think you meant Sir, is the introduction of Legislation for stiffer and mandatory sentencing for anyone caught with an illegal fire arm or use an illegal fire arm to commit a crime,or whilst in the process of committing a crime…Yes i do believe in strict gun Laws,absolutely!
But, I don’t think draconian measure is appropriate Sir.Thats not going to help.That word ‘draconian” is a very unfortunate and harsh word, Sir. It do not belong in a Democratic State my good Sir.
Maybe,we can use a much more appropriate word Sir…”Opportunity”. I believe Sir,will be much more effective.
If we create more opportunities for our people, they will not have to resort to criminality.Let’s not forget that one of the obligations of Govt. is to facilitate the ceation of opportunity for its people.
Let us examine our selves and our conscience.Listen to the voices of the people.They are crying out loud.they are hurting,they need help,they need ”opportunities”….
Please,if you listen carefully you will hear.
Thank you Sir….All the best to you….and..
Peace profound!!
This legislation is well needed, I won`t deny. But will it be enforced for everyone across the board, I only hope so. I remember the good ole days when your bff mr. bubbles was found brandishing an unlicensed firearm Mr. PM, and he was only given a slap on the wrist. Oh the good ole days…. Just hope that they are over…
the poor will be the only ones that AREgoing to be targeted. the eunemployed have no source of income so it will be very obvious as to the properties tht they can afford.
is this another legislation to make things harder for poor people. when are the rich going to recieve their just punishment for their crimes.
they use their income and busineses as a way to clean their dirty(illegal) money.
GOOD P.M. I ALL FOR THAT BUT MAKE SURE IT ALSO SAY NO BAIL AND MINIMUM 10 YEARS INPRISONMENT WITH OUT CONDITIONS,JUST JAIL TEN YEARS ALL THE WAY.I LIKE THAT P.M. COME ON MAKE IT REAL.
@tellitasitis: wait until those stringent measures are taken against ur family, then we’ll see how well you like such laws!
@SAD: Sad, it is sad being a uwp in DA now. That when everything good is presented to them, their is an some sort of political leaning or agenda.
I think the uwp has corrupted its members head, that they are stuck in this political rot .
Why are the 18 Dominicans always seem to see things and Dominica in the most positive light and will exalt Dominica and praise its fortunes and its blessings and riches, but the other 3 dominicans always seem to wish the worst for Dominica and would like to see harm on the 18 of us and to this glorious land.
so u saying your front and friend … will go to jail
Does Stock-farm have a VIP wing cuz some of them belong there.
Mr. PM there will always be illigal activities in a Democracy. Guns has been around for a very longtime and they’ll continue to be part of our exsistence. Passing a laws for every crime that’s commited will not solve the problems. The things you’re saying now…only sounds good to those of us who are listening, law abiding citzens. ie drugs and country band are on going. What’s needed escalate the search for fire arms and give forks annesty to come forward. When you’re having these kinds of problems in a country – educational programing can be a very effective tool. Because people who are scared will always find ways to protect themselves whether its legal or illigal.
So what about due process? Straight to jail that makes no sense. You are not the law. No matter how we feel people are innocent until proven guilty!
Why don’t you start punishing police for beating up on defenceless people especially women, they think they can just do whatever they want and get away with it only in Dominica.
I thought this was an urgent matter..You went to Parliament a million times in succession to force by-elections in Salisbury and Marigot,though you knew that you would lose,now when the issue is affecting the citizenry in every nook and cranny of the island,you are mentioning before year end…Trust me i am not going to drink that one..Whenever one lies,whatever he says has to be taken with a grain of salt..
Funny how we dont make guns but the street full of guns.
I respect some people opinion but some of you are so daft and small minded. Why should there be a trial. If someone is hurt by an unlicensed firearm and its your family member then you would like justice done immediately. I’m happy that this law will pass. I’m gutted to hear of all the killings and robberies that are now taking place in our NATURE ISLE… We need to take more draconian measures; stringent measures that would make people think twice before committing a crime.
I hope the minimum jail term is given because at the rate the courts are going, someone will be sentenced to jail for 1 week if caught with a gun.Just check the Chief Magistrate’s track record. There needs to be a minimum of at least 1 year and a maximum in 15year in prison.
It’s a sad thing when the PM has lost so much credibility,that even something as important as these pronouncements are taken and throwm back at him….The lesson is as leaders we are to be careful,of wat we do,accumulate,have,and we must be careful of how we accumulate,and have them…DOMINICA IS CRYING FOR HONEST PEOPLE…
including those police men too that have their personal fire arms. skerro boy u on the black list in america already so that doesnt make sence we all know … u sold dominica to venezuela now u crying the pressure is on u dont try to impress america they know ur heart
Great mr President it was about time to get incolved, we should not sit here and let criminal back Dominicans in a corner, also where are the funds for building a bigger prison with more security,? Build a bigger priosn, there are enough land on the island to build more prisons, Stockfarm is not big enough,
wat happen to everybody gettin a free and fair trial…oh yeah that was always 4 some.
Yeah right …
why is is before year’s end?
Why can’t it be now like the bills you passed to suit you?
Next election you out because you’re the first pm who allowed crime to reach to the next level before addressing and curbing it!
I am in support of this action. we need to keep the growing culture of illegal gun usage out of Dominica.I would like to continue raising my children in this lovely island without being scared to walk the streets, like what is happening in our sister island of st Lucia. If we act now we can control it.
Good strong talk pm but we want u to go after the crooked cops too.We need some kind of team under the attorney general maybe headed by a good judge to go after crooked and dishonest cops especially those out there abusing law abiding citizens and being part of or affiliated with persons in the drug trade.
We hope for the sake of those of us who like to sleep in our beds at night that they heard the voice of the civilian leader as he condems the illegal activities of those selfish persons who prey on the weak. Indeed there are those who find a weak side in our community, and take unfair advantage the situation, therefore indeed the legislation must seek to impose stiffer fines and penalties and to get the community to safe guard their own interest and participate by earning anonymous rewards if needs be.
A community like ours cannot be left to the ideologies of a few whose selfish motives is to please their own We must raise the ethical standards from person to person so that the next generation can mirror the legacy that has been past on to them.
How can I survive when the chances I dont have ? ME HAVE TO HUSTLE!!!
How can I promise me a go change when me legal life is above my price range. ME HAVE TO HUSTLE!!!
You want me to call the police but me a dem already in some serious beef. ME CANT Trust it!!!!
I am hoping that the forfeiture of assets/property will be for all and sundry,including government leaders..Hoping also that all these pronouncements are not just empty talk,since we had gun amnesties in the past,and although the holders (most) failed to surrender these guns ,there was no follow up action.
Guns,crime and criminal activities,corruption in government,poor leadership,etc are among our greatest enemies in this country…
About time. Thank you PM.