By Omar Anderson, Gleaner WriterLOCAL GUN dealers are still expressing concern at not being able to meet market demands due to a freeze the United States (U.S.) has put on gun sales to Jamaica. The freeze, which has been in place for nearly eight weeks, is likely, gun dealers say, to push them out of business, especially if it continues for a protracted period.
"We are trying to find other sources but it's very difficult," explained one Kingston-based gun dealer yesterday.
He said that attempts were being made to source guns from Europe but noted that there were 'technical difficulties' in trying that route. Asked to explain the 'technical difficulties', he would only say: "If we can't get anything to sell, our business is going to crash."
Another Corporate Area gun dealer noted that he was being severely affected by the ban, moreso because he does not have a licence to import guns from elsewhere.
BLUM TO INVESTIGATE
In the meantime, Orna Blum, public affairs officer at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, said on Monday that she was unaware of the latest stance taken by the U.S. State Department, and that she would investigate to find out what the true position was.
Nearly two months ago, it emerged that the U.S. had frozen licences of all dealers who import guns and ammunition into Jamaica.
In January, the National Contracts Commission approved the award of a combined US$604,000 in contracts by the Ministry of National Security to F.N. Herstal, S.A. of Belgium and Winchester Ammunition out of the U.S. for guns and ammunition, but up to yesterday, it was not clear whether the ongoing freeze would affect any of those contracts.
In making his contribution to the 2004/2005 Budget debate in Parliament last week, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson announced that a new policy governing the issue of firearms will be implemented this year. The new policy, he said, is intended to enhance transparency and reduce the potential for corruption in the issuing of licences.
The Prime Minister added that gun licences will only be issued to persons who demonstrate a genuine need to be armed and who satisfy the competent authority that they meet and fit the proper criteria.
