Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

CRIMINOLOGIST Bernard Headley, professor in the discipline at the University of the West Indies, has suggested a gun buy-back drive to help to rid Jamaica of illegal firearms.

Headley told The Gleaner yesterday that the undertaking, which has yielded success in some United States cities, would require support from the private sector.

"Since our Jamaican national treasury might be a bit strapped for cash at this time, maybe we should ask the private sector to come up with a substantial portion of the cash," Headley said.

He proposed that the buy-back last for about a week.

Peter John Thwaites, chairman of the security committee of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), told The Gleaner the group was willing to consider anything that can be done to reduce the number of guns in the country.

Willing to talk

"We would be happy to sit down with Professor Headley and talk about it," Thwaites said. He noted that the PSOJ, through Crime Stop, was in some way involved in a gun buy-back programme.

Through Crime Stop, persons with information that leads to the recovery of an illegal firearm can make a report to the police.

A monetary reward is given if the person who made the report to Crime Stop wants it.

More roadblocks

On the weekend, Mark Shields, deputy commissioner of police in charge of crime, told The Gleaner the police would be undertaking more roadblocks and spot checks to recover illegal guns.

"There is no doubt that the number of guns available to criminals has increased," Shields said.

He added that many of the guns are coming to the island as part of the guns-for-drugs trade between misfits in Jamaica and Haiti.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com