by Linda Straker
- 28 amendments to the Firearms Act go into effect as of 30 July
- Amendments provide for significant increases in fines and imprisonment
- Record-breaking number of firearm offences and firearms confiscated
Claudette Joseph, Attorney General and Minister for Legal Affairs said that magistrates would no longer be authorised to issue bail for a person charged under the Firearms Act because offences under that legislation will be elevated to “very serious” as of 30 July.
“It can be clearly seen from the new penalties by this amended legislation we are elevating the offences committed under the Firearms Act as very serious offences warranting an application to the Judge to be admitted to bail in the same way as an application is required to be made to the Judge when the offences of murder or treason are committed,” Joseph told the Upper House on Wednesday, 26 June 2024 as she debated the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) 2024.
This Bill seeks to amend the Criminal Procedure Code, Chapter 72B, to extend the categories of offences in respect of which a magistrate shall not admit a person to bail to include offences under the Firearms Act, Chapter 105, which are punishable by imprisonment for a term of 5 years or more.
Currently, the Criminal Procedure Code authorises magistrates to grant bail once the charge is not for murder, treason, misprision of treason, or treason felony.
Joseph said that the state now puts firearm-related offences on the same level as non-bailable offences. “And so, anyone committing these offences will not be able to get bail from the magistrate any more, because of the serious nature of the offence.”
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell described the 28 amendments to the Firearms Act as draconian. They come at a time when Grenada is recording a high number of firearm offences and confiscating record-breaking numbers of firearms.
Between January to June of 2024, police have confiscated 35 firearms. “That is not those who have given up their firearms voluntarily; I am talking about those that the police have intercepted, confiscated and arrested people for…that is more firearms than the entire year last year, it is more than the year previously. In fact, in the last 10 years, it is more than any other time,” the Prime Minister said during a recent public meeting.
Members of Parliament in both the Lower and Upper Houses have also amended the Firearms Act, which will go into effect on 30 July. The amendment provides for significant increases in fines and imprisonment for summary and indictable offences.
There is no stopping firearms or drugs from coming into Grenada. There is big money in both and as long as criminals sell drugs they will have guns. Biggest problem is youth involved in these, they see big money and want that lifestyle, a gun can give them power and protection. Visitors will start avoiding Grenada as word is getting out that it can be a dangerous island. But, I suppose the same can be said about many islands in the Caribbean.