FOLLOWING THE completion of an audit on firearm licences, it has been recommended that the permit of at least 20 firearm holders be revoked.
According to Police Commissioner Francis Forbes, he has moved to revoke the licences amid questions about how some were issued. The Commissioner will be submitting a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Kent Pantry, to be advised whether criminal action or internal disciplinary action should be taken against officers responsible.
Prior to the audit, it was reported that several persons with shady background were granted firearm permits. Among them were entertainers, reputed criminals, deportees and persons suspected to be involved in drug-running.
The probe into the issuing of firearm licences was launched after Opposition Leader Edward Seaga charged that there were irregularities involving firearm permits.
Last September the Opposition Leader said activists of the People's National Party (PNP) were being armed with licensed guns, under the pretext that they were employed to security companies.
It was also alleged that the irregularities spanned two police divisions across the Corporate Area and St. Catherine. Further allegations are that firearm permits were being sold for hefty sums.
A similar audit of firearm licences was done under the command of former Commis-sioner of Police, Colonel Trevor MacMillan. A number of irregularities were discovered and a Police Superintendent was asked to retire in the public interest.
In order to obtain a firearm licence one has to apply to the Superintendent in charge of the police division where one lives or works.
The fingerprint and photograph of the applicant is then sent to Special Branch, Narcotics Division and the National Firearm Drug and Intelligence Centre (NFDIC), where the individual is investigated to ensure that he has no criminal record or is of shady background.
