Holness moves to refine, strengthen Firearms Act after meeting with lawyers

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has directed that the legal reform committee review concerns raised about the Firearms Act, including fears that children found with toy or imitation guns could be unjustly treated.

The directive followed a meeting on Friday at the Office of the Prime Minister with representatives of the Jamaica Bar Association and the Advocates Association, who had requested talks on the legislation.

According to a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), the lawyers argued that aspects of the Act create room for unjust treatment and asked for judicial discretion to be allowed in such cases.

Holness, in response, reiterated that the Government intends to both strengthen the Act in its treatment of illegal guns and violent crime, and refine it to make clear that no innocent person should be unfairly treated.

"The prime minister directed Justice Minister, the Honourable Delroy Chuck, to convene the legal reform committee, which will include stakeholders in the justice system, to review the concerns expressed by members of the Jamaica Bar Association and the Advocates Association and to also explore how the Act may be both refined and strengthened," the OPM statement said.

The committee will also conduct its review ahead of the timeline set in the legislation's review clause, the prime minister indicated.

The OPM said Holness told the meeting the review should not be adversarial, noting that the Government listens to all stakeholders and balances competing views for the common good.

He also underscored that while work is done to perfect the legislation, the Government will not relent in passing strong laws to tackle the proliferation of illegal guns and will ensure gains made in the fight against violent crime are consolidated.

Representatives of the legal fraternity reportedly assured the prime minister that it is not their intention to undermine the strength of the Act.

Holness was joined by Deputy Prime Minister and National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck, Attorney General Derrick McKoy, senior members of the Bar Senator Tom Tavares-Finson and Senator Charles Sinclair, and State Minister Senator Abka Fitz-Henley.

The delegation from the defence bar was led by Advocates Association President Tamika Harris and Jamaica Bar Association President Tenneisha Watkins.