Cabinet has directed Customs to increase scrutiny of incoming containers and speed up the acquisition of scanning equipment as the government intensifies its response to gun violence.
Acting Prime Minister and Minister responsible for Public Safety Sir Steadroy Benjamin invited senior police and Customs officials to Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting for discussions on firearms entering the country and the wider response to crime.
Cabinet questioned the Comptroller of Customs about container examination and clearance procedures. It directed the Comptroller to expedite the purchase of portable scanners and efforts to bring the port’s container scanner fully into operation.
Cabinet also approved the acquisition of K9 detection dogs trained to help identify firearms, ammunition and currency at the port.
The discussion followed a deadly shooting in Bathlodge. Cabinet expressed condolences to the family and friends of the young woman killed and wished the two people injured in the attack a full recovery.
Cabinet said stronger border checks must accompany police efforts to recover illegal guns already circulating in communities. It appealed to the public to share information that could help investigators locate weapons and identify those involved in crime.
Gaston and Cuties well know that these guns are not coming into the country by containers. The Port Authority in Miami normally informed the relevant officials here in Antigua when something looks suspicious in the containers or any other cargo when scanned before leaving the Miami port. Suspicious like drugs and guns and other illegal items. Even a five years knows that 99.999% of these guns are coming in by sea through other Caribbean islands. Since I was small enough to understand the older fokes conversation, I always heard that fishermen are paid to haul out guns and drugs from sea for people in high society. Our waters are not secure at night and anything possible would happen.
I never heard Gaston or Cutie mention about securing our waters at night for anything suspicious or illegal happening. When the U.S. Navy Base was in Antigua, they used to patrol our waters, especially at night. Since they left, I don’t think it is still being done.