







THE United States (US) has resumed the authorisation process for firearm export licences to Jamaica, lifting an almost two-month ban that was imposed in November last year.







The US Embassy in Kingston said in a news release yesterday that the State Department has resumed the authorisation process, considering each case on its merits.





The US last year suspended exports of guns to Jamaica amid growing controversy surrounding the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) at the time.





The FLA was thrown into the spotlight in October after it was revealed that the main file for gun owner and businessman Patrick Powell — who was charged in connection with the 2011 shooting death of Kingston College schoolboy Khajeel Mais, but was later freed — was missing.





In November, the US Embassy issued a release announcing the export suspension, explaining the US would be reviewing the firearm export licensing approval process, and as such there would be a pause on firearm exports.





The embassy had also said that it was awaiting guidance from Washington on the long-term status of export licences for firearms from the US to Jamaica.

The US Embassy said yesterday that it was working with the Ministry of National Security and the FLA to identify opportunities to jointly improve the firearm licensing and registration process.





"Steps that can be taken immediately include prioritising the destruction of confiscated weapons; resuming marking of imported firearms; increasing coordination with the Jamaica Constabulary Force; ensuring up-to-date ballistics data is available to the forensic science laboratory," the release stated.





Increasing the frequency of ballistics data collection as well as improving the accuracy of record-keeping were also outlined as further steps that can be immediately taken to improve the firearm licensing and registration process.





At the same time, the US Embassy noted that it was looking forward to continued "close collaboration" and to jointly reassess the outlined issues in six months.





While welcoming the decision by the US State Department to resume the authorisation process, Minister of National Security Robert Montague said that the ministry and the FLA share the concerns of the US, and were moving to destroy old and abandoned weapons at the FLA and at police stations.





The security ministry, in a late- night statement, said Montague again expressed concern about the influx of illegal weapons into Jamaica from the US, during a meeting with embassy officials yesterday.





"A priority for this Government is to stem the illegal flow of guns into Jamaica," the statement quoted Minister Montague. "I am again calling on the US to do more to significantly reduce the inflow of illegal weapons and ammunition, as Jamaica does not manufacture guns or ammunition."





Minister Montague, during the meeting, reportedly said he has consistently pointed out that 81 per cent of crimes in Jamaica are committed with illegal guns, and 53 per cent of those guns are from the US.





He said the US has agreed to deepen its cooperation in tracing guns found in Jamaica, adding that Jamaican law enforcement personnel have access to the US e-trace firearm database.





"Jamaica is committed to correcting and enhancing the processes at the Firearm Licensing Authority. Our FLA system and method of traceability are the best in the Western Hemisphere. We will continue to work with our partners, including the United States, to improve the system," the minister said.





Meanwhile, the US Embassy stressed that the almost two-month suspension did not affect guns bound for Jamaican security forces.





The minister also noted that the security forces were never affected by the ban, and there was never a shortage of guns or bullets for legal owners as the United States is not the only source.