FLA exodus - Firearm Licensing Authority board resigns; gun-permit issuance suspended
Published:Saturday | June 19, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Damion Mitchell, Assistant News Editor
THE BOARD of the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) has resigned with immediate effect, causing a temporary suspension in the issuance of gun permits. However, the renewal of permits will continue.
The five-member board resigned in what has been described as a move to protect their integrity following an "offensive" letter from the National Security Minister Senator Dwight Nelson.
The board members are chairman, retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Errol Strong; former Commissioner of Customs Allison Moore; retired judge Wesley James, travel executive John Desnoes and attorney-at-law Leslie Campbell.
The board members reportedly felt that the minister was directing them as to how to do their jobs which is already prescribed by an act of Parliament.
They are insisting that they have only and would only issue firearm licences where the applicants meet the stipulated requirements.
Late yesterday, Nelson confirmed that the FLA board resigned after he wrote to them. But he said there was nothing offensive about his letter. According to Nelson, he only raised concern about the "significant" increase in the issuance of firearm licences from January to May this year compared with the similar period last year.
"I don't know that their resignation had anything to do with the letter that I wrote them," Nelson said, while dismissing claims that he had other motivations for writing to the FLA board. Nelson said up to May this year, 1,197 new firearm permits were issued, up from 621 during the corresponding period last year.
He said on previous occasions, he expressed concern to Strong about the number of firearm permits being granted and his apprehension had been communicated to the remainder of the board.
Yesterday, we were unable to contact Strong, who is overseas. In the meantime, Nelson said Strong has been asked to stay on as a member of the FLA until a new board is appointed. The national security minister also reported that come Monday, he would be taking to the Cabinet a list of prospective replacements for approval.