On a far too regular basis, we get stories in the newspaper about guns and ammunitions being discovered and people caught with guns and/or ammunition. It seems like the borders of our country are porous and border security is as effective as a strainer trying to hold water.
Do we have a ministry of national security, and if so, what are they doing? For decades, guns have been coming into our country in a far too easy manner. Gun crime is rife in SVG, because guns are not being stopped at the border. The border needs to be tightened and national security needs to be taken seriously, as the current monumental failure is costing lives.
Something needs to be done urgently to stop the smuggling of guns into SVG. This illegal trade in guns helps the illegal drugs trade and this is damaging our communities. SVG has a very high homicide rate – one of the top 10 most murderous countries per capita in the world for the past five years.
According to the Leader of SVG Green Party, Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, our country has an epidemic of brutal gun crime. National security is at an all-time low, and our borders are openly being breached.
The fact that guns are brought regularly into our country, shows that Gonsalves does not have the experience and the ability to hold the office of Minister of National Security, and is incompetent in this role. Our national security needs to be taken seriously as there are so many crimes where guns are involved.
We mentioned some years about the lack of security at both the Campden Park Port in South Leeward and the Kingstown Port. The consequence was that members of the public could easily walk in and out of what should be secure areas and gate passes could be passed on to unknown members of the public. This was a danger to our people.
The ULP regime has been in power since 2001 and has been a massive failure in many regards, and clearly with national security too. Gun crime has increased since 2001, and it appears that it has spiralled out of control.
The whole idea of national security is prevention. However, with all the slackness with national security, it leaves us vulnerable to high levels of gun crime, and more importation of guns and other contraband. The ULP regime continues to ignore the obvious breaches of our national security and borders and puts us all at risk.
A Green government would invest much more finance and technology into border security to eradicate the illegal importation of guns. We need to know the routes by which guns are being smuggled into the country and the sources supplying the guns. Guns are a blight on our society and an affront to the values of our nation.
Our streets and communities need to be safer. Our people need to be able to walk about without fear.
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