Kingstown St. Vincent May 13,2026-Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security St Clair Leacock has warned against what he described as a growing desire among Vincentians to own firearms, saying authorities are seeking to prevent the country from becoming “the Wild Wild West”.
Speaking on NBC Radio’s Face to Face programme, Leacock said the number of people seeking assistance to obtain firearm licences reflected an increasing demand for guns across St Vincent and the Grenadines.
“If I go by the amount of applications that come to me personally to intervene on people’s behalf, then everyone in St Vincent will have a gun,” he said.
Leacock explained that applications for firearm licences are reviewed by a dedicated board which was recently re-established after delays in its formation.
“Unfortunately, it took a little long to get that board in place, but it’s now in place,” he said.
According to the minister, the board assesses each applicant before determining whether they are “worthy and deserving” of owning a firearm.
Applicants are also required to undergo training in the use of firearms and demonstrate that they have proper storage facilities at home to safely secure the weapon, he added.
The minister, who noted that he had previously worn a uniform, cautioned that firearm ownership could contribute to escalating tensions during conflicts.
“Very many people, once you have a gun, you want to use the gun,” he said.
He added that some individuals use firearms to intimidate others during disputes rather than seeking peaceful resolutions.
“There are some people who want to show you that they’re carrying a gun on the side and provoking you,” he said.