Faber Says ComPol Williams Has Questions to Answer

Patrick Faber

Also on Friday, the House of Representatives passed legislation to effect a Firearm Ammunition Control Board. The three-member panel will oversee the issuance of firearm and ammunition licenses, a task that was once the sole responsibility of the Commissioner of Police. The board will include a magistrate, the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Head of the Dangerous Goods Department. And while these duties are being stripped from the ComPol, Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber says he still has some questions to answer.

Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet

“We support this particular bill and I think it comes at the right time, given all that we can see happen with gun license when it was left to just one individual to decide what will happen. I think it is no secret that a lot has happened, especially under the present commissioner, almost ten gun license within an eighteen month period or so, and to be honest with you the national has not really received a clear answer as to what has gone on there. While we are moving to a system we are hoping is much better, in as much as we feel it is hard to corrupt a system with more people being the watch dogs, the truth of the matter is if those individuals selected, and I see the guidelines and appreciate those guidelines, if we don’t put people of integrity and there is some leeway in the people or the makeup of the board, if we don’t selected the right people with the right integrity we will see the very same problems. I don’t cast any aspersions on the commissioner, but there are some questions that really need to be answered. That wasn’t the first one. There is a case with Tanga, Marybeth who was saying.”

Julius Espat

Julius Espat, Area Representative, Cayo South

“But I have a recommendation. I think that the new board should look at not giving any license to convicts of violent offense using a fireman, both nationally and internationally. That is a no no in my opinion and it should be a no for anybody on the other side of the house. We should not issue license to any convicted criminals that have used a weapon for violent reasons.”