By Staff Writer
ROSEAU, Dominica, Oct 5, 2026 CMC – National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore on Monday urged the judiciary to impose sentences that reflect the seriousness of the fight against the importation of illegal weapons after disclosing that the police had recently intercepted a person with a rifle that is used on the battlefield.
Blackmoore, speaking at the launch of the Ministry of National Security’s “Missing Persons Alert System,” praised the police and customs officials for “actually intercepting and recovering lethal weapons, illegal firearms.
“And those firearms can only do one thing, it’s to kill people,” Blackmoore said, adding that he had recently been informed by the Police Commissioner, Lincoln Corbette, as to the number of illegal firearms that have been intercepted.
He said within one week last month, six firearms were recovered, one of which is a 7.62 rifle.
“This rifle is meant for the battlefield, and Dominica is not a place for that. Now there’s no battlefield in Dominica; this is a beautiful, peaceful country and as we move into the Creole Festival and the celebration of our independence as a nation, it is critical for us to welcome our visitors and our friends in an environment of peace.”
Backmoore said that so far this year, 21 firearms have been recovered, including four rifles.
“Among the pistols, they are convertible, which means they can be used as rifles and semi-automatic, very dangerous. I want to commend the police and the customs officers for demonstrating that sense of seriousness and the investment we have made in the procurement of the scanners at the various points of entry.”
Blackmoore said that these “interventions are helping” praising the work of the anti-firearm task force, saying that the population should not grudge them when they receive salary increases.
“.. nobody should feel jealous, because it’s not easy to confront folks on the waters. And let me just say why we appreciate, and there has to be an appreciation for the rule of law, for due process,” Blackmoore said, calling for what he described as “a sense of seriousness in the manner in which those matters are disposed of before the court.
“And so, we had several gun amnesty programmes in this country. People were told, if you bring in the firearms, you’re not going to be prosecuted. They were cash rewards for people to provide information. And we declared, and we know, and there is consensus within society, that gun crimes are the most serious crimes right now confronting the country and the Caribbean by extension…
“So, it is one thing to talk about something when somebody is shot and killed, sadly, for everybody to be singing in one tone. And then those of us with our respective roles to discharge, we are not being consistent with that level of consensus…”
Blackmore said that within society, gun-related crimes are serious, “and therefore the sentencing must reflect that sense of seriousness.
“So, while we cannot tell those who sit on the bench what to do, those who sit on the bench are part of society, isn’t that so, and they have a responsibility to society. So, when the police go before the court, and you have someone who is brought before the court with previous gun offences, illegal gun offences, and an application is made for no bail, there is a bail act,
“…the Bail Act stipulates the various offences being not to be granted unless the accused, not the state, because you have the responsibility to tell the court and provide proof to the court that you are going to make yourself available when the matter has been heard. And we must own up to call that.
“That is not that of the state. If you are a flight risk, it is not the state to prove that you are a flight risk. It is you to prove that you are not. Isn’t that so? And then when I hear comments like, it’s within the rights of an accused under the Constitution to get bail, are you saying that the Bail Act is ultra vires?
“Are you saying that the Bail Act contravenes the Constitution? The answer is no. At that level of seriousness, everybody seems to be that person’s friend. And therefore, there is a sense of not taking our responsibility and the issue of public safety seriously. “
Blackmore said he was calling on everyone “to try to solve our problems peacefully.
“But for the bad boys, when the police confront you with illegal firearms, when they are on duty, and they take action to protect themselves and to preserve public safety, when you get your rope ah dope, that’s your business, my friend.
“It’s bad, bad, when you get your rope ah dope; you can’t behave yourself. If the police stop you with illegal firearms, you have to stop. You’re wrong already. So we have to have a sense of seriousness in this country, and we will continue to provide the police with the resources and the Customs Department with the resources.
“But at the end of the day, it is our responsibility to strive as a nation, as communities, to ensure that Dominica remains as peaceful as possible,” the National Security Minister added.
CMC/cj/ir/2026
