Today, a total of 86 assorted firearms were destroyed at the police
station on Queen Street. Belize City Police recovered the weapons during separate
operations and all of them were destroyed by fire. The public incineration took
place this morning on their Queen Street compound. According to Assistant Commissioner
of Police Allen Whylie the operations which they now plan to have every 6 months
is part of their continuous effort to destroy firearms taken off the streets
and decrease the level of gun violence.
Allen Whylie, Assistant Commissioner of Police
“We have a number of sixteen gauge shotguns, twenty gauge shotguns,
twelve shotguns. We have several 357 magnum guns. We have 22 rifles, 22 pistols,
38 revolvers, we have many nine milimeter as well as a galley rifle as well.
Several of the other items that were being destroyed were exhibits that were
confiscated by the police, persons arrested, and the cases have also concluded
and a number of those weapons are also weapons that were turned in during the
recent amnesty period that was held in the latter part of last year.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
At this point police have no idea of just how many guns may be out there on
the street?
Allen Whylie,
“No we do not have a number but we are concerned because we know that
several guns are out there, including high powered weapons and we’ve had
confrontations with different people in the past and we will continue to be
out there. We’ve stepped up and we will not back away as the Commissioner
has said. There is a policy in terms of persons who lose their firearm, they
have to wait one year before they can be reconsidered and that policy is being
strictly enforced and efforts are underway to try to minimize the number of
licensed firearm holders. Presently we have a exercise underway looking at persons
who have licenses and their background in terms of whether or not they are entitled
to these licenses. So that exercise is underway.”
Whylie Says the operation is conducted in view of the press and public
to ensure transparency and dispel any concerns that weapons which are collected
by police sometimes end up back on the streets.
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