Champagnie urges government to hold discussions on proposed amendments to Firearms Act

 

Defence attorney King's Counsel Peter Champagnie, KC, says a provision in the Firearms Act, requiring the legislation to be reviewed after a specified period, is significant, but he's calling for immediate discussions about matters of concern that have loomed larger since the law was amended. 

 

Despite growing criticism of the controversial law, particularly pertaining to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has maintained that the Government has no plan to amend the Firearms Act this year.

 

Responding to growing criticism of the provision, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness says his administration has no intention of amending it this year.

 

Dr Holness, addressing the Jamaica Labour Party's Central Executive on Sunday, noted that the Firearms Act is due for review next year. 

 

Mr Champagnie, speaking Monday afternoon at a press briefing, staged jointly by the Jamaican Bar Association and the Advocates Association of Jamaica, said the clause is significant, noting that such a provision is not common in legislation.

 

He said it suggested there may have been a recognition that the measures in the Act needed to be very extreme.

 

While stressing that he's speaking for himself and offering unsolicited advice, Mr Champagnie said the better approach would be for the government to engage in worthwhile discussions.

 

That engagement should begin immediately to ensure that at the review period there is no delay, he suggested.

 

"While all of these lovely talks are going on and we are sitting in an air-conditioned room and so on, there are persons there. There are the likes of a Nikraine Mighty - toy gun in a barrel - who is sitting in a cell for 15 years, starting this year. There is the likes of a Ewaine Pryce with the prop gun, who is under penalty for 15 years. There, that's the music producer. There is the likes of a Ian Dacres, who is under penalty again for 15 years, where a judge in that particular case issued a certificate. And I could go on and on with other cases."