Commander of the Area One Police network, Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Glenford Miller, has issued a stern warning to New Year’s revellers who have participated in the illegal tradition of gun salutes to ring in the New Year, to desist from that practice this time around.
In fact, he is imploring individuals in possession of illegal firearms to surrender them to the police.
"My message to those persons who like to actually participate in incidents or situations like this, put down your guns! This is not the time for it. And the best thing; not only put down your guns, hand over your guns to the police. That is exactly what you need to do," said Miller in an interview.
He said the police will endeavour to keep a close watch on communities that are historically known for gun salutes.
"All those areas that we considered over the years, where history would have shown that these persons love to do their gun salutes, we will be as best as possible dominating these areas to try and prevent any gun salute.
“And if persons make the mistake and try to do these gun salutes, we want to be there and apprehend them and bring them to justice," Miller warned.
In 2020, a 15-year-old high school student was shot in the forehead by men who were involved in a gun salute as part of New Year’s celebrations in Mount Salem, St James. That was just one of a number of somewhat similar incidents that have been recorded over the years on the stroke of January 1.
