Firearm offences elevated to the same level as murder, treason

ST GEORGE'S (CMC):

The government of Grenada has implemented changes to the Firearm Act that will now see firearm-related offences being placed on par with murder and treason.

According to Attorney General and Minister for Legal Affairs Claudette Joseph, as of July 30, magistrates will no longer be authorised to issue bail for a person charged under the Firearm Act because as offences under that legislation, the offence will be elevated to “very serious”.

“It can be clearly seen from the new penalties by this amended legislation we are elevating the offences committed under the Firearms Act as very serious offences warranting an application to the judge to be admitted to bail in the same way as an application is required to be made to the judge when the offences of murder or treason are committed,” Joseph told the Upper House on Wednesday as she debated the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) 2024.

This bill seeks to amend the Criminal Procedure Code, Chapter 72B to extend the categories of offences in respect of which a magistrate shall not admit a person to bail to include offences under the Firearms Act, Chapter 105 which are punishable by imprisonment for a term of five years or more.

Currently the Criminal Procedure Code authorises magistrate to grant bail once the charge is not for murder, treason, misprision of treason and treason-felony.

Joseph said the state now puts firearm-related offences on the same level with non-bailable offences.

“And so, anyone committing these offences will not be able to get bail from the magistrate any more because of the serious nature of the offence,” Joseph told the members.

Described as draconian, the 28 amendment to the Firearms Act is coming at a time when Grenada is recording a high number of firearm offences.

Between January to June of 2024 the police have confiscated 35 firearms.