The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force is preparing to introduce a seven-day gun amnesty early in the new year, as part of a broader strategy to clamp down on illegal firearms and ammunition in 2026.
Commissioner of Police Verne Garde told St Lucia Times the amnesty is intended to give individuals one final opportunity to surrender illegal weapons without facing prosecution.
“The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force have become open to an amnesty period for seven days in the second week in January,” Garde said. “That period would allow persons who have in their possession illegal weapons and ammunition to bring them in without the intervention of the normal court processes.”
He made it clear that the amnesty would mark a turning point in how firearm-related offences are treated moving forward.
“After that, we will see a very rigid 2026 in regards to weapons and ammunition,” Garde said. “We will have a zero tolerance policy towards anybody who harbours or has in their possession any kind of arm, ammunition, or any kind of dangerous weapon. That is what the amnesty is about for 2026.”
Garde explained that the force plans to make the process as discreet as possible, with arrangements in place for confidential collection of surrendered weapons.
“These weapons, we will give a particular number that they can call and we will have some of our clandestine officers collect these weapons and ammunition,” he said. “In some cases, we may provide little rewards for persons who pushed us in the right direction to get a few during that period.”
Despite recent seizures, the Commissioner acknowledged that the police are not satisfied with the current level of interception of illegal firearms and ammunition.
“In my opinion, although we have accrued the highest numbers ever in the recorded history of the organisation, I still believe that there are firearms and ammunition that are out there that we need to manage and deal with,” he said.
