A scheduled visit to Upper Mazaruni, Region #7 Sunday last was abandoned due to unfavorable weather conditions.
The visit would have seen nine serviceable firearms returned from the 140 which were surrendered during the government’s firearm amnesty in 2015.
The team which was led by Minister of Public Security Kemraj Ramjattan and included Ministers of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock and Minister of Public Affairs Dawn Hastings-Williams was scheduled to meet with residents of eleven (11) villages in the Upper Mazaruni area at three locations Chinoweng, Phillipai and Kamarang.
The visit would have also seen 121 permits issued to residents which would allow them to purchase new firearms.
Minister Allicock following the decision to cancel the visit noted that “I want the people there to know from those 11 villages that we are going to make every effort as early as possible to make the deliveries”.
The Minister is cognizant of the fact that persons would have travelled long distances to get to the respective locations for the meeting and as such had ensured transportation and other costs were immediately reimbursed following the cancellation.
According to the Ministry’s Community Development Officer (CDO) for the Upper Mazaruni Area Rosita Williams all those persons who would have travelled to the respective locations were compensated accordingly.
Meanwhile, on a program broadcast on the National Communications Network on the evening of Monday April 30, Minister Allicock said the team will be working to ensure the firearms and permits are in the possession of residents before the beginning of June.