John Myers Jr. and Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporters
THE UNITED States State Department is insisting that the freeze on guns and ammunition supplied to Jamaica should not be construed as an 'embargo' on arms to Jamaica, and insisted that it was a response to Jamaica's own concerns about the flow of guns into the island and its contribution to crime.
"The Department of State continues to accept all applications for export licences for firearms and ammunition going to Jamaica and will consider them on a case-by-case basis," said the Kingston embassy in a statement that also confirmed that the action would not affect local security agencies.
According to the State Depart-ment, the suspension was enforced to facilitate a thorough review of the terms and conditions under which arms and ammunition were being sold in Jamaica.
The freeze on importation licences for arms and ammunition to Jamaica by the State Depart-ment will not affect the army and police force, the National Security Ministry said yesterday.
"The suspension does not apply to the Jamaican Government's military and law enforcement contract for firearms and ammunition," said the Ministry in a statement, which also sought to divorce the U.S.' action from Jamaica's stance on Haiti.
"There should be no linkage between this action by the State Department and Jamaica's position with regard to Haiti."
The National Security Ministry said the review was requested as part of efforts to combat the growing number of guns and illegal weapons falling into the hands of criminals.
"The United States shares the Government of Jamaica's often-stated concern over the possibility that U.S.-origin firearms and ammunition might contribute to crime in Jamaica," said the U.S. embassy.
But according to one leading authorised firearms dealer, the decision to suspend their licences has began to impact negatively on the business of legitimate arms dealers.
Ernest Hoo of Arms and Ammunition Limited in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, told The Gleaner on Wednesday that the situation had prevented him from delivering over 400 firearms to persons who had gotten permits and have been on a waiting list since last year.
Mr. Hoo said his business lost close to $40 million last year.
With the imposition of the suspension, the arms and ammunition dealer noted that Belgium would be the only other country where dealers in legal armoury and ammunition could source stock.
But Mr. Hoo also said dealers might still be able to import shotguns and the required ammunition from the U.S. as these do not fall under the ambit of the State Department.
On March 8, news surfaced about the suspension when the media got hold of a document which was faxed from the Bureau of Political Military Affairs in Washington D.C., to dealers in Jamaica, advising them that no licences would be considered for firearms and/or ammunition for Jamaica at this time.
At that time, Mr. Hoo said he was surprised by the news, as it was unusual for the State Department to correspond directly with dealers in Jamaica.
"They normally correspond with the dealers or the manufacturers in the United States," said Mr. Hoo.
The Department of State has the responsibility under the Arms Export control Act, Public Law (94-329) for approving licenses for firearms and ammunition exports for items on the United States Munitions list.
