The government of Dominica has unveiled a slate of urgent measures to combat rising gun violence, including a limited gun amnesty, the formation of a special firearms task force, and financial rewards for information leading to the seizure of illegal weapons.
The announcement came Monday from Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who addressed the nation alongside National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore, Police Commissioner Lincoln Corbette, and senior law enforcement officials. The measures follow a series of violent incidents, including the shooting of a South Korean crew member from the Logos Hope vessel last week in Roseau.
“These incidents, brazen and reckless, have disrupted the peace and shaken the sense of safety that we hold dear as a people,” said Skerrit. “Let me be clear: this government will not tolerate lawlessness.”
The injured Logos Hope crew member, who was shot in the buttocks while walking in the capital, underwent surgery at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital and has since been discharged.
Skerrit said that after returning to the country on Sunday, he held an emergency security meeting, resulting in the following key measures:
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Establishment of a dedicated Firearms Task Force comprising personnel from the Police CID, Special Branch, K9 Unit, Customs and Excise Division, Coast Guard, and National Joint Intelligence Centre (NJIC).
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Confidential hotline for reporting illegal firearms, with a reward of EC$1,000 for tips that lead to seizures.
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Limited gun amnesty, allowing citizens to surrender illegal firearms without fear of prosecution.
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Ban on tinted windows in rental vehicles.
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Engagement of a special prosecutor to handle all major gun-related cases.
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Immediate increase in police foot and mobile patrols, particularly in Roseau.
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Nationwide installation of surveillance cameras, starting in the capital.
Details regarding the amnesty’s duration and firearm drop-off protocols will be provided by the police, Skerrit said.
“Dominica is a peaceful nation, and we will not permit our streets to become battlegrounds,” he declared. “We will find you. We will disarm you. And we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”
Commissioner Corbette disclosed that 11 murders have occurred in Dominica so far this year, four of them involving firearms. He confirmed that suspects have been identified in three cases: Ian Alfred, Brent Alexander, and Jamal Ismael Alexis—all considered armed and dangerous.
Since mid-June, police have made four arrests and seized seven firearms, 84 rounds of ammunition, 16 motorcycles, three vehicles, and 1.1 kilograms of cocaine, in addition to EC$15,000 in cash.
Overall for the year, police have seized 49 firearms and 289 rounds of ammunition, including three high-powered AR-15-type rifles. Corbette emphasized the seriousness of these findings: “Those are weapons of war, and they do not belong on the streets of Dominica.”
Historical figures show a troubling trend:
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2022: 92 firearms, 2,140 rounds seized
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2023: 35 firearms, 1,651 rounds
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2024 to date: 27 firearms, 764 rounds
In total, 175 people have been arrested for firearm-related offenses over the past four years.
Minister Blackmoore rejected recent calls for his resignation, asserting that public safety must take precedence. “If we want safe streets, we must allow the police, with reason, to carry out their duties,” he said, urging citizens to cooperate with law enforcement.
Skerrit concluded by thanking the police for their service and reaffirming government support: “You have the full support of this Government, once you carry out your duties within the confines of the constitution and laws of Dominica.”
