Prime Minister Andrew Holness has revealed that a report is to be released “in short order” outlining the final decisions of the National Security Council (NSC) which yesterday held discussions on adjustments to be made to the operations of the controversy-plagued Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA).

The FLA has been at the centre of intense discussion this month, with accusations of corruption and weak governance hurled at past and current executives, including claims that gun licences were being approved for individuals of questionable character and that individuals were accepting bribes.

Similar controversy has dogged the FLA for years, raising concerns about what is to be done to clean up arguable one of the most security sensitive entities in the country.

Addressing yesterday’s (February 24) official groundbreaking ceremony for the Stony Hill Police Station, Holness said the NSC’s discussions around the FLA included:

• The process of application for firearms
• The ineligibility criteria (who cannot apply for a firearm)
• The approval process for firearms
• The mainstreaming of the intelligence agencies in the approval process
• The removal of residual discretion of ministers to approve firearm licenses
• The introduction of new technologies for the marking and tracing of firearms and ammunition
• A new and more and in-depth system of vetting of persons at both the FLA and the Jamaica Customs Agency
• The changing of the requirement to serve on the board of the FLA to include a fit and proper criterion

In the meantime, the prime minister said the FLA would provide the first provisioning of the ‘Get Every Illegal Gun’ Fund, of $25 million.

Holness urged every Jamaican to share what they know about illegal guns with the security forces at 119, 311 and the JDF Tip line at 876 837 8888.