By Staff Writer
Fear at the higher risks to police safety from too many guns allowed into the country reared frighteningly this week at the sudden arrival of a firearms and ammunition shipment at Faleolo International Airport.
The HRPP political party opposition leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, is strongly critical after learning that a Minister of Cabinet is behind the consignment held up for customs clearance.
“When I was Minister of Police, the high number of cases involving the use of firearms became a major concern for the Commissioner of Police and the Ministry and it was the logic behind the gun amnesty drive,” Tuilaepa recalled.
Former Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil, organised the amnesty for illegal guns after the alarming trend of firearms entering the country.
Reported cases of death where illegal guns were used were at the time becoming common as well.
Tuilaepa pointed a blaming finger at the Minister of Police for making it easier for his fellow Cabinet colleague to be granted a license to import the kind of firearms shipment reported this week.
“I’m astounded at the direction the Minister of Police took to do that and whatever tragedy that may come from allowing more guns into the country, it falls on his head for lack of counsel and restraint,” Tuilaepa told the local media in his weekly Thursday conference.
The opposition leader also questioned the responsibility of the Prime Minister and Cabinet for not taking into review and consideration the involvement of the Agriculture Minister in arms shipment.
“The Prime Minister is guilty of negligent if she is just going to pass on the responsibility to her ministers unaware of the consequences if there are any.
‘What if the Minister is irresponsible should she or he still be allowed to continue without a care for possible consequences to the lives that maybe affected?”
Tuilaepa called on the PM for a review of the gun dealership policy and to remove the license from the Minister operating as a firearms dealer.
He questioned also why a Cabinet Minister is actively involved in this area of commerce in competition with others in the business community already doing the same thing.
“We have more than enough licensed gun dealers to handle that line of business and the fact that it remains wide open for anyone to do so is a major surprise and cause for concern.”
The guns and ammunition shipment this week is now under police investigation on direct instructions from the Prime Minister after yesterday’s public unsettling uproar.