Police destroy firearms in munitions management, encasement ceremony

NASSAU, The Bahamas — A firearms encasement ceremony was held, Wednesday, at the Internal Security Division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force at which over 1,400 weapons were destroyed through encasement in concrete as an important step in munitions management, and ridding the streets of guns.

Minister of National Security, the Hon. Wayne Munroe said encasement symbolized the government’s effort to break the cycle of violence — as those firearms will not return to the public domain — and it will improve the process of stockpile management.

US Charge d’Affaires Kimberly Furnish stated that as part of the US partnership with Caribbean nations to work towards eliminating trafficking and creating safer communities, the US has funded a programme to improve security at munitions depots.  The funding facilitates management of ammunition stockpiles through destruction of excess guns and ammunition, and it provides managers of those stockpiles with further training.

The Ministry of National Security has worked along with Mines Advisory Group (MAG), CARICOM IMPACS, and the US Embassy to advance the firearms disposal programme.

PHOTO CAPTION

In group photo, l-r: US Embassy Charge d’Affaires Kimberly Furnish; Commissioner of Police Shanta Knowles; Ministry of National Security Permanent Secretary Bridget Hepburn; Minister of National Security, the Hon. Wayne Munroe; Royal Bahamas Defence Force Commander, Commodore Floyd Moxey; and RBDF Captain Carlon Bethel.   (BIS Photos/Patrick Hanna)