‘It is tantamount to child abuse’

Placing in the hands of children, at such a tender age, those type of weapons, Panday said at his law chambers in San Fernando is not only illegal, but a form of psychological abuse.

Panday called for the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago to get involved in the investigation into how two children of such tender age, were given those high-powered guns. “Does an issue of abuse of children took place here, by encouraging them to commit an illegality? Secondly, did they put those children’s lives in danger? I think the Children’s Authority should get involve here. Far too many children are used as drug mules, to carry guns and are used as pawns and the Children’s Authority had intervened and warned about such,” Panday said.

Panday said that his second concern about the high-powered guns raised by Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal, is borne out in Section Six (1) of the Firearm Act which says no person shall have in his/her possession a firearm or ammunition without a firearm users licence.

But the former junior National Security Minister contended that what was indeed most worrying, was what Section Six (2) says in respect of prohibited weapons - such as automatic weapons. He said, “The section allows only members of the protectives services, such as the army, police and customs, to carry automatic weapons.” Stressing that the law views carrying automatic weapons very seriously, Panday said that the penalty was $75,000 as a fine or imprisonment for 15 years.

Panday said, “Whether the weapons were given to these young people to practise or to pose, it is still illegal, because under no circumstances must you have in your possession a firearm without the requisite license.” (See Page 16A)