Increased penalties for gun-related convictions in St Kitts and Nevis

The penalties for those convicted of gun-related crimes are expected to be increased in St Kitts and Nevis.

Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Timothy Harris, spoke earlier this week about the rising numbers of firearms in the federation.

And he said: “given the prevalence of guns in horrific killings, we propose to seek Parliament’s approval in doubling the penalty for a summary offence from a maximum term of 10 years in certain cases, to a maximum term of imprisonment not exceeding 20 years.”

A summary offence is an offence that can be heard by a magistrate and also be heard in the absence of the defendant.

Cases that will fall under this category include the importation or exportation of a firearm without a permit, the manufacturing of a firearm without a license, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Balance between liberty and loss of life

Additionally, the prime minister added that “the penalty for indictable offences” will carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment under the proposed changes.

“Indictable offences are heard in the High Court as the defendant is tried by judge and jury.

Harris said government also wishes to ensure that persons on bail are not allowed to repeat criminal acts “without due sanctions.”

“In relation to bail therefore, we intend to make it more difficult for criminals to receive bail in relation to both a capital offence, such as murder and a firearm offence at the same time,” he added.

This will mitigate against criminals on bail exacting vengeance on witnesses and innocent people in our society. We propose that the court would consider imposing a monitoring device for example, an ankle bracelet on certain persons as a condition of bail.

“We believe that the risk of loss of lives has to be given appropriate weight in the balancing between loss of lives and liberty.”

Parliament is expected to sit again on 13 June, and the prime minister is confident that the government will be able to pass the Firearms Amendment Act and the Bail Amendment Act.

Both bills were already introduced to parliament at the end of May.