Police Commissioner Warns Firearm Misuse Can Trigger Revocation

Licensed firearm holders in Saint Lucia could lose their right to carry a weapon if they misuse it, Police Commissioner Verne Garde has warned, revealing that the Firearms Board has already revoked a licence during his tenure.

Garde said firearm ownership is governed by the Firearms Act and remains subject to oversight even after a licence has been approved. “If somebody uses a firearm injudiciously, the board has the authority to withdraw and revoke that firearm from these persons,” Garde said, confirming, “I have seen that done at least once during my tenure.”

The Commissioner explained that the five-member Firearms Board oversees applications and other licensing matters. Although the Commissioner of Police traditionally chairs the board, Garde said he has delegated that responsibility to senior officer Albert Charlery. Applications may also be referred to the Special Branch when additional scrutiny is required. According to Garde, officers assess those cases individually and submit recommendations to guide the board’s decision.

The oversight does not end once a firearm licence is issued. Garde said the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force alerts the Firearms Board to firearm-related infractions involving licensed holders, allowing the board to determine whether further action is warranted.

The Commissioner also explained that Saint Lucia’s firearm framework extends beyond individual licence holders. Certain public agencies, including the Bordelais Correctional Facility, Castries City Council and the Port Authority, are legally authorised to maintain firearms and ammunition for operational purposes. Private security companies can also apply for employees to access company firearms through what Garde described as a “sub-user firearm application.”

Similar arrangements can exist within households. A licensed firearm owner may have another eligible person, such as a spouse or other household member, registered as a sub-user.

Garde said the provision recognises that circumstances requiring lawful self-defence can develop quickly and the primary licence holder may not always be the person able to access the weapon first. However, anyone authorised to use the firearm under those circumstances must have the appropriate sub-user licence.

His comments reinforce that receiving a firearm licence does not give holders unrestricted authority over the weapon. Licensed owners remain accountable for how firearms are handled and used, with the Firearms Board empowered to intervene including through revocation when the conditions governing firearm ownership are breached.

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