TWO guns and a number of bullets have been surrendered to police since the commencement of the amnesty, last Monday.
Police Commissioner Matthew Varley revealed this to journalists on Wednesday at his weekly media conference at Rove Police headquarters.
“At this point in time, we have quite a number of rounds of ammunition and two guns handed to police since the commencement of the amnesty,” Mr Varley said.
“Just yesterday (Tuesday) in the past 24 hours and again today we have had two firearms handed in to police.
“These are the first two guns surrendered under this amnesty.”
Mr Varley said four police officers and five members of the Post Conflict Rehabilitation and Restoration Association (SIPCRRA) conducted a community engagement session at Kakabona in northwest Guadalcanal about the amnesty on Tuesday.
He said shortly after that session the team was given a short gun along with 19 rounds of rifle ammunition and eight rounds of other ammunition.
“Further this morning, I have been informed that one 22 calibre rifle plus a further 50 rounds of ammunition has been handed to police in Guadalcanal.
“And we are waiting for further details on that become available,” he said.
Mr Varley added that so far they have collected around 166 rounds of ammunition, which is bullets for guns including five rounds of 50 calibre ammunition that were surrendered to police and SIPCRRA members at Rarata village in north Guadalcanal on 29th of May.
“Fifteen rounds of 303 riffle ammunition were collected in Salesapo village in Central Islands province on 27th of May and handed to police.”
The police chief said another 53 rounds of 22 calibre Rim fire ammunition were handed to Naha police on 25th of May.
“Another 16 rounds of 22 ammunition were handed to Central Police station on 27th of May.
“Those have been some exceptional results,” Mr Varley said.
“We are halfway through the amnesty and I can report to you that our community engagement activities with police and community but also ably supported by SIPCRRA members are going well.
“There has been extensive community engagement right across Solomon Islands in major provincial centres but also in remote villages.
“Hundreds of community members have been spoken to by police officers and SIPCRRA as part of our engagement.
“This is the final amnesty that the government is offering and if you bring your guns forward and surrendered them to police you can do so without fear of prosecution and we will issue you with a certificate.
“And we will take those guns into safe custody for destruction.
“If you are found to be in possession of weapons after the amnesty period you are liable to prosecution because the guns and weapons are already illegal.”
The police chief said there is still time to go and we have a week and a half left of the amnesty.
“We are appealing to everyone to pay attention to the amnesty awareness sessions and also the dates and to make sure that you hand those guns in before next Friday the 9th of June.”
He said we are halfway through and people should not take too much longer to start coming forward with these weapons because we need to get them in before the amnesty period expires on June 9.
“One gun in community is too many.
“Now we have two less guns in the community but we want more to be brought forward and we will take them into care.”
Those two guns surrendered are now secured in armoury at police headquarters.
Mr Varley said when time is right they will make an announcement with the government for destruction.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
