ONLY 20 FULs GRANTED IN 5 MONTHS

ONLY 20 Firearm Users’ Licences (FULs) were issued between October 2022 and February 2023, the head of the Police Firearms Permit Unit (FPU) has sworn in a legal affidavit.

A mere nine variations in respect of FULs were granted, Acting Inspector Lisa Cudjoe revealed.

Insp. Cudjoe said this represents “a marked drop” in the issuance of FUL licences since a November 2021 report by retired justice Stanley John into alleged corruption in the process.

Insp. Cudjoe, who has been head of FPU since July 2022, stated: “This fewer number of FULs and variations meant that fewer persons could lawfully purchase firearms, with a consequent effect on firearm sales.”

The police official said her role is to “oversee the operations” of FPU.

Her disclosures fly in the face of repeated declarations by National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds about a huge scramble for FULs and variations.

In February, Hinds told the Senate there were 34,000 pending FUL applications before the Commissioner of Police.

He said there was “madness with respect to variations, where some people have 40 weapons, 30 weapons, 36, 14, you just call a number…”

Speaking on an amendment to the Firearms Bill, Hinds said there were 25,000 active licences but that variations meant the number was much higher.

Last December, the Minister said there was “mayhem” with respect to the issuance of FULs before his intervention.

He said there were applications from “every Tom, Dick, Harry and his little brother, some under the age that the law requires…”

He stated that the authorities “are finding far more high-powered weapons in the place…”

He said automatic weapons were used in mass murders.

“With an automatic weapon, you could take down 10, 25 people in one go,” Hinds said.

He declared: “The right to bear arms is not enshrined in the constitution of Trinidad and Tobago.”

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has said that the John report “makes very disturbing reading.”

But Insp. Cudjoe’s affidavit gave a radically contrasting story on the demand for and sales of firearms.

She explained that she “has access to the books, files and records of the FPU.”

The senior official said there are records with respect to FULs, Firearm Dealers’ Licences, and companies that apply for Firearm Users’ Employees Certificates for their workers.

Insp. Cudjoe stressed that her statements in the affidavit are “true and correct.”

Her affidavit was issued with respect to legal action filed by Towfeek Ali and Firearms Training Institute Ltd., against the Commissioner of Police, Acting Assistant Superintendent Wayne Brown, and Acting Inspector Lyndon Mascall.

The legal matter pertains to the inspection of registers and stocks held by Ali and Firearms Training Institute Ltd.

Insp. Cudjoe’s statement was issued on behalf of the defendants and was witnessed by Commissioner of Affidavit Colin Johnson.