The Ministry of Police and Prisons is looking at holding a gun amnesty at either the end of the year or the new beginning of the new year said Deputy Police Commissioner Papalii Monalisa Keti during the media conference.
She said the Ministry have other pertinent issues they are obligated to including the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2022 that Samoa will host as incoming Chair-in-Office of 2024.
The “CHOGM” brings together Leaders and delegations from 54 commonwealth nations from across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Pacific and Europe. Leaders of Commonwealth countries meet every two years, hosted by different member countries on a rotating basis since 1971.
The last meeting was hosted by the United Kingdom in 2018, and this is the first meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the meeting for two years. CHOGM aims to reinforce multilateral cooperation, explore new opportunities, and tackle common challenges for the well-being of future generations.
Last year almost 200 illegal guns were handed in by people as a result of the third gun amnesty done under the purview of former Police Commissioner Fuiavaili’ili Egon Keil.
A total of 198 weapons were collected during its last gun amnesty which included firearms comprising rifles, pistols, and shotguns.
Ammunition totalling 686 for the various firearms was also handed to the Police. At the last gun amnesty, each firearm handed to the Police, the owner was given a food voucher.
