October 5, 2026

Legal associations say three key outcomes came out of recent meeting with Government on Firearms Act

The Jamaican Bar Association (JAMBAR) and the Advocates’ Association of Jamaica (AAJ) say three key outcomes came out of the recent meeting with the government on the Firearms Act.

The groups met with the Government on Friday.

The groups have been protesting what they call the rigidity of the current provisions under the Act.

They want the Government to review the Act with special focus on mandatory minimum sentences and persons held with imitation guns.

In a joint press release following the meeting, the groups said that during the robust discussion, the Prime Minister and his ministerial team acknowledged the concerns raised by the legal fraternity and agreed that the legislation in question requires refinement.

The groups said, reaffirming their joint position, both legal associations reiterated that while legislative measures aimed at addressing crime are critical, statutory frameworks, particularly those surrounding mandatory minimum sentences, must include explicit statutory safety valves and exceptions.

They said preserving judicial discretion remains vital to upholding constitutional protections, proportional sentencing, encouraging guilty pleas and fair outcomes.

The groups said key outcomes agreed upon during the meeting include: an upcoming meeting to be convened to formally engage the Law Reform Committee, directing them to prioritise the review and reform of the Act.

In addition, JAMBAR and the AAJ committed to leading public sensitisation initiatives to educate citizens on the nuances, legal implications and importance of the proposed reforms.

The third key outcome was for continued consultative engagement between the Government and the legal associations, with constructive dialogue throughout the legislative process.