Government Compensates Gun Owners

The Sikua Government is now in the process of compensating gun owners the equivalent of the destroyed guns' market value.

Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services Hon. Samuel Manetoali, revealed that the Government is agreeing to pay at least SBD$3,000 each, to owners of guns destroyed by RAMSI during the "no more guns" campaign in the early part of RAMSI's intervention.

However, Hon. Francis Zama, Member for South New Georgia, Rendova and Tetepare, Western Province, stated that the Government should re-look at the compensation rates as "they do not reflect the real economic value of the guns." Mr. Zama said that to compensate gun owners the equivalent of its market value is not right, describing it as unfair.

But Minister of Police, Samuel Manetoali, informed Parliament that the gun owners association has already opened a case in court against the Government over the payment, stating that "only the court can change the rates."