Over the August Emancipation Festival, police made several “significant” arrests for firearm-related offences, according to a police press release issued on Friday.

Alanah Chalwell, of East End, and Nyall Giovanni George, of Old Plantation, were charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, obliterating or defacing identifying marks on a firearm, and attempted abduction with intent, police confirmed.

The arrests were made in relation to an incident on Aug. 4 near the Chalwell Marina in East End, where both Mr. George and another suspect were injured, police said.

Police Information Officer Diane Drayton wrote, “In this incident that could easily have resulted in even more injuries and possible deaths, both the community and police interceded bringing about these successful arrests and the recovery of a loaded firearm.”

Other arrests are expected in that matter, Ms. Drayton said.

Other suspects

Separately, Dion Thomas, 39, of Hannahs Estate, was charged Aug. 6 with carrying a firearm without a licence and two counts of unlawful possession of ammunition, after police uncovered a loaded pistol during a stop-and-search operation, the press release stated.

In another incident, police said, Jamori Hart, 22, of Parham Town, was searched and charged with keeping an unlicensed firearm. Police did not say when Mr. Hart was charged.

Remanded

The four men appeared in Magistrates’ Court last Thursday and were remanded to prison.

Acting Police Commissioner Alwin James said fatalities could have been possible if police had not acted when they did.
“Our Festival celebrations could have been disrupted [or could have been] very unsettling had any of these confiscated weapons been discharged, injuring or killing someone,” Mr. James said.

“We are very happy with the outcome, but we cannot overemphasise the need for [the] community to work with police in bringing persons carrying firearms to justice. All hands must be on deck.”