Integrity Commission report on FLA tabled in Parliament

A long-awaited report from Jamaica's Integrity Commission has finally been tabled in Parliament, detailing significant concerns within the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA). The report, officially titled the “Investigation Concerning Allegations of Corruption, Impropriety and Irregularity at the Firearm Licensing Authority,” was the subject of political controversy as opposition members accused Parliament of delaying its release.

The investigation examined allegations of corruption, improper conduct, and record-keeping failures. A key finding revealed that the FLA’s Licence Management System (LMS) was allegedly manipulated. The Director of Investigation concluded that inaccurate information was entered into a firearms dealer's account, specifically involving four entries for three individuals purchasing 6,000 rounds of bird-hunting ammunition without the dealer's consent.

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The DI concludes that the FLA’s Licence Management System (LMS) was manipulated by the FLA and it appears that inaccurate information was inputted in Mr Kent Brown’s LMS account.

Investigators also found weaknesses in the FLA’s ammunition storage and inventory systems. The report noted that 191 rounds of .22 ammunition belonging to a licensed firearm holder could not be accounted for. It recommended an independent audit of the agency's vaults and raised concerns about the deteriorating condition of some stored ammunition, citing packaging issues and fading identification labels that could hinder inventory management.

The commission has put forth several recommendations to strengthen governance, improve record management, and enhance oversight within the FLA. The tabling of this report marks a significant step in addressing alleged irregularities within the agency.

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The DI’s conclusion is premised on the fact that Shevon Robinson, former Database Administrator at the FLA, made four entries to the LMS of Mr Brown, of three individuals purchasing a total of six thousand 12 Gauge bird hunting ammunition, without the request or consent of Mr Kent Brown.