BARBADOS - BLUE LANTERN: RESPONSE FROM RBPF ON

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000785 SIPDIS SIPDIS SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD STATE FOR PM/DDTC FOR BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC BB XL SUBJECT: BARBADOS - BLUE LANTERN: RESPONSE FROM RBPF ON LICENSE 05-050018615 REF: 06 BRIDGETOWN 2136 ¶1. (SBU) Post has received an interim reply from the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF),responding to the Embassy's February 8, 2007, request for information concerning the application by Sports Imports to import ten (10) Remington 700 rifles. ¶2. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT: June 12, 2007 Mr. Christopher Reynolds Second Secretary US Embassy Bridgetown Dear Sir Importation of Firearms I refer to your letter of February 8, 2007 concerning an application by Sports Imports to import ten (10) Remington 700 7.62x51 (1.308) calibre rifles. The Royal Barbados Police Force is currently investigating this matter. Preliminary finding indicate that permission was granted by a letter signed by Inspector Harewood for the importation of the mentioned firearms. However, the nature of further correspondence to Inspector Harewood from Sports Imports necessitated further inquiry. The circumstances are being examined in the ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, there is no valid import license for the importation of these firearms. The investigation is at an advanced stage and is being conducted in accordance with the provisions of our Firearms Act. You would be informed in due course of our findings. Yours faithfully Darwin Dottin Commissioner of Police (signed) END TEXT -------------- Background -------------- ¶3. (SBU) When PolOff called Inspector Harewood initially, he confirmed the letter he signed and stated that Sports Imports had permission to import the 10 rifles. At the request of PM/DDTC, PolOff followed up with Harewood, who works in the Commissioner Dottin's office and is the one person at the RBPF that can issue import licenses, to obtain enduser information for the weapons. PolOff also called the procurement officers at both the RBPF and the Royal Barbados Defence Force, both of whom stated that they were not importing these weapons. When PolOff called Harewood again to ask for enduser information, he referred PolOff to the Commissioner himself. Commissioner Dottin asked that the Embassy put its request for clarification of the discrepancy in writing, which the Embassy did with its February 8 letter. ¶4. (SBU) COMMENT: It is encouraging that Dottin is taking this matter seriously. It would appear that Inspector Harewood did indeed grant permission for the rifles to be imported into Barbados without obtaining all the enduser information he should have gathered. GILROY