Dominica: Former government minister fined on gun related charges

A magistrate Wednesday ordered former Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Kenneth Darroux to pay EC$5,000 immediately after he was convicted on gun-related charges.

“Possession of a firearm is a serious offence, and we see it escalating in Dominica and the Caribbean bringing an outcry to the society. I will not impose a custodial sentence since you are a first-time offender, fully co-operated and we did not have a protracted trial,” Magistrate Michael Laudat said.

Darroux, who is the Special Envoy in the Office of the Prime Minister, had pleaded guilty to two charges that on January 16, this year, he imported one Glock 19 barrel and also one Glock 17 slide without being the holder of a license to so do as is required under the Firearms Act.

Darroux had elected for a summary trial at the Magistrate Court given that the charges could have been summarily or indictable at the High Court.

His attorney, Lennox Lawrence, told the court that his client has been the holder of a firearms license for the past 10 years and he honestly and genuinely thought that his “firearms license was sufficiently enough”.

Darroux is the holder of two firearms licenses for a Glock 19 firearm arm and both licenses are valid. He imported personal effects along with one Glock 19 barrel that arrived in Dominica on January 22, 2024.

When the package was being examined by the customs officer, he found a Glock 17 slide and one Glock 19 barrel. They were seized and the matter was reported to the police.

The court heard that Darroux admitted to the purchase but stated that since he was the holder of a firearms license, he thought that was sufficient for him to order the firearm accessories.

As a result, he was arrested and slapped with the two charges.

“He formed a view that is regrettably wrong…this was not a full firearm, it only has components of a firearm,” Lawrence told the court.

“There are no aggravating circumstances in this case, this is somebody who has not concealed anything from the police, he is a first-time offender who is saying to the court I am sorry.”

Lawrence said Darroux, 53, a former health minister and a medical practitioner by profession, is a genuine member of society and it would serve no useful purpose if he is given “a custodial sentence.

“This is an outstanding member of the community, we are asking for special considerations but not special favours,” he said.

“We all make mistakes, this matter should not have even reached the court, it should have been dealt with administratively,” Lawrence said, adding that his client should be “reprimanded and discharged.”

But he said if the court is minded to impose a fine it should be “very small just to make a statement.”

On the issue of the public’s interest in the matter, the defence attorney said that the public’s interest is not served by penalizing his client for crimes done by other individuals.

“He cannot carry the sins of other offenders” and urged the magistrate to “disregard anything said by the prosecution about public’s interest.”

In his ruling, Laudat said that he was not going to adhere to the sentencing guidelines since it was “not in the public’s interest”

But he said that “ignorance of the law is no excuse and the country has seen the prevalence of illegal firearms and the court must send out a clear message.”

For possession of the Glock 19 barrel, Darroux was fined EC$3,000.00 to be paid forthwith in default six months in jail, and for the importation of the Glock 17 slides he was fined EC$2,000.00 also to be paid forthwith or in default six months in prison.

The fines were paid forthwith.

Under the Firearm Act of Dominica, Darroux could have been fined EC$15,000.00 and be sent to prison for seven years.