Senator Ashworth Azille Says Provision for a Gun Factory in the YIDA Agreement was a "Fatal Error"

Senator Ashworth Azille singled out the trafficking provisions as the part of the Firearms (Amendment) Bill 2026 he is happiest about then turned the Senate's attention to the question the penalties alone cannot answer: how the illegal guns keep getting in.

"Where I am happy that this piece of legislation is trending is imposing very severe penalties on those who traffic firearms," the opposition senator said during Monday's second-reading debate. Under the bill, unlawful importation, exportation or transshipment of firearms or ammunition attracts a sentence of not less than 15 years and up to 30 years on indictment.

But the senator argued the state must match the statute with surveillance. "Our island, like many of the others, is surrounded by sea and it's quite porous. Our borders are porous," he said. "With the many bays and coves that we have around Antigua and Barbuda, it becomes easy for persons with criminal intent to allow these firearms through our borders."

Earlier in his presentation, he had posed the underlying question directly: "It begs the question: where are these weapons coming from? And what are we really doing to ensure that they can no longer be available on our streets to persons who are not licensed to carry firearms?"

Credit Where Due and a Concern

Senator Azille acknowledged the government's recent hardware acquisitions, referencing the Leader of Government Business's disclosure that a new Coast Guard vessel had arrived. "I'm very pleased about that," he said, adding of the two aircraft acquired for the ABDF: "I'm very happy about that."

"But what I'm concerned about," he continued, "is the extent to which there is sufficient collaboration among our law enforcement agencies so that we can better surveil our borders to prevent many of these firearms from entering."

He called on the government to "act quickly to ensure that it heightens its surveillance capabilities" at the Antigua Port Authority, St. John's Harbour and the V.C. Bird International Airport. "I'm convinced, Madame President, that a lot of these firearms that are coming into this country are making their way here through a number of these containers, shipping barrels and those sort of things," he said. "And on the odd occasion that we may intercept them, it begs the question: how many more have been able to slip through the cracks?"

He urged that the "promised X-ray and other surveillance mechanisms" be installed without delay: "There are far too many young lives, Madame President, that are being taken as a result of these illegal guns." Police reported some 54 firearms taken off the streets by mid-September — a figure that has done little to quiet public questions about whether the crime fight is working.

YIDA Gun Factory a "Fatal Error"

Senator Azille revisited the special economic zone legislation associated with the failed YIDA project. "I am one of those who believe that Antigua and Barbuda made a fatal error," he said, pointing to a provision in the agreement that allowed for the manufacturing of firearms.

"Whether or not it happened, whether or not it materialized, the fact that it found its way there in the agreement — they [ABLP] defended it — gave me reason for pause. And it should give the entire nation reason for pause, because in these 108 square miles we are barely able to contain those that are coming through illegally," he argued.

The remark drew an immediate point of order from Senator Lamin Newton, who complained that "Senator Azille is giving the public the impression that guns are being manufactured in Antigua and Barbuda."

President Alincia Williams-Grant disagreed. "I did not hear that from Senator Azille," she ruled. "I heard that he said that the provision is there to allow them to manufacture, and he is questioning... whether the capacity is there to monitor. That is what I heard. Senator Azille, continue."

Resuming, Senator Azille stood his ground while clarifying his point: "The agreement was made public. We can't argue about that. So that's a matter of fact. And though a gun factory did not materialize, I'm just saying that we even contemplated that was ill-advised, and I would hope that we do not repeat the same thing in the future. We should never put profits over the welfare and well-being of the people that we are asked to serve."

Go After the Suppliers

The senator closed the theme with a demand for intelligence-led enforcement against those who arm the shooters. "There must be targeted actions against gun suppliers," he said. "Don't tell me that our constabulary forces have absolutely no intelligence about where these guns might be coming from, who might be potentially supplying these guns. We need to employ advanced policing so that we are able to stem this tide."

And echoing a sentiment from the government benches, he pitched the police reward directly to would-be informers: "For those of you who do not like to be known as informers, let me suggest to you that if you're not happy to go work, you can make $5,000. Just tell the police where the illegal firearms are, and once they successfully intercept them, you can make $5,000. We all have a responsibility as a nation, be you a teenager, be you an adult, to protect each other from the harms that may otherwise be attempted upon us by those who have ill motives."