A recommendation by an opposition lawmaker that children found in possession of a firearm or ammunition should be referred to the child diversion programme rather than placed before the court on gun charges was yesterday rejected by the chairman of the joint select committee reviewing the Child Diversion Act.

Making a case for “possession simpliciter” of a firearm to be placed in the First Schedule of the child diversion law, Isat Buchanan, opposition spokesman on youth and human rights, cautioned that children could be hauled before the courts for possession of a firearm after being forced to ‘lock’ guns by community dons.

However, Committee Chairman Delroy Chuck said if the child can explain to the courts, in-camera, how he was coerced or instructed by the don to ‘lock’ a firearm, then he may be put on a child diversion programme under Section 37 of the legislation.