APPEALING not just as a legislator, but also from his own experience with past convictions, Opposition Spokesperson on Youth and Human Rights Isat Buchanan has urged the Joint Select Committee reviewing the Child Diversion Act to make simple possession of a firearm or ammunition an offence that can be referred to child diversion, rather than leaving it solely to a judge’s discretion under Section 37 of the Act.

He argued that children caught in possession should be given a chance to avoid a lifelong criminal record.

But the proposal drew resistance from committee chairman Delroy Chuck and other members, who warned that making simple firearm possession a scheduled diversion offence could remove judicial discretion and allow criminals to exploit children as gun carriers, knowing they could be sent to diversion if caught.