The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

LEGISLATION to prevent “cash for gold crimes” will be tabled in the House of Assembly when the House resumes in less than two weeks, National Security Minister Bernard Nottage said yesterday.

Although not revealing specific details concerning the legislation, this move comes after Dr Nottage called for the closure of cash for gold shops, three months ago in the House of Assembly, in light of statistics showing more than half of all armed robberies are involving jewellery or copper.

In response to a suggestion from the public at last month’s Crime Listening Forum, the official government response promises that cash for gold businesses are being reviewed with the view to “regulate them more strictly.”

Dr Nottage said yesterday: “We will be tabling in Parliament, when next we go (October 2), a measure that we think will assist us in dealing with the cash for gold problem. I don’t want to say anything more than that.

“But we also want to consult, of course, with the businesses – with the people who are in the cash for gold business. We can give them an idea of what we are thinking; We can consider what their response to it is.

“But ultimately, it is our intention to prevent these cash for gold crimes from continuing.”

Back in June, Dr Nottage had told the House that there is “a lot of crime associated with gold – with people snatching people’s gold chains, with people breaking into homes and taking their jewellery and stealing.”

After recalling an instance when he personally witnessed a young man rob an elderly man of his gold chain, Dr Nottage said: “When these cash for gold stores were licensed, I think there were certain requirements they were required to meet when they exchanged money for gold. My information is they are not living up to those responsibilities when they exchange money for gold.

“The person who is selling you something ought to prove they are the owners of it – bring receipts to show they paid for it before you can do a legitimate business exchange with them, (but) that is not happening. I want to close these cash for gold stores down. I want to close these cash for gold stores down and I want the agreement of the Opposition.”

Keith Bell, State Minister for National Security, had accused some cash for gold operators of melting down stolen gold jewellery, within an hour of receiving it, to prevent being prosecuted and arrested.

Speaking last June, Mr Bell said police have linked the cash for gold and copper businesses with the high number of robberies, housebreakings and stealing being recorded in the country. He said there is no doubt that there is a connection between crime and these types of businesses.

Cash for gold operators have criticised the government over the threats, explaining the call for a ban was done without any consultation with an industry they claim has kept the country afloat during hard economic times.

Operators had charged, the government’s attempt to de-legitimise businesses was short-sighted and discriminating in its exclusion of traditional jewellery and jewellery repair shops, all of which engage in the sale of second hand jewellery.