Government will review the planned increase in Dominica’s annual firearm licence fee from EC$200 to EC$1,000 following concerns from licensed firearm owners.
Dominica: The Government of Dominica has announced plans to formally review the sharp increase in firearms license fees amid concerns raised by legal gun owners in the country. Earlier in the beginning of the month, the Government had shared that the annual fee for a firearm license will increase to EC$1,000 effective October 1, 2026.
The adjustment was formally announced in Parliament by the Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Climate Resilience and Social Security, Dr. Irving McIntyre, during his presentation of the National Budget for the fiscal year 2026/2027. During his address, the Minister of Finance revealed that the fee will increase from EC$200 to EC$1,000 annually, noting that the policy change is part of the Government’s broader review of selected fees and charges.
Government has also undertaken a review of the fees associated with firearm licences, taking into account the administrative and regulatory costs of the licensing regime and the need to ensure that these fees remain appropriate and reflective of current realities. Effective 1st October 2026, the annual fee for a firearm licence will increase to EC$1,000, stated the Minister of Finance.
Following the announcement, earlier this week during a post-budget town hall meeting of Roseau South in Bathe Estate, Prime Minister Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit, assured the citizens that the Government will "dramatically" review this adjustment. He noted that the Government has listened and understood the concerns that were raised by the gun owners but also stressed that the measure is not intended to generate revenue, but rather to promote responsibility.
We have taken note of the observations of quite a number of people, and we will simply review that rate. We understand the sentimentality and the emotions and so on. It is not really a revenue measure; it is more one of responsibility, states the Prime Minister.
Skerrit further added, "Even if you are a licenced firearm, we believe that there are certain responsibilities that one has to carry out. But we understand that there are people that it could impact negatively in terms of the increase. For example, there are a lot of police officers who are private licenced firearm holders because you cannot go home with a police firearm."
This policy reassessment is taking place alongside other highly anticipated economic manoeuvres by the Dominican government. During the same town hall meeting, the Prime Minister also announced plans to possibly eliminate income tax in Dominica by 2028.