The government is taking measures to tighten up gun controls according to Interior and Police Minister Franklin Almeyda.

There are currently 60,000 guns in circulation with expired licences and the owners of those guns will be given 10 days after next Monday's official announcement of the new gun control measures to renew their licences. Anybody carrying a gun without a current licence will subsequently be assumed to be holding a gun for bad purposes and those guns will be confiscated with the assistance of the Dominican Armed Forces.

At the same time, Almeyda commented on the implementation of a one month pilot project to ease the restrictions on alcohol sales in the tourist regions of Cabarete and Puerto Plata. Business owners in those areas, under the sponsorship of the Tourism Ministry, will be able to set their own hours of operation. The restrictions on alcohol sales in other areas of the country will remain the same and not be made flexible.