Possible Solutions to Barbados' Crime Issues Amidst Gun Proliferation and Drug Trade

The idea must never go forth that Barbados’ current problems with violent crime and lawlessness cannot be remedied. Barbadians must not throw their hands into the air in despair or succumb to a defeatist attitude. Indeed, we believe that for every lawless citizen with evil intent in the island, there are hundreds bent on being productive citizens and contributing to the upliftment of themselves, their families and the country.

Many have offered solutions, some practical, some whimsical, a few spiritual, some based on police interventions, some social, some political, and on and on the debate has raged. No reasonable suggestion should be dismissed.

Neither ammunition nor guns are manufactured in Barbados. Yet, there seems to be a proliferation of small, medium and high-powered weapons on the island. They are being used constantly and the ammunition seems to be inexhaustible.

It has been determined by the hierarchy of the Barbados Police Service on multiple occasions, that these weapons are entering the island through our ports of entry. It, therefore, begs the question: What kind of investigations, surveillance, sting operations, and financial background checks, have been carried out to determine the possible identities of the people at these entry points who may be facilitating this illegality for personal gain?

We are not aware of any arrests emanating from within the airport and seaport, inclusive of ‘private’ entry points, to suggest that robust action has been taken to identify and apprehend persons who might be involved.

Authorities have attributed much of the violence and sporadic murders to the illegal drugs trade. Yet, other than the occasional interception of drugs at sea or on Barbadian soil, there is no evidence to suggest that the main players are facing any major threat to their illicit businesses.

The advantage of living in such a small country is familiarity with one’s neighbours. We know drug dealers, drug runners, we know their associates, their wealth accumulation, yet they seem to prosper unhindered and untouched by authorities.

They associate with law enforcement, social workers, politicians, lawyers, port workers, et al. In many instances, these individuals have built their nefarious enterprises from humble beginnings to a stage where they own apartments and top-end vehicles; they appear to launder money in stores, restaurants and other seemingly legitimate businesses. They also reportedly contribute to political campaigns.

There is no evidence that some of them pay taxes. One is left to wonder: How can such individuals operate in a dot of a country with such impunity and for such extended periods of time without apprehension? Where are the financial investigators? Where are the tax authorities? Where are the next-door neighbours and co-workers who fail to report to authorities any suspicious movement they witness in their villages, at their work sites, on the fishing boats, on the conveyor belts, in the containers at the ports of entry? Crime escalates when citizens become numb to its occurrence.