Barbados PM Mia Mottley Vows Action on Crime, Healthcare, & Fisheries at Party Meeting

Prime Minister Mia Mottley has vowed her government’s unwavering commitment to tackling crime, overhauling the healthcare system, and reviving the ailing fisheries industry.

The PM’s pledge came at a Barbados Labour Party meeting at the St Christopher School in Christ Church South where Senator Dr Shantal Munro-Knight received the constituency branch’s nod to stand for Parliament in the next general election.

In a wide-ranging speech, Mottley sought to underline her administration’s commitment to addressing the island’s most pressing issues and delivering tangible improvements in the lives of Barbadians.

She called for accountability, resilience, and collective responsibility from all Barbadians, stressing that complacency had no place as the nation grapples with these critical challenges.

Crime, particularly the surge in gun violence and its impact on the youth, was at the forefront of Mottley’s address. She emphasised that the fight against crime requires the active involvement of the entire community, not just the government and law enforcement.

“I am going to remind the country as long as I hold public office and even after I leave public office that you cannot, you cannot step back and be a spectator to the disintegration of what is happening with our young people and what is happening with the criminal situation in this country,” she declared, reinforcing her message that crime is a societal issue demanding vigilance and proactive engagement.

While acknowledging that law enforcement is receiving the resources it needs, Mottley stressed the pivotal role of the public in this battle. “Guns don’t walk, guns don’t talk, and if you, therefore, understand that, then it is up to each of us to recognise that that is not to be encouraged or tolerated in our culture,” she asserted, underscoring the importance of community responsibility in curbing gun violence.

The prime minister also appealed to parents and guardians to be vigilant, warning them to monitor their children’s activities and influences. “When a child comes home with things that you know you ain’t getting money to buy, how they get it? You will be lucky if it is a gift, and if it is a gift, then you will be unlucky in the long run,” Mottley said, highlighting the crucial role of parental oversight in preventing youth involvement in criminal activities.

She also called for the restoration of social values and community cohesion, urging religious institutions, schools, businesses, and other organisations to play their part in building a safer society. “If you can help us do that, then I believe Barbados can have a winning chance of making sure that we do not follow the road that other countries have followed,” Mottley said, reaffirming her government’s determination to combat crime.