With Barbados recording its fifth murder for the year over the weekend, following in the same vein as 2019’s record-setting year for killings, the Royal Barbados Police Force today sought to assure the public that solving the latest raft of slayings is off to a good start.
Acting Commissioner of Police Erwin Boyce revealed to reporters this morning that in three of the murders the alleged perpetrators have been charged, while detectives are on the verge of making an arrest in a fourth.
The acting police chief disclosed that “60 per cent” of the 49 murders last year – 40 – have been solved.
Boyce said: “Of the five murders we have solved three so far and the strong possibility exist that we might solve a fourth in the not too distant future.
‘I can tell the Barbadian public that the police understand, the police have been listening to what the public has been saying.
“I want to assure Barbadians that we have never taken off our gloves in the fight against crime and we will never do so.
“We have done relatively well, and I can report that over 60 per cent of our murders have been solved in terms of being cleared up and put before the court.
“The ones that have not been solved are actively been pursued with vigour and there is light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to those cases.”
Boyce insisted that his officers that his officers were determined, now more than ever, to ensuring that criminals do not disrupt the Barbadian way of life.
He noted that his officers have given the commitment to keep this focus and to let nothing distract from this objective.
Said Boyce: “I can assure you that one of the things we say on a daily basis is to ensure that we give the level of response and the level of commitment to solving all matters, especially the ones that can create disruption, make society uncomfortable and create anxiety.
“We have a suite of strategies, some are short-term, some are long-term, and some are strategic medium-term.
“As long as the Barbadian public cooperates with us in providing us with information and support, then I can assure you that you have a police force that can give you the best results.”
On the issue of illegal guns coming through the ports, Boyce told reporters that there was now greater cooperation between law enforcement and border security officials.
Boyce said: “We are building that relationship between Port Authority and the Customs and Excise Department.
“I can report that this relationship has been strengthened and while I may not be able to go too deep into the details, I know that there are strong initiatives coming from our border security and national security apparatus.”
colvillemounsey@barbadostoday.bb
