Making Barbados safe for everyone

Barbados has long enjoyed a reputation as a safe and welcoming country for locals and for the hundreds of thousands of visitors who return to the island year after year.

That desirable image has been built over many decades due to our relatively low levels of violent crime, and a tourism product based not only on sand and sea but on the interactions between visitors and ordinary Bajans offering the hospitality that comes naturally to them.

Recent reports of crime suggest that this sense of security cannot be taken for granted. Against this backdrop, the recent robbery of Swedish visitor Lars Hansen during an early morning walk at Batts Rock has reminded us that on a small island, the scourge of crime affects not only Barbadians but visitors as well.

Hansen is not a first-time visitor. He has been coming to the island for almost 40 years and has formed close friendships with locals, and has made it clear that his regard for Barbados remains strong. His experience was another example of how brazen criminals have become, operating in spaces that one would consider safe.

The incident occurred in daylight, along a popular beach in what should have been a peaceful morning walk. The incident, which Hansen brought to the public’s attention in one of the country’s news publications, affected not only the victim, but it is important to note its effect at a time when some countries seem quick to slap travel advisories against islands in the region.

We are not attempting to be alarmists because Barbados is not alone in facing these challenges. Across the region, economic pressures, the rising cost of living and global uncertainty have placed increased strain on households.

Inflation has cut the purchasing power of citizens, while there is a rising level of cynicism among young people about their prospects. Unemployment, underemployment, and frustration can sometimes create conditions where crime becomes more likely. These are realities we must acknowledge.

Citizen security, though, is not just a policing matter. Ensuring that we continue to live in a safe and secure environment, which touches tourism, economic investment, stability, and the quality of life for Barbadians, is the responsibility of everyone. Visitors like Hansen contribute to the economy as well as ordinary Barbadians who want to feel safe walking the streets, working, or relaxing in their neighbourhoods.

The recent decision by the United States to issue a travel advisory against Grenada over security concerns has reminded us how quickly perceptions about safety can shift. Travel advisories, whether we agree with them or not, can impact visitor confidence, airline decisions, and even how the international media present their narrative.

We must therefore move swiftly to address the matter of crime, and we must communicate clearly to the population the specific safety measures that will be employed.

Of course, we are not promoting heavy-handed approaches or even placing blame on specific groups. The Barbados Police Service, now in an active recruitment drive, must be more visible in public spaces, while the citizens must be prepared to provide them with the support required to investigate and bring culprits before the law courts.

At the same time, there are steps the police cannot address. These include measures to reduce youth unemployment, the provision of skills training, drug prevention programmes, and community-based efforts to attack the root causes of crime.

There is also a role for personal responsibility, without shifting blame onto victims of crime. Simple safety steps, better lighting in public areas, and cooperation between businesses, residents, and police can reduce opportunities for crime.

Importantly, any discussion of security must include the economic realities facing many households. The country is still managing recovery, the high cost of living, trade and economic uncertainty. Our resources are limited, and, therefore, the island’s leadership must be strategic in its spending of public finances.

Hansen reported that he will return to Barbados, though he will be much more cautious. Many people still believe in this island, but belief alone is not enough.

We must continue to earn trust. With so much economic riding on the success of the island’s tourism industry, we can ill-afford to have more visitors faced with Hansen’s experience.

By acknowledging concerns early, acting responsibly, and keeping people at the centre of policy decisions, we can protect not only the citizens of this island but its future.