In a swift response to the recent spike gun violence in the country, Attorney General Dale Marshall has declared that “extraordinary resources” have been made available to the members of the Royal Barbados Police Force in order to fight crime.
With the island reporting three gun-related deaths and 11 shootings as of Thursday January 17, Marshall said the Government was adopting a “no tolerance policy” in dealing with gun violence.
Marshall was speaking a press conference this morning at the police Roebuck Street headquarters.
Flanked by the top brass of the Royal Barbados Police Force and the Barbados Defence Force, Marshall revealed his plans to tackle the gun-related crime.
The delegation spoke with the press before embarking on a tour of New Orleans and Chapman Lane, The City, which were designated as hot spots for criminal activity.
Aside from the extraordinary resources [which he did not go into detail about], Marshall revealed that the RBPF will be conducting joint patrols with the Barbados Defense Force, and his Ministry will be partnering with the Ministry of Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs and the Customs and Excise Department to ensure that the ports of entry are heavily guarded and in-depth searches conducted.
Marshall disclosed that the Ministry has purchased two new container scanners to assist with searches and one of the port’s container scanners which was being repaired will be fixed by February.
“The upsurge in gun violence is now a scourge in our landscape and these gun-wielding bullies are bullying our community into a state of paralysis and all of the hard fought gains that we have made as an administration in the last few months in terms of attracting major enterprise into Barbados, attracting investment to turn on the economy can all be lost through the lawlessness of a few members of our society,” Marshall contended.
“I am distressed and angry that these lawless men would dare to fire on police when they are doing their patrols,” he said in relation to Thursday night’s incident where police officers were in the area of Chapman Lane, New Orleans and Murphy’s Pasture were they came under fire from persons hanging out in the district.
Marshall also sought to assure the public all offenders involved in these incidents will feel the weight of the law. He disclosed that two criminal judges have been appointed and two new court rooms have been created at the Supreme Court to assist in the backlog of cases. The Attorney General said that he will be going to Parliament to request the appointment of new judges.
“I believe the courts and the judicial system are going to punish all wrongdoers and I could care less who he or she may be. If they are doing wrong I will expect the commissioner and his staff to bring the full weight of the law against them. No small man in Eagle Hall brings in containers,” Marshall reasoned.
“We are going after the business community as well. If they are being used unwittingly it has to be stopped, if they are participating in it willingly, that has to come to an end,” he added. (KK)
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go and get them stop talking........
Apparentl;y there is a no tolerance policy too when yuh could thief a toenail clip and get 8 months in prison!!
I will know you all serious when wunna start locking up the guys in St. Lucy , Regent Hill, Pine, Rosemont and other gang areas
I agree with u omar a bunch of lawless asses
Merge BDF with RBPF for 6 months and matters fixed on crime in BIM.
As I keep saying Merge BDF with RBPF (with same powers) for 6 months and matters fixed.
Biggest guns rule.
Agree it should be no tolerance for illegal guns nor guns for everyone.Not just block folks for using them but go up the food chain to the person or persons bring them in through air or seaport or through the many unsecured waterways throughout Barbados.Look at the folks who got private boats not just poor fishermen but seriously AG/RBPF nor DPP don’t seem the least bit interested in investigating that part of the puzzle,block folks are the easy low hanging fruit but they don’t have the financial means nor connections to pull off what I’m constantly talking about.So until these law enforcement people get serious about really investigating the real reasons and people bringing drugs and weapons into Bim stop the PR stunts not buying none of it.
DONILD TRIMP
"Back in the day no Barbadian would ever think about shooting at the Police"
You are trying very hard to excuse the minority races gun running class in Barbados and throw all the weight on BLACK BARBADIANS. THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT MAKES YOU COMFORTABLE. It is the Black peoples fault as far as you are concern. Nothing less than that would do for you.
Back in the day there were no guns in the wrong hands. Until the minority races came to the conclusion that there is lots of money to be made from the importing of illegal guns and selling them to Black Barbadians.
Dont forget that they are very skilled at importing. Importing illegal guns is just as easy as importing a bag of potatoes.
Donild, I did not miss your point at all. Did you read my first post in response to yours where I was in agreement? My second post was a follow-up to expand further. Essentially you’re repeating what you said earlier so no need for me to add to what I said before.
@CARL @CCC- you guys have me pulling my hair out because you are missing the point "bigly" (to quote a certain fellow with my innitials).
Back in the day no Barbadian would ever think about shooting at the Police. Where the hell did this type of mentality come from?
It is foreign to Barbados. Imported culture, monkey see monkey do. We cannot have that mentality taking root in Barbados.
Anytime I set foot on Barbadian soil and I see a Policeman in uniform or see a Police vehicle I feel safe. I hear the same thing from people who visit Barbados on a regular basis.
When a Policeman patrolling the streets of Barbados is of no significance anymore to a bunch of low life societal misfits who can garner the support from a person like CCC, then Barbados is in serious trouble.