Opposition leader: Put politics aside to tackle crime

Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley is calling on authorities to do what is necessary to get their hands on those responsible for illegal guns making their way into Barbados to wreak havoc on society.

Atherley made the call as he once again indicated the dire need for a national consultation on the state of crime which he believes is leading Barbados down a dark path.

“The problem of violent crime in Barbados is something that we have got to deal with and deal with seriously and I have been saying that for quite a while. The pervasive crime situation in Barbados is likely to cause a serious problem with respect to our economy.

“We need to see the threat to Barbados as we know it. We need to stop the trade of illegal guns that brings these arms into Barbados. We need to stop the trade of these guns within Barbados. We need to get our hands on the people who are principals in that trade. Law enforcement needs to be facilitated in doing that.

“The judicial system needs to be facilitated in doing that so that those criminals who hide in the shadows and feed these guns to our young black people in this country to do mischief against each other, we have to make sure that that comes to an end. And I am very serious about that,” he said.

Following the death of police officer Acting Station Sergeant Newton Lewis on Saturday night, a concerned Atherley related to Barbados TODAY that he was still waiting on Government to answer his request to engage other political parties and stakeholders in a consultation on the business of crime in Barbados, with particular focus on gun-related crime.

“I think the response has to be holistic. That call was unheeded. It was made about a year and a half ago. I want to repeat that call today but this time I am hoping that that call falls on the ears of the leader of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), the leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP), and the leader of Solutions Barbados.

“I am asking them to join me in helping to mount that national consultation and dialogue on crime. I believe there needs to be a holistic response. There are several areas, about a dozen of them, upon which we need to focus seriously as a country,” he said.

The Opposition Leader said Barbados recently invested millions in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic threat and suggested that this type of response is needed to tackle the crime issue on the island. Atherley made it clear that if the crime situation continues to go unchecked, Barbadians stand to lose the grip on the economy and the system of democracy.

His comments came as Barbadians continue to cry out over the brutal murder of acting Station Sergeant Lewis near his home as he responded to a call for assistance while off duty. Atherley offered condolences to the fallen officer’s relatives.

“I have said before, and I really sense this and I dread it, it will not be long before the criminals get weary of using their guns on each other and they would train them on the police authorities in Barbados. And beyond that, they would be the political and governmental authorities in Barbados and that is where the threat to our democracy exists. We have got to do everything as a country to stem the increase in violent crimes in Barbados. We have got to stop politicizing it, one party blaming the other over time depending on who is in office,” he said.
(anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb)