Private sector’s crime-fighting plan unveiled

The Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA) has unveiled a wide-ranging strategy to address the country’s escalating crime problem, calling for collaboration between government, law enforcement, and community stakeholders.

BPSA Chairperson Tricia Tannis presented the multifaceted approach during a press conference Wednesday emphasising the need for immediate action amidst what experts describe as a crime wave fuelled by reprisals.

“We must purposefully seek to engage our young males and provide viable alternatives for their sustainable future,” Tannis stated, highlighting youth engagement as a cornerstone of the proposal.

The plan leverages past public-private partnerships and advocates for data-driven solutions, mental health support, and legislative reform. Tannis stressed the urgency of the situation, calling for the reactivation of the “war cabinet” and an urgent meeting of the Social Partnership.

“We did it many times during COVID. It was very, very riveting to see not just the private sector, the Social Partnership, but the broader Social Partnership where we had civil society also sitting around the table. I think we need to do that very urgently,” she said.

Tannis outlined the BPSA’s history of cooperation with authorities, including financial contributions to public safety projects and strategic dialogues with government officials. She emphasised the need for a targeted approach based on research and data.

“We need to channel that in the right direction in a very systematic and structured way so that we’re not just throwing money all over the place. And then we end up essentially with the same result because it has not been thoroughly thought through or has not been thoroughly ventilated with as wide a view of stakeholders as possible,” Tannis explained.

The proposed strategy encompasses six key areas:

Youth engagement – Initiatives such as internships and adopt-a-youth programmes aim to provide positive alternatives for young people.

Mental health and addiction services – Tannis noted: “Many individuals turn to crime due to underlying issues like trauma, addiction, and untreated psychological conditions. Investing in mental health services is essential for both prevention and treatment.”

Gun control – “We need to do what is necessary to pinpoint and eliminate the practice of illegal weapon importation. This is a critical step in reducing gun violence,” she suggested.

Family support – A holistic approach addressing economic needs and providing psychosocial support.

Legislative action – Strengthening laws such as the Bail Act. Tannis commented: “The fact that the Bail Act is going to come to Parliament to be strengthened tells us that a lot of the issues being committed are by persons out on bail for similar offences.”

Value system restoration – Tannis stressed the importance of instilling self-worth and respect for human life in young people. “Our entire value system has to shift if our young people are going to be better, do better, and believe better in themselves,” she said.

The BPSA chairperson also raised concerns about the education system’s approach to struggling students. “If we say we’re progressive, I would like to think that we would like to get them before they get out of the barn. Stop superannuating them. Find out why they’re struggling. Why they’re angry,” Tannis urged.

She questioned the focus on academic success, asking: “Isn’t it better to retain responsibility for him for at least another couple of years? Isn’t it better to go into the household and see what the young man is going back home to? Isn’t it better to try to find a way to save that young man and to stop behaving as if academic success is the only thing that a human being has to attain in life?”