Barbados is mourning the tragic shooting of a 13-year-old boy in Silver Hill on Tuesday, March 25. The child, an innocent bystander, was caught in the crossfire of senseless violence.
Our deepest condolences go out to the family—no words can ease this pain. Yet we must now face a difficult truth: this is no longer a “Clarke’s family” issue because their son is acting out, nor a “Browne’s family” issue because their daughter is wayward. The surname of the troubled child is now Barbados.
This is no longer isolated. It is no longer someone else’s problem. It is all of ours.
A voice from the frontline
Shawn Clarke, CEO of Supreme Counselling for Personal Development, says the writing is on the wall.
“The trajectory of many of our young people is deeply concerning. We are intervening too late—after they’ve dropped out, after they’ve picked up a weapon, after they’ve been buried.”
He stresses that early intervention must be the focus of both government and civil society. Support must be available from the start—not after tragedy strikes.
“Government can’t do it alone. NGOs can’t do it alone. But together, we can be the change we want to see. There must be serious government-NGO collaboration to save our youth—and ultimately, to save our nation.”
Beyond the talk: Action required
Barbadians have long been excellent at identifying problems. We know the root causes. We’ve discussed them at length—in town halls, churches, and social media forums. Now, the moment demands something more. It demands action. It demands solutions.
What government must do
Invest in early intervention.
Equip schools with counselling services. Fund community-based outreach and mental health programs.
Crack down on illegal firearms.
Enforce stricter penalties, boost intelligence-led policing, and target gun trafficking networks.
Support youth empowerment.
Expand vocational training and job programmes. Give youth an alternative to the streets.
Partner with NGOs.
Formalise collaborations with organisations already on the ground. Provide long-term funding and institutional support.
What communities must do
Mentor and guide.
Every adult has a role to play. One conversation could change a child’s life.
Speak out, not stay silent.
If you know of weapons, threats, or escalating conflict—report it. Protect our children before they become headlines.
Rebuild the village.
Community is still powerful. Let’s re-embrace that. Look out for every child as your own.
Support those doing the work.
NGOs, counsellors, teachers, youth leaders—they need you. Volunteer. Donate. Join in.
Let this be the turning point
The tragedy in Silver Hill must not pass in vain. It must be the spark for real, united action. We owe that to the young boy who was shot. We owe it to his family. We owe it to every child walking our streets today, unsure if they’ll make it home.
Let this be our moment of truth—not with talk, but with purpose, planning, and people power.
Because the future of Barbados is not an idea. It’s our children.
And the time to act is now.
“Together, we can be the change we want to see.”
CEO of Supreme Counselling for Personal Development Shawn Clarke.
