All is not well

Where are the police stop-and-search operations? Where is the show of force from the Barbados Police Service? Where are the crackdowns? Where are the increased coastal patrols and random interceptions and searches by our Coast Guard? Where is the increased law enforcement and customs presence at the mini harbours in St Lucy and St Peter? Most of all, where is the tough suite of legislation one would expect from our Parliament to address what many citizens now view as an exploding crisis?

On Wednesday, the parents of Shawnathon Chase buried their 13-year-old son, a second-form student of The Lodge School. His brutal killing, just feet away from his home while watching a netball game, served as a stark reminder that Barbadians can no longer behave as if it is business as usual.

Security and law enforcement arguably now rank among the top concerns of citizens, second only to the rising cost of living. People increasingly feel that their personal safety and that of their families are under threat due to the rising number of murders and serious crimes.

In less than four months, the country has recorded 17 murders — an average of one murder per week. If this trajectory continues, Barbadians can expect a year of fear and insecurity unless there is immediate intervention.

The long-held belief that Barbados is a safe and orderly society is quickly becoming a mere illusion. The causes of this crime surge are multi-faceted, including a breakdown in societal values, an increase in single-parent households with minimal support systems, and growing financial pressures.

Many citizens now express concern that the Government’s liberal approach to marijuana use, though well-intentioned, has inadvertently paved the way for deeper societal issues — especially in connection with the influx of illegal firearms.

In 2021, the Government amended legislation to decriminalise the possession of small quantities of cannabis for personal use. The new law replaced potential jail time with a $200 fine for possession of 14 grams or less. The intention was to reduce the burden on the court system and prevent people from having their criminal records tarnished for minor infractions.

Introducing the measure, Attorney General Dale Marshall stated:

 “We are not saying that if you are in possession of cannabis, that you are not committing a crime. But we are saying that if you’re in possession of less than 14 grams of cannabis, we will treat you differently. . . . We still have to acknowledge that it is a crime, but we don’t have to do with you what has been done over the years.”

While the reform has had positive impacts, evidence suggests it has also fuelled a thriving illegal drug trade, which in turn is contributing to an influx of firearms. Public use of marijuana has increased significantly. Parents are seen smoking openly around their children, with little regard for the negative social and health effects.

The marijuana trade and gun smuggling are often intertwined through organised crime networks. Research shows that these groups use firearms to protect operations, assert control, and intimidate rivals. Guns and drugs are frequently smuggled together along the same routes, with firearms sometimes being used as payment for narcotics.

This troubling link is especially evident in the Caribbean, where fiercely competitive drug markets have given rise to a culture of violence and a reliance on weapons to maintain dominance.

This brings us to the crucial question: Why are our law enforcement agencies not taking bolder, swifter action, especially given their training, international exposure, and the hard-earned lessons from neighbouring countries such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and even Saint Lucia?