Bishop: We can beat the violence with love

Against the backdrop of a solemn Good Friday observance, Bishop Reverend Derick Richards has issued a heartfelt plea for Barbadians to revive a sense of community and solidarity in the face of rising violence and social breakdown.

Speaking at the conclusion of the Good Friday service at James Street Methodist Church, Bishop Richards drew a comparison between the violence endured by Jesus and the troubling trends unfolding in Barbadian society—particularly crimes affecting the nation’s youth.

He told Barbados TODAY, “Jesus suffered, bled, and died in a society that was extremely violent—a society that killed people for sport or entertainment. We see a similar thing in our society—violence and crime perpetuated against all people…especially young people.”

In a passionate appeal, he stressed that restoring peace and stability must be a collective effort, not the responsibility of the government or police alone.

“My message is for us as Barbadians to come together. Let us recapture that sense of community, raising our children, protecting our children, covering our children, covering one another. Let us return to the place where I become my neighbour’s friend, where I look out for the well-being of my neighbour.

“Barbados, on this Good Friday, let’s come together. We can fight crime if we do it together. This is not just for law enforcement, this is not just for the government. This is for all of us in the community to do our part. We can beat the violence with love.”