Police parade draws cheers and criticism amid crime concerns

The beat of soca music echoed through Bridgetown on Thursday afternoon as members of the protective services took to the streets for the Police Pon Di Road parade, drawing large crowds, flashing lights, and mixed reactions from a public grappling with the country’s growing crime problem.

Dressed in matching Police Pon Di Road T-shirts and comfortable trousers, personnel from The Barbados Police Service, Prison Service, Fire Service, Defence Force, and Customs and Immigration Department danced through The City, from Fontabelle to Bridge Street. 

Police Commissioner Richard Boyce, Attorney General Dale Marshall, and Minister of People Empowerment Kirk Humphrey were spotted among the revellers, blending in with the revellers and enjoying the music as they moved through the streets.

Music trucks blared, police motorcycles cleared the way, and hundreds of citizens emerged from shops and offices to take in the celebration. Among the bystanders were students on their way home from school and visibly exhausted workers, pausing on their commute to watch the spectacle unfold.

The spectators clapped, laughed, held up phones to record the festivities, and shouted greetings to familiar faces in the band. 

Some even chipped in place or moved their waists to the rhythm. 

The mood was light and for a moment, Bridgetown felt easy.

But online, the tone wasn’t as warm. 

As videos and photos of the parade circulated on social media, some users blasted the event as tone-deaf, pointing to the recent surge in gun violence and homicides.

The parade came just a day after 25-year-old Terrelle Rogers was gunned down in Haynesville, St James, while liming near Hartland Road. 

He was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by private vehicle but later died. Two days earlier, 24-year-old Donte Tyrell Alleyne was fatally shot in Eden Lodge, St Michael. 

“In this partying whilst criminals running wild and guns flooding the country,” one Facebook user posted. 

Another said: “Enjoy wunna self cause wunna don’t care how much people get kill.”

“Is that the Attorney General Marshall working hard at arresting the crime crisis?” asked another sarcastically. 

Police outriders led the way through Bridgetown.

Over on Instagram, the criticism continued. 

One user said, “Somebody just get kill and wanna partying? This is a joke?”

Still, many defended the parade and the officers’ right to unwind.

“I’m glad the police get some down time. Well deserved,” said one user. 

Another posted: “Glad to see them enjoying themselves for a change. De song nice too.”

“Wow they are all appropriately dressed and enjoying themselves,” a Facebook user wrote. “Just proves you don’t have to publicly expose naked breasts and butts to have a good time.” (SM)

(SM)