The battle for Barbados’ streets must be won

The chilling violence that unfolded across Barbados last weekend was not merely a spike in criminal activity. It was, as Police Commissioner Richard Boyce put it, an assault on public order that bears the hallmarks of domestic terrorism. And it must be treated as such.

When armed men ride through neighbourhoods in broad daylight, discharging high-powered weapons with no regard for human life or property, the nation is forced to confront a grim reality: this is not just a policing problem, it is a national crisis that calls for an urgent, united response.

The murder of 24-year-old Gavin Nicholas Archer and the shooting of another man in Cave Hill, followed by a similar hail of gunfire in Nelson Street, sends a clear message that the criminal underworld feels emboldened, organised, and unconcerned about consequence. These are not random acts of violence. They are calculated, coordinated attacks intended to instil fear and assert dominance over communities.

We welcome Commissioner Boyce’s firm stance and the pledge of an “all-out offensive” by the Barbados Police Service in collaboration with the Barbados Defence Force and other national security agencies. His declaration that these offenders will be treated as terrorists is not hyperbole but is an honest assessment of the threat they pose.

But words alone will not calm a jittery public. Bajans need to actually see swift, decisive action. They need to feel the presence of law enforcement in their communities, not just in the aftermath of bloodshed, but in proactive, preventative measures that disrupt criminal operations before lives are lost.

That action must go beyond boots on the ground. It must involve the strategic use of intelligence, technology, and targeted operations against the individuals and networks fuelling this violence. Seizing illegal firearms is not enough if more continue to flood in through our porous borders. Strengthening border control and dismantling supply chains must be part of this war effort.

Yet, even as we support the ramping up of national security operations, we must be vigilant in preserving the balance between enforcement and civil liberties. The call for greater police presence must not morph into indiscriminate profiling or community-wide punishment. Trust between police and the public is vital if this fight is to be won.

And we must win, because the cost of failure is too high. A nation where children cannot play safely, where residents live in fear of stray bullets, and where entire communities are silenced by gangs is a nation on the brink.

This is a watershed moment. Barbados must decide whether we allow a minority of violent actors to dictate the future of our society, or whether we stand, as one, to reclaim peace and safety for all.

Let the clear message from law enforcement be matched by equally resolute action from every level of government, community, and citizen. The time to reclaim Barbados is now.