Senator warns economic gains at risk if crime surge not tackled

Barbados’ recent economic progress could be undermined by a surge in violent crime unless the government urgently allocates new loan funds to public safety, an independent senator warned on Wednesday.

Senator Kevin Boyce suggested to fellow lawmakers that a portion of the newly available $370 million from the government’s latest bond issue be directed towards combating what he described as “domestic terrorism”, cautioning that failure to act could jeopardise the country’s stability and growth.

“It is hoped that the $370 million in fiscal space that the government is going to gain is put towards this war on crime, and we stamp it out,” he urged as the chamber took up the bond resolution under the External Loans Act.

Senator Boyce stressed that there is a direct connection between crime and economic performance, citing research abroad and a surge in violence at home.

“We have a situation where the police force in Barbados is talking about terrorism—domestic terrorism,” he said. “We are seeing reports of fellows on bicycles with automatic weapons shooting up the place.”

Senator Boyce explained that while the resolution under debate focused on accessing external funds and enhancing economic resilience, it was important to connect the discussion to the country’s current situation.

“We are here having a debate about a bond and economic policy. This is how it correlates,” he said. “If the crime is not brought under control, it has an impact on the same economy that we are trying to build.”

Quoting the 2023 IMF Regional Economic Outlook report, he pointed to findings that link increases in homicide rates to slower economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

“Crime and insecurity have become increasingly widespread in LAC… entailing not only social cost but significant negative effects on productivity, capital accumulation, and economic growth,” he read aloud. “Preliminary analysis suggests that strengthening domestic security in the region could meaningfully bolster growth.”

The independent legislator further cautioned that, despite positive economic markers such as increased foreign reserves, without a stable and secure society, those achievements could be undone.

“We need a combination of perspectives—whether you’re dealing with society, whether you’re dealing with the economy, whether you’re dealing with prosperity or whether you’re dealing with morality,” he said. “We have to come together and deal with this crime issue, or all this pretty talk about GDP and results will be for nought.” (LG)