Community safety shared responsibility, says St James MP

Community safety must be driven by residents as well as law enforcement, St James South MP Sandra Husbands has said, urging Barbadians to take greater ownership of their neighbourhoods amid ongoing concerns about crime.

She told the launch of the Warrens Heights Neighbourhood Watch on Sunday evening that residents should take control of safety within their respective neighbourhoods and not place it solely at the feet of law enforcement.

“It cannot be the sole responsibility of the police,” she said. “The police are after the fact. We are the persons that live in the community, and as we get to know each other, and know each other’s patterns, it allows us to be the eyes and the ears that observe what is going on and raise the alarm when it is needed.

Acknowledging that many residents hardly know their neighbours, she commended the Warrens Heights neighbourhood association for not only “nurturing our own safety and sense of security in the neighbourhood” but in building community.

“Just today, someone asked me: ‘How are we going to rebuild a community like how we had it years ago, when we lived in villages where we knew each other?’ One of the good ways in which to do that in residential areas really is via a neighbourhood association. And it is not that neighbours are not aware, or that they don’t know or they don’t want to live in community with people around them, but they don’t feel comfortable to go and introduce themselves and form a relationship. A neighbourhood association helps to overcome all of that and give people a viable reason why they can come, reach out to each other and form friendships.” 

Saying that crime is not only deterred but prevented when residents are willing to act responsibly in the collective interest, Senior Superintendent of Police Lesteal Woodroffe said such associations create a safe environment where cooperation and trust flourish.

Senior Supt Woodroffe said: “Beyond crime reduction, this initiative is about restoring a sense of pride and belonging. It’s about creating spaces where families feel safe, where young people can grow without fear, and their communities can thrive. To the members of this neighborhood watch, your role is vital. Your vigilance, your willingness to engage, and your commitment to the cause, will make a meaningful difference. You are not just participants, you are leaders in shaping the future of your community.”

(JB)