Uncle of slain man urges PM’s action on gun violence

The fatal shooting of 21-year-old Cammeron Ifill early Monday has triggered a direct and emotional call for decisive action on gun violence, as his uncle appealed to Prime Minister Mia Mottley to confront the rising toll on families.

Ifill, of Pasture Road, Bank Hall, was shot dead while in a bedroom at Gall Hill, Christ Church, shortly after midnight.

Speaking at the family’s Black Rock home, Trevor Ifill called on the prime minister to make crime a priority, saying families were becoming increasingly burdened by the loss of loved ones.

He said: “My name is Trevor Ifill. I’m the uncle of the deceased Cammeron Ifill. Now, this is directly to the prime minister of this country. I would like to know what is being done to resolve these matters.”

While discussions continued on national issues, ordinary Barbadians were living with the reality of violent crime, he said.

“We the people are here suffering each and every day. We read about a murder every day. Yet, I’m hearing nothing from the attorney general. I’m hearing nothing from the prime minister. All the anti-gang legislation, it don’t mean nothing to me. It means nothing to me if people are just gruesomely killing people each and every day.”

Calling for stronger leadership, he said: “PM, the people vote you in for a reason. You have 30 seats. Make some tough decisions. I don’t want the sympathy. I don’t want empathy.”

Describing his nephew, Trevor Ifill said Cammeron was well known for his personality and sense of style:

“Cammeron was a fun-going, free-spirited child. Loved dressing. You could see it from the many pictures that will be posted of him. He was easygoing.”

He acknowledged that his nephew had faced challenges but said he remained a caring young man:

“Yes, at times you would say he followed the wrong crowd. But he was a loving child. A child who came up in a tough society where it’s so easy to be led astray.”

Cammeron went to St Leonard’s Boys’ School and had been working with a friend as a subcontractor. He also leaves behind an older brother.

His father was too distraught to speak with reporters.

Offering words to other families affected by violent crime, Trevor Ifill said grief was deeply personal and could not easily be eased:

“I cannot tell no one how to deal with grief. Grief is something that comes and attacks you suddenly. It don’t care how much praying you do, don’t care how much talking you do about it. There’s nothing that can really console you but time.”

He also appealed to parents to have honest conversations with their sons as gun violence continues to claim the lives of young men:

“For those who have younger boy children, it just need the people of Barbados to educate the boy children about what’s going on right now in society. We are losing too many boy children to gun violence. Parents, kindly speak to your kids. Educate them… Speak to your children and bring them up the right way. Stop trying to love them and teach them the values and morals that got us through from the early days.”

Police said officers from the Oistins station received a report of a shooting at Byrons Lane, Gall Hill, Christ Church, at about 12:15 a.m. on Monday.

An assailant approached and fired several shots into the home, striking Cammeron multiple times while he was in a bedroom. He died at the scene.

Investigations are continuing, and police are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that could assist with the investigation to contact the Crime Stoppers Hotline or the Oistins Police Station. 

(LE)