Lawmakers: ‘Domestic terror’ bill will help restore sense of safety

Government MPs have argued that a new Domestic Terrorism Bill is essential to restoring public confidence and ensuring Barbadians can once again feel safe in their communities, as Parliament debated sweeping penalties for acts intended to spread fear through violence.

During Tuesday’s sitting of the House of Assembly, St Michael Central MP Tyra Trotman and Minister of Home Affairs Gregory Nicholls, the St Thomas MP, threw their support behind the bill.

Trotman said the legislation was an important response to the growing fear affecting ordinary Barbadians, particularly as violent crimes continue to impact communities.

“It is unfortunate that today we live in a society where persons have to second-guess whether or not they are safe by going to work,” she said, recalling incidents where innocent people were caught in shootings.

She referred to a gas station employee who was left permanently injured after being struck by a bullet now lodged in his spine and a teenager who was shot while at a play park in Silver Hill.

“These are instances that we cannot continue to allow to happen as a government in Barbados,” she said.

Arguing that the proposed penalties reflected the seriousness of such crimes, Trotman said citizens deserved to feel secure in every aspect of daily life.

“Women have to feel comfortable walking around by themselves. The elderly have to feel comfortable. Children have to know if I go outside and I play and I am just being a child, they have to feel comfortable, not fearful that someone’s going to drive by with the AK and shoot up the place.”

Many Barbadians were now living with lasting trauma because of community violence, she added.

“I spoke to a woman recently who said there was a shooting in her neighbourhood and she has not come outside after 6.00 p.m. since then. She locks up everything… she turns off even her lights because she does not want anyone to think she’s at home.”

But while supporting the bill, Trotman argued legislation alone would not solve the country’s crime problem.

“We cannot legislate morale. We cannot legislate good conscience,” she said.

She maintained that addressing mental health challenges, substance abuse and strengthening family values were equally important.

“It starts from primary school level. Children have to get back to knowing what is right and what is wrong… We have to get back to the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Nicholls said the legislation was designed to address the most serious forms of violence while reassuring Barbadians concerned about its purpose.

“This bill is a straightforward and compelling bill to protect the people of Barbados from harm,” he said.

“And indeed, one of the more fundamental responsibilities of any government is the protection of people.”

He rejected suggestions that the bill was overly broad, saying it specifically targeted conduct intended to terrorise communities rather than ordinary criminal offences.

“This legislation targets a particular type of conduct, not an individual,” he said.

“It establishes clear thresholds that the offence must be classified first as domestic terrorism.”

Nicholls said the government could not “like the proverbial ostrich, bury our heads in the sand. We must confront the reality”.

He argued that crimes committed in public places with the intention of creating widespread fear demanded a stronger legal response.

“Every citizen of the country has a right to go about their business without having to look around their shoulder,” he said.

Nicholls noted that fear had become a reality in some communities, and even among fellow parliamentarians.

“I was having a discussion with the… Christ Church West Central [MP Adrian Forde], and he was telling me about the difficulties he was having in certain parts of his constituency where he fears going… That is a normal Member of Parliament going about his elected duty.”

He stressed that the legislation would still preserve the rights of the accused.

“The offender must still be prosecuted for the underlying offence… The jury will hear the facts… and the court becomes the ultimate tribunal to determine whether the threshold of domestic terrorism is satisfied.”

Nicholls also defended the severe penalties contained in the bill, saying they were proportionate to crimes intended to spread fear across entire communities.

“Those who deliberately seek to terrorise the communities in the country and endanger your life on a larger scale must face the consequences of their action.” (LE)