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Gun Violence and the Caribbean Region

Human Rights and Peace Ambassador for the region, Felicia Browne, has cited the urgent need for new initiatives against gun violence. When women and youth are fatally shot with such brutality, it raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of our crime-related policies. No citizen can feel safe within areas which are ridden with crime and…

Submitted by Felicia Browne, Women's Advocate
Submitted by Felicia Browne, Women’s Advocate

Human Rights and Peace Ambassador for the region, Felicia Browne, has cited the urgent need for new initiatives against gun violence.

When women and youth are fatally shot with such brutality, it raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of our crime-related policies. No citizen can feel safe within areas which are ridden with crime and other gang-related activities,” Browne said in a press statement.

She described gun violence as a local, regional and international problem and added that such violence and gun-related crimes create serious developmental challenges in high-risk communities, including developed countries.

According to Browne, although many Caribbean countries have enacted laws to curb the levels of gun violence, rates of gun-related violence continue to rise. “The lack of crime prevention programs and interventions have left the most vulnerable -women, children and young men – at high risk for violent crimes,” she observed. She felt that having greater police presence on known violent street corners is only a small part of the solution, and can actually aggravate the problem if police are not properly trained and psychologically stable.

Browne said it is therefore critical that communities are active participants in the development and implementation of new gun-control policies and programs.

She recalled that on April 2, 2013 some Caribbean countries like Barbados signed the landmark United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which regulates international trade in conventional arms, from small arms to battle tanks, combat aircraft and warships.

Browne observed that the treaty will foster peace and security by putting a stop to destabilising arms flows to conflict regions. However, she said it is of grave concern that many Caribbean countries have not signed the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development, a diplomatic initiative aimed at addressing the interrelations between armed violence and development.

“This initiative provides technical assistance to member states to manage gun control and violence and helps prevent human rights abusers and violators of the law of war from being supplied with arms. It will also help keep warlords, pirates, and gangs from acquiring these deadly tools,” Browne asserted.

The Human Rights and Peace Ambassador for the region observed that such international initiatives can become instrumental in setting effective policies for gun violence and gun control within small nations.

“Our regional states should sign on to all of these, as they can provide resources and personnel that are currently not available through existing programs. Gun violence is a serious harm against human life and freedom,” Browne noted, adding “We should do everything in our power to ensure that such the lives of our citizens are protected.”

40 responses to “Gun Violence and the Caribbean Region”

  1. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    I am quite sure that gun violence has become one of the more pressing issues in the region of the Caribbean. But in this post 9/11 era, gun violence has become a problem for pretty much everyone. The United States of America cannot be compared to the region of the Caribbean, but their is no other society in our world today that is as violent as United States of America, and this violence is somehow associated to a greater extent with the free access to fire arms, made possible by the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution. Limit the access to guns in the Caribbean and you would have address a major part of the problem of gun violence.

  2. David Avatar
    David

    There is no doubt the flow of illegal guns into Barbados should be a source of concern to Barbadians. Only last week the Attorney General mentioned there is feedback to him from local police the ‘newness’ of the ammunition being seized in arrest. He also mention while in Bahamas recently he was told by law enforcement there a FEDEX package intercepted which contained guns. It is obvious illegal weapons are entering with the help of authorized persons.

  3. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    Until we established laws where police and the security forces are legally able to set up at will , random vehicle check points (VCP’s) on our highways,especially at nights, the criminals with guns will always be one step ahead of the police. And these checks should also include persons of foot, carrying backpacks.
    This country is fast becoming a miniature Belfast.

  4. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Colonel Buggy

    I have never heard of for the little over thirty years that I have been living in the States, law-enforcement setup random check-points to confiscate illegal weapons. And I who hazard a guess that check-points in Barbados would be an ineffective way for law-enforcement to seize illegal weapons an arrest the prepetrators, since the criminal-element stays stationary within a given turf. A search warrant targeted at a specific residence would prove more effective in my estimation.

  5. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Colonel Buggy

    Law-enforcement in my state give residents in high crime areas the opportunity once year to turn in their illegal weapons for cash. The program I do believe is federally funding and goes by the name Guns For Cash. This is one way in which law-enforcement in the states is putting a small dent in illegal weapons.

  6. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    Dompey
    Bro, if you are keeping abreast of the news down here in relation to guns, you would be aware that it has been alleged by the police hierarchy that some licensed gun holders are renting out their guns to criminals. And for a long time now we are also aware that illegal firearms are also being rented out to criminals. Now pray tell me who in this country holding a firearm , which , more than likely ,was used in the commission of a crime , is going to be persuaded to hand in that weapon for cash, knowing that a serious charge may follow, after ballistic tests are carried out on that weapon, prior to the authorities destroying it.
    Do you know that a Random Vehicle check point, not only is likely to uncover illegal guns, but a host of other lawless acts associated with the rising crime in this country. Praedial Larceny. Driving without a driving license, road tax, insurance. Stolen vehicle. Stolen goods, and like a few months ago, a dead body of a murder victim in the back of the car, which was not a hearse.

  7. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    We are still awaiting due process being executed on the allegation made by a member of parliament, a lawyer and a former Attorney -General , that a fellow member of parliament pulled a weapon on him. The present Attorney -General needs to put this matter at rest once and for all, and not to treat it like the “vote buying” episode he witnessed at the last GE.

  8. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Colonel Buggy

    I only have one thing to say: if license gun owners are renting out their guns to criminals, then Balistic-Testing must be in its infancy in Barbados?

  9. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Colonel Buggy

    Criminals don’t rent guns to play with them as though their are toys.

  10. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Colonel, where is Inspecter Bell of the RBPF? He was the lone Ballistic Specialist in Barbados back in the 80’s.

  11. Exclaimer Avatar
    Exclaimer

    @ Colonel Buggy,

    Do not forget that the gun is now used as a common currency when conducting a drug deal. It is your misfortune to be sandwiched between North, South and Central America: the client and the dealers.

    If you want to know where the guns are coming from I suggest that you take a look at the number of foreigners who have set up businesses in Barbados. A number of these enterprises are a façade for the sale and the smuggling of drugs and guns.

    Barbados is well known as a tourist destination for the rich and famous; a group who have always had a large appetite for cocaine. They would not be holidaying in Barbados if they could not get there fix from the white powder.

    Those big hotels operating in Barbados would have there own personnel dealer.

    The drug of choice for Barbadian youth is the herb. The next logical step for the international or domestic drug dealer is to get our youth addicted to something harder.

    Once a market has been created and certain individuals are seen to be making fortunes. You will find more individuals and groups entering this market. This is borne out in the spike of gun violence in Barbados.

    Least I forget we should make a mention of those Bajans who have been deported from the USA. Some of these people are dangerous characters who have immersed themselves in the gang culture of the USA.

    With the decline of your economy, the high number of Bajans who are underemployed and the high numbers of Bajans who remain addicted to living beyond their means I can see this problem growing exponentially.

    Who said that crime does not pay?

    http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/video/2015/jun/26/italian-mafia-cocaine-trafficking-drug-devastation-brazil-poor

  12. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Exclaimer

    You have forgotton one important element that one would hardly think traffic illegal weapon into Barbados. From as far back as the 1970’s the Royal Barbados Police Band has been trafficking illegal weapon into Barbados especially when these guys used to visited America annually in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. I saw firsthand the number of guns these guys of the Band were allowed to bring into Barbados in their musical instruments throughout the years. And one would be foolish not to think that some of the unregistered firearms haven’t founded there way into the hands of the criminal-element in such an infinitesimal place like Barbados.

  13. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Exclaimer

    Where there are illegal drugs, there ought to be illegal weapons. Something or someone has to protect this precious commodity, and I don’t care what part of the world it happens to be. That’s just the nature of the illegal drug game these days, and the more valuable the precious commodity, the better the weaponry.

  14. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    Exclaimer June 29, 2015 at 6:49 PM #
    We now have two official addition ports of entry beside Bridgetown Port,and GA Airport. Port St Charles ,and Port Ferdinand in St Peter. I ‘ve always been skeptical of the comings and goings of expensive yachts , using Port St Charles,and now Port Ferdinand. There may be some laxity in keeping track of these vessels leaving these ports, going out to sea,and returning to the said ports without being checked by Customs /BRA. And this is now unique only to these yachts, local fishing boats, after a few days fishing in the ocean, have been seen returning to the Bridgetown Fisheries port laden with electrical appliances and other household items.
    There was a time when some British Fishermen/ boat operators had a thing going with their French counterparts. They would meet halfway across the channel and duty- free contraband stuff would be passed from the French to the Brits. Neither party had ventured outside of his own territorial waters, and therefore had no obligation to report to their respective Customs and Excise on return to their home base.
    Almost as bad ,was the Irish contraband smugglers operating between the borders separating the Republic of Ireland from Northern Ireland. They would walk backwards across the border, baffling both sets of Custom and Excise officers on either side, as to whether these travelers were coming or going.

  15. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Colonel Buggy, spoke of the need for government to enact better and more effective legislation to come back the problem of illegal weapons in Barbados and elsewhere in the Caribbean. I might caution you that the heavy-handed tactics by government in its efforts to arrest the problem of illegal-weapons could prove counterproductive. Strong and more effective legislation means longer jail time -which will eventually lead to an overpopulation of prison system in Barbados- and which would ultimately resulted in the problem California now face with their Three- strikes-law. The prison system in California it so overpopulated that the state is now forced to release minor offenders early, to make room for the more serious felons and those persons who have been convicted of Three strikes.

  16. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Colonel Buggy, that is why most states have opted for the Guns for Cash Program. It seems to be a more effective way to get those illegal guns off the streets of America. Incarceration has only led to a revolving door, since most prison systems in America do not have effective rehabilition programs.

  17. Commander in Chief aka -Prankster the Mankster eating Mangoes sunnyside up and egging off while Alfing around to the Max Avatar
    Commander in Chief aka -Prankster the Mankster eating Mangoes sunnyside up and egging off while Alfing around to the Max

    Colonel Buggy
    Please do not because it is not going to happen
    There is absolutely no way

  18. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Colonel Buggy

    I’ve tested and now I am absolutely convinced that one ought not judge a book by its cover. Ignorance would only lead one to ignore all of the options on the table. It is quite okay to be sceptical about a given solution to a given problem, but one ought also to furnish the justifiable and convincing evidence to the contrary.

  19. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Colonel Buggy

    I do agree that border- enforcement is a vital step in solving part of the problem of the illegal shipment of arm into Barbados, and elsewhere in the Caribbean. But has anyone stop to realize the illegal firearms are more likely than not are interlaced with illegal drug activity? So we first have address the problem of illegal drug activity- which ought to stem the demand or this flow of illegal firearms into Barbados and elsewhere in the Caribbean.

  20. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Manning the boders has never been an effective strategy against illegal activity of any sort, but it has made a meaningful dent in this activity. Until criminal elements find new and inventive ways of getting their precious cargo upon land. One has to wonder as to why in a land of such high technological proficiency; is it that illegal drug shipment and manufacture still remains a major challenge? I am talking about the United States of America out of all places of course.

  21. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    The corrupted human element has always been a cause for concern. Because the people who are on the forefront of the fight against this illegal activity, are often themselves corrupted by the dollars to be had from such activity.

  22. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    And in today’s news we read of a drunken Bus Conductor,who admitted to drinking Old Brigand while on the job, threatening to shoot a Magistrate driving through Bridgetown ,whose vehicle was “blocking his bus.”
    What would be more effective than any amnesty, any cash for guns, any road block, any jail term etc etc, would be to extend the school leaving age until such a time that, our young men,and an increasing amount of young girls, are able to grasp some form of education, and a bit of common sense and reasoning as well.

  23. David Avatar
    David

    There was a time in Barbados not too long ago where order and respect for law characterized our country.

  24. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    That was so ,David, but if our law makers and law enforcers seem to have chosen to turn a blind eye to minor infractions of the law, it is inevitable that sooner or later,the little miscreants would grow and graduate to committing major infractions of the law,and expecting to be given the same blind eye.
    My classic example , which I am forever quoting,is the little boy on the bicycle, who does everything in contravention of the Road Traffic Act,and is considered cute, or as some lady said on here, just having fun. But when these same little boys grow up and become unlicensed,uninsured, un-road taxed,and highway wheeling motor cyclists or PSV children crippling milkshakers and judicial ‘ threateners’, suddenly there are not so cute anymore,and we begin asking , How de yute get so?.

  25. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    I was under the impression that a piece of equipment I observed at the Bridgetown Port is a truck mounted Scanner, capable of scanning containers , barrels and other consignment. So in essence ,the Bridgetown Port should be ruled out as a transhipment point for guns. The same may not pertain at the airport,and from what I’ve observed, every parcel coming through the Post Office is opened and examined.

    Dompey
    It was long established that the importation of illegal drugs and guns went hand in hand.

  26. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Colonel Buggy

    I am one who do believe that young people ought be taught personal-responsibility, but can on man, you can’t obviously think that you can hold the young people at the same standard of judgment as an adults? These young people aren’t at the same level of cognitive development as you and me, and therefore, their decision making process would obviously be poor. And that is the reason why we( meaning those with the brains) have figured out the need for the juvininle and adult penal systems.

  27. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Colonel, you know all too well that children have never been kind to what parents, and adults have to say, but their have never failed in their efforts to imitating and emulating the actions of adults whether self-defeating or self-uplifting.

  28. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    The final point Colonel: children learn primarily by modeling behaviour whether positive or negative, but more often than not it is negative.

  29. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    Dompey July 1, 2015 at 3:33 AM #

    Colonel Buggy

    I am one who do believe that young people ought be taught personal-responsibility, but can on man, you can’t obviously think that you can hold the young people at the same standard of judgment as an adults? These young people aren’t at the same level of cognitive development as you and me, and therefore, their decision making process would obviously be poor. And that is the reason why we( meaning those with the brains) have figured out the need for the juvininle and adult penal systems.
    ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
    Bro ,as a boy I TRIED bucking the system but was immediately, disciplined (as in educated and not punishment) by my elders. And many of those elders used to lead by example.

  30. Exclaimer Avatar
    Exclaimer

    Check out this video.

    https://news.vice.com/video/murder-and-corruption-in-trinidad

  31. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Colonel Buggy

    “Bro, as a boy I tried bucking the system but was immediately dicipline”

    Colonel, unfortunately for you, we have since learned that the old adage which says: do as I say and not as I do, no longer applies. I don’t if you’re aware of this fact, but if you’re not I would be more than willing to inform your understanding? There is now a Children Bill of Rights, in according with the United Nations Charter on Human Rights. And I am quite sure that in your time as well as mine, children were looked upon as sentient irritants without a voice. Now, in the era of inclusiveness and tolerance, is it somewhat difficult for some old fogies to come to term with this new role young people in our day and time now occupy. The right to voice one’s opinion ought not be looked upon by the elder, as a sign of impertinece on the part of the young person, so long as it is done in the spirit of decency and respect. Because the Holy Scriptures does instructed us to respect our elders, but there is also a reciprocity that is to be expected Colonel.

  32. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Colonel Buggy

    Just something to chew on: as children we were so bewitched by our parents ignorance, that we were prone to accept at face value anything that was fed to us by our parents. And this is uncharacteristic of the free-thinking young people today, who are quick to redirect us when try to feed them nonsense.

  33. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Yes there was a time in Barbados where order and respect for the law once characterized the country. But I can assure you that during this charished time there were those persons who lived above and beyond the confines of the law. Maybe the people have grown weary of the selected few who have been allowed to escape the confines of the law? As a boy, I have had firsthand knowledge of people of a certain social status, who were allowed time and time again to walk free after being arrested for serious penal violations, on the accont of those in high office in Barbados. So what you may have understood as a respect for law and order, had come to mean, not what it had actually meant back in the day. Because you were probably devoid of the true inner workings of the system at the time, unlike myself who had had a close association the enforcers of the law. Remember now, a lot of things were hidden from the public knowledge back in the day to preserve our most precious economic resource( tourism) at the time. I had had a lot more knowledge regarding the Cubana Airplane crashed in the 1970’s than the general public. Because the wreakage to the Cubana crashed was actually kept at District A police station back in the 1970’s, and with the evident of that wreakage came conversations which were spoken in my unguarded presence.

  34. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Note: countless number of white tourit were brutally raped in Barbados back in the 70’s, but this kind of information was kept out of the newspapers. Now as a boy who have had a very close association with the police back in the day. I saw the faces of many of the white female tourist during the years who were victimized. I heard many of the sad accounts of their sexual victimization. Now, should I have been there? Probably not, but as you well know: adults back in the day gave second thought regarding the kind of lasting imprinted this kind of exposture would have had on the malleable mind of an impressionable intellectual rebel like myself and many others.

  35. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Good video Exclaimer
    ….one of the worse places on earth….
    And they own Brassbados.

  36. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    @Bushie,

    http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/69383/republic-bank-comes-grand-kadooments-rescue

  37. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Hants
    ….they will probably soon convert crapover into another Carnival with Trini calypsonians …or another Divali …(depending on which side of Trickidad running the Bank)
    Always good for the new plantocracy to have someplace to go where the murder rate is not like home…

  38. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    I hate to state the obvious but in the near future, every major business in Barbados will be owned by foreigners.

  39. David Avatar
    David

    Be on your guard, Bajans told
    The Royal Barbados Police Force yesterday appealed to Barbadians to be alert and not to let down their guard when it comes to their personal safety. Station Sargeant Stephen Griffith issued the caution as he confirmed that police had…
    Barbados Today

  40. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    How can many Bajans be on guard when it comes to personal safety, when we are no longer aware of what is happening immediately around us , as the cell phone now has our undivided and immediate attention,whether we are driving , on foot or sitting down in a park.

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