GOV’T TO TACKLE CRIME HEAD-ON

THE ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is promising to forcefully tackle the problems of crime and violence in this country.

The assurance came yesterday from President of the Party and Prime Minister of Barbados, the Rt. Hon. Freundel Stuart, who has in essence told those engaged in this deviant behaviour that their days are numbered. Addressing a large gathering at the DLP’s George Street headquarters for the final day of its 62nd Annual Conference, he disclosed that a “suite of legislative and other measures, all within the Constitution”, which is aimed at confronting the issue, is currently engaging the attention of the Cabinet.

According to the PM, the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) has in fact assured Government that such measures will considerably enhance the capacity of the Force to deal with the scourge. However, he stopped short of divulging exactly what those measures would entail.

“The Government is focusing on aggressively confronting the problems, on specially equipping our law enforcement agencies and on rationalising the operation of our criminal justice system. The criminal element does not call press conferences to announce when or where it will strike next. That criminal element relies heavily on the element of surprise. The State, in defence of its citizens and of its values, will make use of the element of surprise as well,” he told the audience.

His comments came just moments after he said that households, communities, churches, schools and political establishments, also have a part to play in addressing this problem in Barbados, and to get the “thankfully small segment of our young population that now sees the possession and the use of a high-powered firearm as the best symbol of personal empowerment”, back on track. Prime Minister Stuart spoke to the issue, as he noted that it did not materialise overnight and therefore cannot be solved overnight.

In fact, he indicated that some two decades ago, the DLP raised concern about the threat that the increasing incidence of crime could pose for our society and way of life, but was ridiculed. Today, he lamented, the problem is now facing our nation head-on.

“Higher standards in our households, better examples in our communities, a more aggressive outreach from our churches, teaching and learning for good citizenship in our schools, and a politics that helps our young to realise their dreams and their aspirations, must replace the high-powered firearm as a symbol of personal power. I concede that these are medium-term solutions, but we must begin to work now to save those who have not yet been ensnared into this deadly trap,” PM Stuart maintained.

He also used the opportunity to thank the members of the RBPF for the calm and level-headed manner in which they have responded to the present challenges.

“It is they who try to get the bad boys so called off the streets. As some have been saying to me recently, it can be a little de-motivating when, to their consternation, they soon see some of the same bad boys back on the streets, either reoffending or being sources of inspiration to others who are bent on offending in the first place.

“I hope that in the criminal justice system, some broad protocols can be worked out and efficiencies achieved that would keep to a minimum the discomforts and frustrations of all actors across the system,” he added.

Prime Minister Stuart made the point as he contended that while it is important that the criminal justice system is sensitive to the fundamental human rights of the alleged wrongdoer as well as the victims and their families, this country cannot afford a society in which the “passionate intensity” of those committed to antisocial behaviour gains the upper hand. (JRT)