In 250 firearms cases, AG advocates social approach

BArbados currently has more than 250 firearms cases pending, underscoring the urgent need for a comprehensive strategy to address the problem, Attorney General Dale Marshall told a regional crime intelligence meeting Monday.

Speaking at a national event to raise awareness for a Crime Gun Intelligence Unit with regional crime fighting agency CARICOM IMPACS, Marshall revealed: “In September last year, we had 292 firearms cases that were yet to be processed. In 2024, the number has not changed significantly, we are in the region of just over 250.”

Marshall presented statistics showing a slight drop in firearms-related offences, with 63 cases reported between January and June this year, compared to 75 in the same period last year. In the 18 months to last month, there were 142 firearms trials, the attorney general said, stressing that the fight against firearms trafficking “has to be a whole-of-society effort”.

“I show you these numbers to show that the fight is multifaceted,” he said.

The Attorney General called for more community involvement and urged citizens to provide relevant information that could help apprehend offenders.

“The courts are involved in this, the police are involved in this, but the missing element that we don’t talk about as much is the involvement of our communities,” Marshall said.

Tonya Ayow, Deputy Director of CARICOM IMPACS, echoed Marshall’s sentiments and stressed the need for greater cooperation among Caribbean countries. She noted an increase in the number of firearms interceptions in the region, attributing this to improved actionable intelligence.

“There continues to be an increase in the interception of firearms at the US border and within CARICOM member states due to actionable intelligence, and we are seeing an increase in the number of seizures at ports and inland of firearms, ammunition, magazines and components,” Ayow reported.

The meeting highlighted the transnational nature of firearms-related crimes and the importance of a united front in combating them. Ayow reaffirmed CARICOM IMPACS’s commitment to supporting Member States and enhancing their capacities in addressing firearms-related crimes.

She said: “In an era where transnational crime knows no borders, our joint efforts are of greater importance. Today, as we meet, we recognise that the fight against firearms-related crime requires a united front. It is our shared intention to continue operational support, while at the same time working with our partners to enhance the capabilities and capacities of Member States’ firearms units in the region.”

The sensitization and awareness event at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre is one of a series of events to address gun crime in the Caribbean region. The events were organized to highlight the work of the Crime Gun Intelligence Unit of CARICOM IMPACS in supporting CARICOM Member States in detecting and reducing firearms-related crime. Participants include ministers, parliamentarians and senior officials from customs and police. The initiative is in response to the high number of violent deaths in the Caribbean, with firearms being the primary weapon used in these crimes.

Established in October 2022, the CGIU aims to enhance cooperation and information sharing among CARICOM member states to combat arms trafficking and improve public safety. Meetings will begin in March with St. Kitts and Nevis and are scheduled to cover all 15 CARICOM member states. (SB)