By Robert Andre Emmanuel
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has issued a stern call to action against rising crime in Antigua and Barbuda, emphasising a “zero-tolerance” approach during a high-level meeting with National Security personnel and law enforcement agencies.
The Prime Minister, who is set to issue a public address to the nation, has become more vocal as August has already seen three murders, as well as a number of daring armed robberies, stabbings, break-ins and woundings.
In his address, Browne stressed the urgency of the situation, stating, “our people are now living in fear, thinking that the criminals are getting the better of us”.
He assured law enforcement that they have the full backing of his administration and the Cabinet to take decisive action against criminal elements.
“Now that the criminal elements are literally undermining the peace and security within our country, it is important for us to now redouble our efforts and to make sure that we do all in our power to ensure that these elements are put behind bars,” he said.
Prime Minister Browne said that youth who commit heinous crimes, in particular, should be not sent to a juvenile detention centre, but to jail.
He said that for several years, the 2Drilly gang—a group of juveniles who have been at the centre of cutlass attacks against fellow schoolchildren—has been wreaking havoc, emanating with the Fort Road and Villa areas.
“There’s this notion that because they’re youth that they should not be dealt with harshly. But some of these youths are among the most criminal elements, the most wicked and least compassionate persons within the society.
“And I say to you that we want those gangs broken up; there must be no gangs in this country,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that members of the 2Drilly gang have already been under investigation by law enforcement for crimes committed over the weekend.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister also took a tough stance against immigrants who commit crimes, stating that they will be subject to deportation.
“We expect Immigration [department] to be part of this fight and to ensure that we do not have criminal loiters in our society.
“We welcome immigrants to our country to help to build our country but where they’re not making productive contributions to advancing in our country, and they become a security threat, they ought to be deported.
“I’m told that there may be some of them who possibly are operating within the shadows, who may not even have their time up to date within the county and if that is the case, we expect the immigration department to round them up and deport them,” Browne said.
