With the tranquil landscape of Barbados being routinely disturbed by a culture of gun violence an unprecedented murder rate. Civil society is being encouraged to frankly discuss short term and long term measures to implement to arrest the trending. BU commenter Greene posted the following measures (with minor edits by the blogmaster) to kickoff Barbados Underground Internet Town Hall on Crime & Violence – How to Arrest it NOW.
– David, Barbados Underground
Short term measures
- Come right out and tell Bajans that the young men in some areas are murderers and are terrorising BIM by killing one another and if they continue so the Govt will have to invite people in BIM to take their place in BIM.
- Tell them that the illegal drug trade and reprisals are responsible for murders. that the guns are coming through the Port and that any government officials including but not limited to politicians, police and customs involved and caught will be punished severely. Change the official corruption laws to suit.
- Tell mothers and women by accepting drug money and turning a blind eye to the activities of their sons and boyfriends that they part of the problem.
- Enforce or implement Money Laundering and asset forfeiture Laws
- Second half the Defence Force to the police as patrol units in hot spot with a view to engage and challenge suspected drug and gun men/dealers based on intelligence in the first place and observation when they are in the area.
- Actually engage and if fired upon shoot to kill taking into consideration threats to their own lives and dangers posed to others in the area.
- Speedy Trials
- Look to pop some necks even if it means changing the laws.
- Discuss openly about what is causing the problems and solicit solutions.
- Seek a truce between warring factions with a forum where where they can confront each other in a neutral setting (do not know if this is possible).
- Look at witnesses protection with a view to sending those who qualify to other participatory islands/ countries.
- Provide and lease farm land to young men and women who say they have nothing to do.
- Teach civics from primary school with an established set of ideals that we expect from Bajans.
And I would say all this to the public.
Long term
- Look to change the school system to make it more hands on for boys with more technical subjects.
- Revert to single sex schools
- Provide counselling or more counselling for troubled youths and parents with early intervention programmes.
- Improve the lot of the police by paying them more and making the service more attractive. If the Government says they have no money they can exempt police, fire and prisons (emergency services) from income taxes and provide free health care at any private facility.
- Disband the Defence Force and recruit those who want to and are qualified into the police, fire service and prisons.
- Change corruption and other associated laws.
- Make marijuana legal for anyone over 18.
- Decriminalize other hard drugs treating them as a health issue and not a legal issue.
- Alter all the above from time to time to suit the changing circumstances.
- Look to improve the long term economic and employment situation.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.