Submitted by Amit Uttamchandani
There have been at least 18 murders for the year so far. The data presented below covers January to July 2022. The steps involved in this analysis are similar to my 2020 analysis.
Read more @caribbeansignal.com
Barbados Murder Statistics January to July 2022
Submitted by Amit Uttamchandani There have been at least 18 murders for the year so far. The data presented below covers January to July 2022. The steps involved in this analysis are similar to my 2020 analysis. Read more @caribbeansignal.com
174 responses to “Barbados Murder Statistics January to July 2022”
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BAIL WORRY
Reoffenders a drain on police, says commissioner
By Colville Mounsey
colvillemounsey@nationnews.com
Commissioner of Police Richard Boyce is not happy with the number of people who are charged with capital crimes or firearms offences but remain out on bail.
He is “deeply concerned” about those same people reoffending while waiting to have cases heard.
Likening it to “putting out the same fire over and over again”, Boyce told the Sunday Sun
yesterday that the issue is sapping the resources of the Barbados Police Service.
He did not have the exact statistics to hand but said a substantial number of the murder and firearms cases cleared this year resulted in the arrests of several people already on bail. In some cases, the offenders were put on bail two or even three times, he added, noting that on each occasion there was an escalation in the crimes committed.
“This is a situation that is creating a serious headache for us because it utilises a significant number of resources in dealing with persons on whom we have already expended tremendous energies. These are persons that we have placed before the court and had the firearms taken
out of their hands, only to have to deal with them over and over again. It is like a revolving door that we keep going through with no end in sight. So it is a major concern for us that we must deal with because we just can’t throw up our hands in the air,” Boyce said.
“What is worrying is that some of these persons have received bail on two or three times and now they have gone out and committed even more serious offences. We find that when a person is granted bail a second or third time, the seriousness of the crimes they commit seems to increase.”
A police source confirmed that one of the two men found dead at Long Beach, Christ Church, last Tuesday, after residents reported hearing a number of gunshots the night before, was on bail after being charged with three separate murders.
Last year the High Court ruled that the section of the Bail Act that forces the courts to remand people charged with murder or serious firearm offences for 24 months before they can qualify for bail was unconstitutional. Attorney General Dale Marshall said the state has appealed this ruling and is awaiting the decision of the Court of Appeal in order to determine the best way forward.
However, Boyce said that while he was not weighing in on the court’s decision, his officers were having difficulty with people not adhering to the conditions of their bail.
“We understand that persons have that right to bail but with that right comes some measure of responsibility to which persons should be held accountable. If persons are granted bail,
then they must be made to operate within the conditions of that bail. What we have found is that persons are not honouring their conditions and that is a major concern for us. We cannot have persons having a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew and not complying.
“We are finding persons who are supposed to be on curfew leaving home at midnight to go feting and also getting themselves involved in very serious crimes involving firearms. Some also have the condition that they are not supposed to be in certain areas, but yet when police officers are out on patrol, these persons are found in the same hotspots where criminal activity is rampant. So we find ourselves in a position where we have to put out old fires which we put out months ago,” he said.
The commissioner called for the use of digital surveillance to be part of the conditions under which serious offenders are given bail, stressing that there needs to be a better system of monitoring beyond just having them report to the police station on a daily basis.
“We need a more structured system for managing persons out on bail, especially for serious crimes involving firearms. We need to find resources to have that agency that would work
closely with the courts to monitor these individuals who are granted bail.
“There are measures that can be put in place to monitor these persons such as electronic tagging, which would ensure they remain confined to certain geographical areas. These devices can be monitored from a separate location and these devices are very reliable and dependable, with a more than 90 per cent rate of efficiency,” he explained.Source: Nation
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US$75M SUIT
Bajans want damages over extradition matter
By Maria Bradshaw
mariabradshaw@nationnews.comThree Barbadians who were involved in historic extradition proceedings 18 years ago as a result of drugrelated charges are seeking US$25 million (BDS$50 million) each in damages after their extradition never materialised.
Sean Gaskin, John Wayne Scantlebury and the estate of deceased Frederick Christopher Hawkesworth, who was murdered in 2016, are asking a United States (US) court jointly and severally, for US$20 000 000 each in compensatory damages and US$5 000 000 each in punitive damages.
They are also requesting the US District Court of Colombia for a declaratory judgment that there was no probable cause to arrest or imprison them pending extradition; that there was no probable cause for them to have been remanded in Barbados in 2011, and that the US lacked personal jurisdiction over the plaintiffs for the actions that were taken.
They also want the court to prevent the US and its officers and agents from detaining or restricting them in their travels within the US or abroad; from using the alleged offences for any purpose, including immigration and visas; and have asked that the US, through its chief law enforcement officer, write and file with the Barbados Government pursuant to Article 18 of the Extradition Treaty, a statement that the three men were falsely accused on criminal activity in the extradition request, and that the Department Of Justice (DOJ) was aware of the falsity of its prior statements and failed to correct them.
The case, which became the longest running extradition proceedings in Barbados to date, began following the 2004 arrest of the three.
They were accused of being part of a quintet that knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated and agreed with each other to manufacture and distribute more than five kilos of cocaine into the United States between January 1999 and March 27, 2004.
In 2011 they were ordered
incarcerated pending extradition proceedings and placed in maximum security at Dodds Prison.
However, in a dramatic turn of events, all charges were dismissed in 2014 after the US government informed local authorities that it was no longer interested in prosecuting the men. This led to their immediate release from prison.
Unlawful
As a result, the three are claiming that the prosecution and imprisonment were without probable cause and thus unlawful and tortious.
When contacted by the Sunday Sun about the civil proceedings which took place last year, US attorney Lawrence Joseph, who is representing the three plaintiffs, said: “The federal defendants moved to dismiss, and we are waiting for the court to rule on that motion.”
In that motion, submitted last September, the 13 individually named defendants who are all current and former employees or officials of the DOJ have asked the court to dismiss the case.
They submitted that the civil suit against them was retaliatory litigation, repeating the same arguments made before the court in 2015, when the plaintiffs unsuccessfully moved to change the government’s dismissal of charges against them from one without prejudice to one with prejudice.
They also contend the claims should be dismissed because all the defendants were protected by qualified immunity, and that the malicious prosecution and false imprisonment claim fails because probable cause for the arrest or confinement was a valid defence.
The motion noted: “Plaintiffs concede that the waiver of sovereign immunity in the Federal Tort Claims Act . . . does not apply to injuries – such as those suffered by plaintiffs in Barbados – that arise abroad. This concession leads inexorably to the conclusion that plaintiffs’ common law tort damages claims (Counts IV-VIII) should be dismissed.”
The judge is yet to decide on the motion.Source: Nation
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Massive Inter-Island Drug Bust Made in Barbados
https://starcomnetwork.net/blog/2022/08/07/massive-inter-island-drug-bust-made-in-barbados/
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Interesting story at 4:02 a.m.
I am not lawyer and in many items I just go with my gut feelings. Most of these islands need to examine and call for changes to the rule for extradition of their citizens to the US.
Mendicancy cannot give rise to suitable international relationships.
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That 18 are murdered so far still seems in keeping with the average annual number – about 30.
Maybe, the murder statisticians could explain why Belize, a Caricom country, with dominant English characteristics and a population of 400K, similar to Barbados, but 35 times the landmass, has 360 murders per year, pre-covid.
Are we trying to compete with Belize? Certainly, the general level of violence, all kinds of violence, including within political speech, far outpaces Barbados. Certainly, Jamaica and T&T are fierce competitors of Belize as well.
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@Pacha
In the 20s now. With Covid protocols removed and high drug hauls and ammunition capture criminal activity and all that goes with it will ramp up.
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David
Hawkesworth was murdered. Has that case been solved? What were the general circumstances of that murder?
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Good questions Pacha, there speculation which the blogmaster will try to avoid.
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David
Yes, could imagine. This writer is not totally ignorant of the range of possible scenarios.
Separately, what about the drug runner Charles Herbert? Has his case been kicked into the tall grass? Are the Americans too seeking his extradition? Or, as if the local Teflon Don, has innocence been asserted?
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Inquiring minds want to know what is the status of the cases of the two others who were charged with Herbert.
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@Pacha
Our comments crossed. Is the outstanding about Herbert or the other two.
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On the lighter side … when boys were boys and engaged in past times that did not involve guns!!
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Inseparable from the prior blog on crime and drugs.
Can Dodds be shut and save money? If murderers out on bail, no point keeping it open.
The fellow on bail for murder get shot, just like Hawkesworth?
Any loss to the community?
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@ David
On October 14, 2016 Philip Mark Anthony Griffith of Butlers Avenue, Spooners Hill, St Michael, was formally charged with the murder of Christopher Hawkesworth.
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David
Herbert?
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@Crusoe
From media reports they have been charged. There is the presumption of innocence?
According to the COP bail conditions are not being properly monitored.
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Thanks Artax.
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@Pacha
Maybe Artax can correct but wasn’t Herbert’s case dropped?
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@David
“https://barbados.loopnews.com/content/watch-drug-charges-dropped-against-former-goddard-enterprises-chair”In a small land where drugs and guns have existed as long as sliced bread, and where the bigger ups are NEVER held to account and where the lower downs become more desperate and uncaring about life the inevitable will happen.
That 24M haul that the media CHOSE not to report on is a classic example. That amount had to be stored somewhere, with the knowledge of others and a reasonable belief that inter island shipment was possible
I guess we will NEVER find out who those other waiting and ready players are.
Young unemployed men aren’t as foolish as we think. Blatant hypocrisy breeds unbridled apathy.
Just observing
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@ David
Remember, on June 16, 2018, the DPP made a determination that all drug charges against Charles Herbert, in particular, should be dropped on the grounds of a lack of evidence.
I’m surprised you did not recall the robust discussion that was held in this forum between PLT and a few other contributors as a result.
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@Artax
The blogmaster recalled but it is useful for some like yourself to clarify these matters.
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@Artax
One is left to speculate the different considerations used to separate the defenses of the three?
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@ David
Since Hawksworth was mentioned, any thoughts on the US$75M law suit?
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@ David
Seems so.
The two other guys were supposed to reappear in Court, but I haven’t seen or heard of anything relating to them or the status of their case.
I find the local media would present a news item only during its ‘infancy,’ and there aren’t any further updates as it grows to ‘maturity.’
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@Artax
In these kinds of matters there is so much happening behind the scenes. Prima facie is would seem there is a case to be met by US authorities given the abruptness matters were dropped.
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@Artax
As you know the non white person charged was known to the court but this blogmaster is unable to connect the dots why the other person was not able to piggyback on Herbert’s defense for dropping the charges.
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@David
I believe a vessel’s captain and crew are always responsible for cargo on board. Passengers are not, unless there is specific evidence connecting them to the cargo.
Hence the dots which separate.
@plt suggested the ‘trial’ (of the other 2) would bring clarity.
It has since been suggested, the ‘trial’ will never happen.
My prodding as to why, yielded natta. -
@NO
Thanks for the clarification.
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“This intelligence was further developed and on August 2nd Barbados law enforcement breached the “stash house” in Barbados where they found and seized 481kilogrammes of marijuana with a street value of TT $72,063,420.”
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Since Hawksworth was mentioned, any thoughts on the US$75M law suit?
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DON’T KNOW WHY THE EXTRADITION WAS DROPPED.
I HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN TO THE HOUSES/RESIDENCE OF ALL THREE AT LEAST ONCE CHRIS WHEN ALIVE IN ST JAMES, SCANTLEBURY IN ST PHILIP AND GASKIN IN ST MICHAEL AT THE TIME AND HELD CONVERSATIONS.
ALL THREE WERE INVOLVED IN THE DRUG TRADE FROM GUYANA WITH .GASKIN’S WIFE WHEN IN BARBADOS WAS A SMALL TRADER WHO HAS SINCE MOVED BACK TO GUYANA IN GEORGETOWN BEING A GUYANESE ALSO INVOLVED IN THE COCAINE TRADE.
THEY ARE ALL GUILTY OF THE CHARGE BUT MANAGED TO SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS.
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“I guess we will NEVER find out who those other waiting and ready players are.
Young unemployed men aren’t as foolish as we think. Blatant hypocrisy breeds unbridled apathy.”
all the information is out there…just not distilled in certain places because they still believe they can keep it secret and continue with business as usual, undisturbed and free from accountability…….but that case, now it’s cocaine, the next minute marijuana…. was the straw that broke the camel’s back finally…
“Hawkesworth was murdered. Has that case been solved? What were the general circumstances of that murder?”
ah Pacha…the true story behind all of it would truly frighten you…..but make no mistake they overplayed and someone will pay…..they only believe they won’t. ………watch that lawsuit closely…..the less said the better…but don’t blink..
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“DON’T KNOW WHY THE EXTRADITION WAS DROPPED.”
it was a set up….a SET UP…..a SET UP…..the two young men were completely innocent…and were never involved in any drug trade..that could be found…all of this information was already on BU…
one was the generational owner of the 75? acres of land where Arawak Cement is located and Fustic Plantation….and also the owner of a HUGE BANK ACCOUNT…all legit…..all DISAPPEARED, SYSTEMIC THEFT….A SET UP THAT WENT REALLY, REALLY BAD….watch the case…
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DavidAugust 7, 2022 10:51 AM
@Artax
As you know the non white person charged was known to the court but this blogmaster is unable to connect the dots why the other person was not able to piggyback on Herbert’s defense for dropping the charges.
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You mean the captain of the schooner?
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@John
Yes.
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And no…the US had no hand in any of that like they tried to pin Hawkesworth murder on them., but they are the ones being sued……because….
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“Sean Gaskin, John Wayne Scantlebury and the estate of deceased Frederick Christopher Hawkesworth”
Not clear what happened between the of the crime (2004) and 2011. However, being reminded in 2011 would have suggested to the general public that the police/US had solid evidence on the three.
To have all charges ‘dismissed in 2014 after the US government informed local authorities that it was no longer interested in prosecuting the men’ (to me) seem like a miscarriage of justice.
They can employ these sane unfair tactics against any citizen.
I do not know (and I do not care) if these men are saints and villains but they deserve a day in the US courts and the resulting award for false imprisonment.
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“DON’T KNOW WHY THE EXTRADITION WAS DROPPED.”
it was a set up….a SET UP…..a SET UP…..the two young men were completely innocent…and were never involved in any drug trade..that could be found…all of this information was already on BU…
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MY FRIEND ON THIS ONE YOU ARE FULL OF SHIT AND HOT AIR.
I KNEW ALL 3 PERSONALLY INCLUDING VISITING HOMES AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS.
YOU DON’T KNOW THESE INDIVIDUALS ON A FACE TO FACE LEVEL SO DON’T BRING THE NAKED DEPARTURE BULLSHIT.
LAST TIME I MET SCANTLEBURY AFTER HIM BEING RELEASED FROM PRISON WAS TRYING TO BRING IN GREEN HOUSES IN CONTAINER TO THE 2 X 3 ISLAND AND USING THIS METHOD TO IMPORT DRUGS FROM GUYANA.
NOT SURE IF SCANTLEBURY GOT OFF THE GROUND AS I MET HIM ONLY THAT ONE TIME UNEXPECTABLY IN THE TOWN AREA IN PASSING AND HE SHARED THE INFO WITH ME ON HIS OWN INITITAVE.
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Typo Sunday
time of the crime
Reminded=remanded
Sane=same -
“MY FRIEND ON THIS ONE YOU ARE FULL OF SHIT AND HOT AIR.”
you do know there was an investigation regarding that…….that is why, one of the reasons anyway why THE CASE WAS DROPPED…
UNLESS YOU HAVE ANOTHER REASON WHY….please share…
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And no…the US had no hand in any of that like they tried to pin Hawkesworth murder on them., but they are the ones being sued……because….
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WHO IS THEM THAT THEY TRIED TO PIN?
YOU OBVIOUSLY CAN’T READ PROPERLY AS ANOTHER MAN A CLOSE ASSOCIATE OF CHRIS ALSO INVOLVED IN THE DRUG TRADE WAS CHARGE WITH THE MURDER LOCALLY.
SO WHO IS THEM?
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“YOU DON’T KNOW THESE INDIVIDUALS ON A FACE TO FACE LEVEL”
i actually knew one for many, many years, the island is so small, and he said outright to anyone who would listen that those two dudes were never involved with him and any drugs and i tend to believe him because he was upfront with everyone about his own involvement….
.so again, if you have another reason why the case was dropped, please share…
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I do not know (and I do not care) if these men are saints and villains but they deserve a day in the US courts and the resulting award for false imprisonment.
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I AGREE THAT THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO SUEIN US COURT AND HAVE THEIR DAY IN COURT.
HOWEVER TO ACT INNOCENT WHEN I KNOW THAT THEY WERE NOT IS A LONG STRETCH.
THEY GOT LUCKY UNLIKE ALEX TASKER IN THE DONVILLE INNIS EXTRADITION CASE.
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“YOU OBVIOUSLY CAN’T READ PROPERLY AS ANOTHER MAN A CLOSE ASSOCIATE OF CHRIS ALSO INVOLVED IN THE DRUG TRADE WAS CHARGE WITH THE MURDER LOCALLY.
SO WHO IS THEM?”
why do yall like to tell people what they know and don’t know……this is public information….but there is so much more that you yourself have not posted yet…i will wait for you to post it….it’s not just cut and dried….no it’s not, and yes, they started rumors that US was responsible for the murder DESPITE KNOWING other things that went on in that killing…………
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This reinforces my objection to extradition of non-US citizens to the US for any kind of crime.
Jack Warner should remain in Trinidad.
Tasker should stay where he is. -
A case of extradition is based on if treaties exist between the countries.
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Another point to posit- a law suit is brought if the proposers believe there is a strong case in law. It often has nothing to do with if the parties are innocent or guilty:
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Guess what, your opinions mean squat…in the grand scheme of things if as it was found these men were innocent, and it was all a MONSTROUS SET-UP….that is a well known stock-in-trade by thieving criminal…….and there is ACTUALLY PROOF available….that i saw with my own two eyes..
so if you think you can pin a drug crime on them, go right ahead and see how far you get…
as the man said he had NO DEALINGS WITH THESE MEN concerning drugs…i will go with what he said and he had no reason at all to lie…..given all that has since unfolded.
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It’s a rasssoul amazing how all kinds of interpretations of law can be arrived at once a fucking bacra White man like Charles Herbert’s name is called.
These same fucking genuflections are never raised in relationship to Mr. Hawkesworth or anybody of his ilk.
We are supposed to believe that three men are to be on a vessel with hundreds of pounds of drugs and somehow one particular man knowns not of the cargo. This defies common sense, law and precedent. How many people are spending time in jail because they where foolish enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time? In every other case this writer knows rasssoul Charles Herbert should have been in jail. And he’s not known to be an asshole.
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What has been discerned from all of this long extradition proceedings is the US was USED to terrorize and sequester all three men, but they were never meant to actually be extradited…..only to keep them in that state of flux while TIEFING WAS ONGOING…which was successful…but had the US won that case they could have gotten life in prison, although INNOCENT IN THAT INSTANCE…
but shit went sideways….as these evil crimes sometimes do….and evating come out…because they did not get to tie up their loose ends….
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“A case of extradition is based on if treaties exist between the countries.”
Will not draw out the point.
Allow me to express my ignorance about the law, extradition and diplomatic, but the one thing I know is that the US is a law into themselves.
Example 2.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/12/world/europe/harry-dunn-anne-sacoolas-extradition.html
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