The recent tragic killing of a 13-year-old boy in Silver Hill, Barbados has exposed our ability to safeguard the most vulnerable citizens—its children. When a nation is unable to protect its most vulnerable, host, we have a problem. This random murder raises critical questions about the systemic challenges being faced by small island nations in the Caribbean.

The blogmaster agrees with Prime Minister Mia Mottley that crime prevention requires the involvement of all sections of the society – although government’s role in the crime fight is crucial. OUR duty of care to protect the most vulnerable members extends beyond governmental actions, communities, families, and individuals must collectively participate in creating a safe environment especially for the children.

Barbados Underground has been a lone voice calling for more draconian interventions by government and the Barbados Police Service (BPS) to arrest some of the lawlessness. The crime challenges facing Barbados cannot be addressed by the incremental approach we have become comfortable. The situation playing out in Barbados calls for URGENT and IMMEDIATE interventions.

We have to up de ting.

1. Attorney General Dale Marshall mentioned the plan is to increase the use of technology. Let us locate CCTV surveillance in high-risk areas and establish active neighbourhood watch programs to deter crime. Let us do it!
2. We must be uncompromising in administering penalties for gun crime. LIFE. Let us do it!
3. Improve anonymous reporting channels through the use of mobile apps, and multiple hotlines with relevant public awareness campaigns. The hype can be as strident to rival the two main political parties bombardment of tired and innocuous messaging every election cycle. Let us do it!
4. We have to do a better job with recruitment. The BPS has been challenged in recent years to fill its ranks. If we are unable to recruit locally, let us reluctantly do so from outside the country.
5. Many here and elsewhere have been afraid to mention the C word. We have to establish curfews, to hell with the apologists. Barbados has been robbed of its ‘innocence’ a long time ago, there is the honest perception the crime situation in Barbados bears little difference to Jamaica, Trinidad and other neighbouring islands.

The random killing of a 13-year-old boy highlights the urgent need for a multifaceted approach to crime fighting. Our duty of care to protect the most vulnerable is a collective responsibility, demanding unwavering commitment from all sectors of society to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Let the games continue!