The blogmaster strongly advocates for the implementation of more pertinent and aggressive crime policing strategies by the authorities. Last week, there was a brazen attack on a senior citizen in broad daylight on Belmont Road. Yesterday (May 18, 2026), on a sunny Sunday, there was an armed incident at Shopsmart in Six Roads, St. Philip.
The adage that the definition of insanity is repeating the same actions while expecting different outcomes holds true in this context. For many years, the incidence of violent crime has been trending in the wrong direction. Moreover, the authorities have implemented ineffective and ineffectual crime-deterrent strategies.
Over the years, we have listened to crime reports from Commissioners of Police, which can be described as mediocre public relations exercises. More mediocre has been the public buy-in while at the same time expressing surprise at the trending incidents of serious crime in Barbados.
The blogmaster urges the relevant authorities to intensify their efforts. It is evident that the prevailing culture is inadequate to serve as a deterrent to crime. New factors must be introduced to alter the public’s perception about the seriousness of the Barbados Police Service (BPS) and the government’s commitment to crime deterrence. The criminal element in Barbados and those on the fringes of criminal activities must be held more accountable.
Ironically, we are nearing the climax of a by-election campaign in St. James North, yet the issue of crime will not be a pivotal factor. It seems illogical that there should be grave public concern about violent crime in the country and it will not be reflected in the vote on May 21, 2025.
The blogmaster is perplexed by the public outcry regarding an elderly man being abused by a young hooligan on Belmont Road last week, yet there is no similar uproar about the number of elderly citizens being abandoned at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) by family members. Is this a manifestation of the public’s apprehension about becoming involved in a system perceived as unjust? Perhaps Barbadians have transitioned from being personable to impersonal.
The fundamental ground rules are that:
– Bush Tea (edited)
– We will ALWAYS get the leadership that we DESERVE
– We can ONLY reap what we have sown
So your idea of ‘potential leaders within’ riding to our rescue ..needs to be reviewed – given the ground rules of the game.
To cut a long story: There is nothing really ‘wrong’ with our leaders. The fact is that they ACCURATELY represent our overall society…. AND ALWAYS WILL.
True ‘leadership within’ therefore MUST be represented by those who take on the CRITICAL role of bringing TRUTH, HONESTY, TRANSPARENCY and WISDOM to the lotta brass bowls – with the hope of getting the WHOLE SOCIETY to wake up and put themselves in a position to DESERVE the kind of leadership of which you speak.
Note that FOUR fingers are pointing at BU….
Bushie’s favorite Prophet, Jonah, is a classic case in point – of how (EXTREMELY RELUCTANT) internal leaders were able to influence the kind of change required to save a whole society of Nineveh from doom…
Where do we proceed from here?
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.