Est.2007

Barbados Underground

Bringing News and Opinions to the People

Banner promoting anonymous crime reporting with a phone and contact number 1 800 TIPS (8477), featuring the Crime Stoppers logo and a QR code for submitting tips.

Are we seeing early signs of vigilante justice in Barbados?

Starcom

← Back

Your message to the BLOGMASTER was sent

CONTACT THE BLOGMASTER ONLY

Barbados is facing a quiet but dangerous turning point. As gun violence surges- especially with firearm related crimes- increasing by 60 percent in 2025, public trust in the justice system is low. A recent study found that only 6.7 percent of citizens believe the courts effectively deter crime, and many fear that law enforcement is too close to the criminals they are meant to pursue. This loss of confidence many suggest will lead to vigilante thinking.

We have already seen warning signs. A video circulating on social media recently showed a man tied up, beaten and stabbed for allegedly stealing a mobile phone. Of concern is that some citizens and so called social media influencers expressed approval for this extrajudicial act. For a small island like Barbados this is a dangerous trajectory we find ourselves.

It is obvious we need a different approach in Barbados to tackling crime and restoring public trust. In this space many suggestions have been posited through the years. A community centred approach is obviously the way to go. Also, transparency of the justice system, including independent oversight of law enforcement, would go a long way toward repairing the relationship between citizens and the state. The Barbados Bar Association self regulates, The Barbados Police Service self regulates. The Barbados Courts self regulates or so it seems.

Are we seeing the early signs of vigilante justice in Barbados?

Are we there yet?

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

18 responses to “Are we seeing early signs of vigilante justice in Barbados?”

  1. David Avatar
    David

    Hospitalised under police guard

    A GROUP OF RESIDENTS in Black Rock, St Michael, took extraordinary action to keep their community safe on Monday night, when they confronted and subdued a suspected armed robber, leaving him hospitalised with serious injuries.

    A second masked gunman involved in the attempted robbery at a shop remained on the run from the Barbados Police Service up to press time last night.

    The dramatic incident unfolded in Clevedale Road, and some of it was captured in videos and photographs that quickly circulated on social media. The footage showed a moaning man tied up and apparently beaten after being apprehended by members of the public.

    According to information obtained by the MIDWEEK NATION from a police source, two masked men allegedly entered the shop looking to rob the patrons when one of them was overpowered and given a severe beating, while the other one fled.

    The apprehended suspect, known to the police, reportedly sustained a stab wound to his left side and remained hospitalised under police guard. Police are continuing efforts to locate the second suspect.

    Earlier that evening, a man who said he had been robbed by two men on the adjoining Yearwood Road recounted the terrifying experience.

    Speaking on condition of anonymity, the victim told the MIDWEEK NATION that one of the men had a firearm and came dangerously close to him during the confrontation.

    “The gunman was so close up to me,” he said, admitting that he feared for his life and believed the weapon could have been discharged at any moment.

    Despite the ordeal, he distanced himself from the actions later taken by residents against the suspect.

    “We want to engage justice,” he said, stressing that he did not support vigilante action and preferred that matters be handled through the legal system.

    His comments came even as he noted that robberies and criminal activity appeared to have become a recurring concern in the area.

    Residents interviewed yesterday expressed mixed emotions about the incident, balancing condemnation of vigilantism with frustration over persistent criminal activity.

    One man said he had little sympathy for the men accused of carrying out the robbery.

    “They got what they deserve,” he declared. “Why would you go around stealing things that belong to other people? Try and make an honest living.

    “I know that things out there are rough, but it don’t mean you gotta try to take from another man,” he added.

    Another resident suggested that growing public frustration with crime and perceptions about the effectiveness of law enforcement might have contributed to the community’s reaction.

    “I don’t know what’s going on in Barbados at all.

    There always seems to be some kind of lawlessness going on,” he lamented.

    “We need to do something about it. The police don’t seem to be doing enough, so I could see why the residents did what they had to do. Don’t get me wrong, two wrongs don’t make a right, but they got what they deserved.”

    While some residents viewed the suspect’s injuries as a consequence of his alleged actions, others warned that vigilante justice carries significant risks and could easily result in further tragedy.

    Up to press time, the police had not issued an official statement on the incident. ( DS/AC)

    Source: Nation

  2. David Avatar
    David

    Collective response needed’ in crime fight

    COMBATTING THE THREAT of transnational crime will require stronger international and regional cooperation.

    That was the consensus yesterday at the start of a two-day workshop hosted by the United Nations Development Programme Multi-Country Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, held at the Indigo Hotel in Hastings, Christ Church.

    Prosecutors and justice officials from the Caribbean and the European Union for Criminal Justice Cooperation (EUROJUST) have gathered for a conversation on the steps needed to tackle the crime affecting the region.

    Barbados’ acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecution Krystal Delaney noted that transnational organised crime, like drug and small arms trafficking, money laundering and cybercrime, stretched the capacity of Barbados’ resources.

    “The reality is that no jurisdiction, however wellresourced, can effectively investigate and prosecute transnational crime alone. There’s strength in numbers and our collective response means that we are better placed to share information, coordinate investigations, provide mutual legal assistance and ultimately to trust each other as partners,” she said.

    Barbados and the region’s response to transnational crime is being supported by the El PACCTO 2.0 Programme, which was officially launched by INTERPOL in 2024, aimed at enhancing cooperation between Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe.

    Delaney noted that the initiative reflects a European commitment to partnering with the region in tackling organised crime and coordinating cross-border investigations and prosecutions.

    Head of the European Union Delegation to Barbados and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, Ambassador Fiona Gaskin, said that collaboration seeks to offer several solutions to the transfer of cocaine and other illicit goods entering the European Union through the Caribbean.

    “The consequences of inaction for both the Caribbean and Europe are severe. Illicit trafficking fuels violence, it undermines governance, it weakens the rule of law and it contributes to broader criminal ecosystems involving money laundering, corruption and environmental crime.

    “It notably exploits vulnerable communities, creating cycles of dependency and insecurity that affect both our regions. This is why judicial cooperation through EUROJUST contact points is essential. No country can dismantle these networks alone,” she said.

    Gaskin added that this response to illicit trafficking requires sustained cooperation, intelligence sharing and coordinated investigations capable of targeting the full criminal chain. Funds have also been allocated to support port security and judicial cooperation to ensure that seizures also lead to successful prosecutions and convictions, she pointed out.

    Beyond the threat of illicit trafficking, attention has been directed at cybercrime, human trafficking, firearms trafficking, corruption and the criminal misuse of emerging technologies, which the ambassador said all transcend national boundaries and require coordinated international responses.

    “Cryptocurrencies have transformed illicit financial flows, creating new challenges for both regions. Traffickers increasingly exploit pseudonymous transactions, private enhancing technologies and decentralised financial platforms to conceal and move the criminal proceeds or profits.

    “In this regard, we need to draw all the expertise that we have in the room in terms of operational intelligence on trafficking networks from Caribbean authorities to the expertise in Europe on digital investigations, blockchain analysis and asset recovery,” Gaskin said. (JRN)

    Source: Nation

  3. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Have we ever considered that agencies like the UN and those countries central to it are the very people who are primary in the use of violence which is manifesting itself everywhere?

    Is it not at all posible to consider that, like the many countries of Afrika, the powers that be are the beneficiaries of the worst forms of violence?

    Was it not the UN itself which went against international law and gave Drumpf the fiction called the Board of Peace for Gaza after the violence of a genocide.

    Are these UN countries not where nearly all these instruments of violence are manufactured? Do they not have a virtual monopoly on popular violence, legal or not?

    Was it not the UN which prepared the ground for violence in Haití?

    Is it not the United States from whence most of the guns in Barbados are exported? How much longer will we labour under the pretense that these circumstances continue merely by chance, instead of a construct which serves to make money for gun manufacturers?

    Any appeal to the UN is no better than appealling to an arsonist to put out the fire she herself started.

  4. Terence Blackett Avatar
    Terence Blackett

    WHAT DO YOU EXPECT WHEN A PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW WHO THEY ARE???

    It takes #PERSIANS aka #ModernIranians to “SPELL IT OUT – WHO WE REALLY ARE”!!!

    We are in the conditions we are in – because we continue 2 #SwallowTheLIES*

    Lemme “DROP” another #LEGO_RAP_VIDEO!!!

    #GoodGod

  5. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Nothing wrong in apprehending a would be robber until the police get there. If it takes a few blows to subdue him, that is also fine. But unnecessary stabbing is a big problem.

  6. BAJE Avatar
    BAJE

    many fear that law enforcement is too close to the criminals they are meant to pursue. This loss of confidence many suggest will lead to vigilante thinking.

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    FEAR NO LONGER BECAUSE MANY POLICE, NOT ALL ON THE 2X3 ISLAND ARE IN BED WITH DRUG DEALING AND GUN RUNNING CRIMINALS.

    ONLY A BLIND MAN OR IDIOT WOULD FAIL TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THIS IN 2026.

  7. The (1 and only) OG Avatar
    The (1 and only) OG

    Dear David,
    Could you put the date an article is published at the end/top of the article.
    I saw that this one was published on June 25 from the comments.
    I thought it was an old article
    Thanks

  8. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    @ David

    This a government pensioner called the Barbados Public Workers’ Co-op Credit Union Ltd. to enquire about her pension, as she did not see it deposited when she checked her account this morning at approximately 9:30 am.

    She told the lady who answered her query when would pensions be deposited, since today is payment day, and should’ve had access to her money at least at 12:01 am this morning.

    The lady responded that pay day today means up until 12:00 midnight, and asked if there “was anything else I could help you with?”, essentially dismissing a legitimate query.

    Government employees’ pay day was yesterday and I’m sure their salaries would’ve been promptly deposited to their credit union accounts.

    Another issue is payment of the Cost of Living Cash Credit. According to NISSS’ website:
    “Ongoing monthly COLCC payments continue until March 2027. Where the 20th falls on a weekend or public holiday, payment is made on the last business day prior.”

    June 20, 2026, was last Saturday, which meant the cash credit should’ve been paid on Friday, June 19, 2026.

    However, BPWCCUL deposited payments on Monday, June 22, 2026.

    I’ve been a member of BPWCCUL since the early 1990s, when membership was opened specifically to public sector employees and their spouses only.

    Over the years the level of customer service has been rapidly declining, facilitated by some very UNMANNERLY young men and women.

  9. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    I am beginning to believe that I am blessed somehow. I have never met any unmannerly young men and women at said place. In fact, quite the contrary. And I have visited all branches, even recently, the one in St. Peter. But then again, I hear that young people does cuss the older folk on the road if you try to put them right. I don’t get any of that either. I can say that I don’t get any trouble with young people anywhere I go. I wonder why that is.

  10. Exil Avatar
    Exil

    Because you may not encountered that behavior DOES NOT MEAN it DOES NOT HAPPEN.

    I also agree that the service is becoming very poor, especially at the Broad Street branch.

    Okay, Miss Drama Queen?

  11. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Perhaps you could direct me to where I said that it does not happen. I simply wondered why it has not happened to me. So… absolutely NO DRAMA for me at the credit union. And I consider that to be a good thing. Though I am animated in personality, I don’t court unpleasant drama, and have never troubled trouble until trouble troubled me.

    If you take exception to my wondering why I do not encounter the rudeness from young people that many others describe. then that is a matter for you. Maybe you should wonder too.

  12. David Avatar
    David

    @Artax

    Your concerns are valid and have unfortunately become widespread.

  13. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    What I have found with today’s young people is that they give you back the energy they receive. Of course, in the professional environment of Customer Service, that is not acceptable. I would have had a pleasant conversation with the rep. and likely have come away with a better experience in the end. After all, it is our responsibility as elders to enlighten the youth. I don’t have a problem with that at all, because I simply love young people.

    But I do recall, while working in Accounts Departments, having issues with payrolls and pensions being deposited later in the day. Sometimes it was our fault, sometimes it was the bank’s, or the credit union’s. Computer issues were often the cause.

    As a customer, I have experienced it as well, recently with a bank. It showed up a little later. If it became a regular occurrence, I would take it up with the bank.

    I wonder though, is it the policy/law that payday means “available at 12.00 a.m”? Or is it just the custom since the days of the ATM? I do not think it reasonable, though, that payday should be extended to 11.59 p.m. also because of the ATM.

  14. David Avatar
    David

    Date updated on the FB comment.

  15. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    @ David

    “It harrows me with fear and wonder”😨 how a genuine, SPECIFIC observation, became a generalised characterisation of ALL young people. 🤔

    That our unpleasant experiences should be ignored or were probably responses based on our approach, simply because someone claims to have never experience such unpleasantness, perhaps because of some belief they possess special interpersonal skills.

  16. David Avatar
    David

    The women taking over, Sonia Boyce appointed as Commissioner of Police.

    Historic police move

    Deputy Commissioner of Police Sonia Erene Boyce will be the next Commissioner, crowning a 40-year career with the history-making appointment as the first female leader of the Barbados Police Service.

    She will assume the position from Friday with the impending retirement of Commissioner of Police Richard Boyce, who will be 67 later this year.

    It is the second milestone for 63-year-old Boyce, who was the first woman to act as Deputy Commissioner of Police when she was assigned that position last July and from which she has been promoted.

    It was a belated birthday gift for Boyce, who celebrated her special day last week.

    When contacted last night, she said she was “truly honoured” to be appointed to serve as the first female Commissioner of Police, especially in a patriarchal organisation that is 191 years old.

    She described her appointment as a call to higher service.

    “This is not just a personal achievement. It is a call to higher service for the people of Barbados. It is not about titles or positions . . . it is what I would represent to the people of Barbados and that is my pledge – to be of good service” she said.

    “I want to thank the Government and the people of Barbados and the Barbados Police Service for imposing the confidence which has been placed in me. It is a very humbling experience,” she added.

    Boyce revealed that later in her career, when she started to move up the ranks, she aspired to be Commissioner.

    “It was a focus of mine to reach this rank and to be the first female Commissioner of Police. After I started to rise in rank and I realised that the possibility existed that I can reach that full potential and reach the apex, I went for it and I am happy that I took the opportunity and the challenge to rise to the occasion,” she said.

    Highest level

    On April 21, 1986, Boyce enlisted in the then Royal Barbados Police Force and moved through the ranks, spending a number of years as the assigned staff sergeant to at least three commissioners before taking her place at the highest level in the police service.

    The announcement was made last night in a press release from the Barbados Police Service.

    It stated that the appointment followed a process conducted by the Protective Services Commission, which included interviews as part of its assessment of candidates. A recommendation was then submitted to Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley for the constitutionally required consultation and confirmation of support, before being sent for the approval of the President of Barbados.

    “The appointment is grounded in Deputy Commissioner Boyce’s demonstrated competence, experience, training, integrity and record of service. It reflects a career built over four decades in policing and public service, with proven leadership across operational, investigative, administrative and human resource functions,” the release stated.

    The new commissioner has served in several functional areas of the Police Service. She was appointed to act as Deputy Commissioner of Police on November 12, 2025, and had responsibility for administration and human resources.

    Her professional record, according to the release, includes leadership of multiple murder investigations, all of which resulted in convictions. That record reflected investigative discipline, attention to evidence and a sustained commitment to the rule of law, it added.

    Boyce has also undertaken extensive specialist and executive training in policing and leadership. It includes the Crisis Negotiators Course at the Canadian Police College, Advanced Management Course at the International Law Enforcement Academy in Roswell, New Mexico, leadership and management training in Jamaica, the Police Executive Leadership Seminar in Barbados, and the International Leadership and Management Programme in the United Kingdom. She is also a trained crisis and hostage negotiator.

    The release went on to state that Boyce recently completed the Executive Leadership Programme at the College of Policing in the UK with merit, further strengthening her preparation for senior command. She also holds a bachelor of science degree in political science with law, upper second class honours, from the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus.

    “Her service has been recognised through the Barbados Services Medal Of Honour with First Clasp and the Barbados Humanitarian Award. She has also contributed to regional and international policing networks and civic organisations, including service as co-chair to the International Law Enforcement Academy Charter Working Group, president of the Police Alliance Toastmasters Club, and council member of the Barbados Girl Guides Association,” the release said.

    The “dedicated service” of Commissioner Richard Boyce and his contribution to national law enforcement was also recognised by Government.

    “The leadership transition comes at a time when public safety, institutional confidence, modern policing methods, strong administration and community trust remain central to the national agenda,” the release stated, pointing out that the new Commissioner’s appointment was intended to ensure continuity, professionalism and disciplined leadership within the Barbados Police Service.

    Government also pledged its continued commitment to supporting the police “in its mission to protect the public, uphold the law, strengthen public confidence and respond effectively to the changing security needs of the country”. (CM/AC/PR)

    Source: Nation

  17. David Avatar
    David

    APPEAL PLEA

    More than 150 inmates frustrated over legal delays

    By Maria Bradshaw mariabradshaw@nationnews.com

    More than 150 inmates at Dodds Prison are trapped in legal limbo, waiting months – and in some cases, years – for decisions on their appeals, prompting furious complaints to the judiciary regarding what they call blatant breaches of constitutional rights.

    According to “unofficial” data compiled by inmates and obtained by the Sunday Sun, 153 of them are awaiting decisions from the Court of Appeal or for their matters to be listed before it. Of that number, 39 have been waiting for more than a year simply to have their appeals resolved.

    The most egregious example of the backlog is the case of former inmate Jason Marshall. Convicted of manslaughter and robbery in 2012, he has already served his entire prison sentence. However, despite his appeals being heard in 2018 and 2019, he has spent the past eight years waiting for a ruling.

    Technically, though Marshall has served his time, he remains legally tied to the justice system without a final resolution on his convictions.

    Drafting formal letter

    The startling figures were shared by a concerned relative of one of the inmates, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. He revealed that the frustrated prisoners banded together to collate the data and are drafting a formal letter of complaint to the judicial authorities.

    The relative described the prolonged wait times as “unacceptable and a clear breach of their constitutional rights”.

    “The length of time appellants are being made to wait is a travesty. Currently, there are inmates on hold for 18 months and counting, just awaiting a decision. Jason Marshall is a prime example of the extraordinary delays appellants are subjected to. He completed his entire sentence prior to his appeals even being heard, and eight years later, still no decisions have been delivered.”

    The relative pointed out that under Section 18 (1) of the Constitution, an appellant who is challenging a conviction technically carries an “on trial” status regarding the finality of his or her guilt. Legal observers note that the constitutional guarantee of a fair hearing “within a reasonable time” by an independent and impartial court applies not just to the initial trial, but extends to the appellate process as part of the broader protection of the law.

    “If these rights are disregarded, the integrity of the judicial process is undermined and public confidence in the legal system is eroded,” the relative noted, echoing the legal sentiment.

    Veteran criminal defence attorney, Senior Counsel Andrew Pilgrim, who has long championed the need for swift justice, told the Sunday Sun the system relies far too heavily on hope rather than structural safeguards – particularly for unrepresented inmates.

    “My impression is that if you are not represented, it is very difficult to ensure that your appeal is heard swiftly,” he said. “You are relying, as a prisoner in Dodds, to communicate your appeal to the court and then you have no way of following up. Sometimes there is no legal aid provided, so a person is just hoping that the system is going to work.”

    Pilgrim said that legislative and procedural structures must be implemented to enforce timelines, pointing out that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has already established clear guidelines.

    “The CCJ has set down guidelines for how long these different aspects of procedure should take, but it is very difficult to effect that if you are sitting up in a cell in Dodds,” he added.

    Chronic delays

    The CCJ has previously criticised Barbados for chronic delays within its judicial system. According to regional jurisprudence, if a judge delivers a decision in under six months, an applicant bears a heavy burden to prove unfair delay. However, once a judgment takes longer than six months, the delay is considered a prima facie (at first sight) breach of the right to a fair hearing, shifting the burden to the State to justify the hold-up.

    The Sunday Sun reached out to the office of the Chief Justice for comment on the inmates’ complaints and the specific case of Jason Marshall. A court official responded that the queries had been sent to the “appropriate authority” for a response.

    Source: Nation

  18. David Avatar
    David

    MAN DIES AFTER ALLEGED ATTEMPTED ROBBERY; POLICE LAUNCH HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION

    A man who was detained and reportedly beaten by civilians following an alleged attempted robbery has died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

    Starcom Network News has confirmed that police are now treating the matter as a homicide investigation.

    The incident occurred last Monday night when police received a report at approximately 8:53 p.m. of a fight along Clevedale, Black Rock, St. Michael. Responding officers found a man being restrained by a group of people.

    Preliminary investigations indicate that two masked men allegedly entered a business establishment, brandishing a firearm and demanding valuables. A struggle reportedly broke out between the suspects and people in the area, during which one of the alleged assailants sustained injuries. The second suspect escaped on foot.

    The injured man was transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by ambulance, where he died this morning.

    Source: Starcom

The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.

Trending

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading