Submitted by Bajan Boy

I recently listened to an address by Mia Motley, Prime Minister of Barbados with reference to a shooting death of a 14 yer old in Christ Church. What is very surprising about her remarks was the lack of a strong repudiation and abhorrence of the unlawful use of firearms and the regularity of the firearm criminal spree in Barbados.

Her comment “put down de guns” a weak and pathetic request. We have heard this statement before from a former Minister of State…“just put down de guns”. Does it mean put them down until later?

What is also surprising, the apparent silent pens and voices of those against the skyrocketing of firearm tragedy emerging on the island. where are the reporters, writers, public voices, demonstrations or social groups?

Welcome Stamp foreign business folks from Europe and other countries do not want to live next door to Wyatt Earps, John Waynes or Clint Eastwoods. Would it not be more effective for the Prime Minister to defiantly repudiate gun violence, its eradication of guns than to simply say “put them down” This statement to me appears to convey an acquiescence of possession of guns to just put them down temporally rather than get rid of them. Is this the position of the government?

If I had guns I would just put them down in a drawer or on a shelf until I felt like or ready to use them, rather than getting rid of them.