Attorney General Steadroy Benjamin has called on residents of Antigua and Barbuda to remain calm and trust in law enforcement amid growing concerns over a recent rise in crime.
Benjamin emphasized that many of the crimes are driven by emotional reactions rather than indicating a broader trend.
“This type of behavior is not normal in Antigua and Barbuda,” he stated. “Crime tends to fluctuate, and although we’re seeing an increase now, most of these serious crimes are crimes of passion.”
Despite the current uptick, Benjamin assured citizens that Antigua and Barbuda remains one of the safest places in the region. He acknowledged public concerns but emphasized the proactive measures being taken by the police to address the issue.
“Our country is known for its safety, and we are still safe. However, being the safest jurisdiction in the region doesn’t mean we should ignore this trend. It needs to be addressed immediately,” he asserted.
Benjamin announced that the police force has been strengthened with 50 new recruits and additional resources to improve their effectiveness in combating crime.
He also highlighted efforts to prevent firearms from entering the country, including Coast Guard patrols and the use of special x-ray machines and sniffer dogs by Customs.
“We’ve tried various methods to curb the influx of illegal firearms, such as patrols and enhanced customs checks, but the guns still seem to be coming in,” Benjamin admitted.
He urged the public to assist law enforcement by reporting any suspicious activities in their neighborhoods and assured them that the police would soon update the public on ongoing efforts and future plans.
“We will not allow this to continue. Antigua and Barbuda will remain the safest country in this part of the hemisphere. However, we are not complacent; we must stop this trend,” he declared.
Residents are encouraged to stay vigilant and cooperative as authorities work to ensure the safety and security of the nation.
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This bloated pig is an idiot.
Stay calm folks, stay calm. This type of behaviour is not normal in Antigua. Wrong, Mr Attorney General. Wrong wrong. It is now the new normal. You and your party are responsible for the sharp rise in crime in the country. You put party before country to garner votes at election time and deliberately allowed the dross from a certain island entry without any checks and balances and who brought their criminal genes with them. Yes, Antigua was indeed once a peaceful place, no longer. I defy you to dispute what I say. Stay calm, stay calm you say. You and your ilk who live in your protected ivory towers can.stay calm. The rest of us cannot afford the luxury.
We are the safest country in the western hemisphere, so what calm is he talking about; why doesn’t he give his security personnel several nights off to be with their families and then go to bed with his doors and windows wide open? I don’t think that he has anything to fear.
Stay calm he said, a friend of mine son was robbed and almost chop to death two days ago. He is now in the hospital on life support fighting for his life, cutie can call his mother and tell her to stay calm.
The FACT is we are living in SERIOUS times and crime will increase and intensify.
the TRUTH is that we have rejected the SOURCE of GOOD and we are witnessing and will continue to experience a rapid decline in MORALITY and CIVIC PRIDE.
The ROOT CAUSE of ALL the ills is SIN!
In general, the majority of humanity (including most of Antiguans) have wholeheartedly rejected adhering to the ONLY path that would lead to LOVE, PEACE and SECURITY. Instead, we prefer the temporary worldly pleasures that stem from selfishness, greed and vanity.
There is NO way around it. No middle ground. We either stand on the side of RIGHTEOUSNESS or on the side of WRONGTEOUSNESS.
However, we try to sugarcoat the situation, we are in PERILOUS TIMES that will only get worse because of the choices we are making.
Jimmy Cliff said it simply: ” we can’t be wrong and get right. No matter how hard we try.”
The physical methods of dealing with crime (SIN) CANNOT work. This is a SPIRITUAL issue that requires a DEEP CONNECTION with the ONLY SOURCE of GOOD to foster a peaceful pathway.
That SOURCE, we have rejected and yet still we expect to have good results. How FOOLISH!
Until that day when the Creator have seen it all clearly that humanity has whole heartedly sold out to the enemy, we will continue on this destructive path: more robberies, more murders, more violence among our youths, more guns, more corruption in high and low places, more…More…MORE…MORE.
Sad to say: but this is TRUTH. It hurts, but it is the ONLY SOURCE TO SAVE.
Wake up: The Current State of Affairs
Our world faces significant challenges, and many are concerned that the crime rate is rising. Social cohesion and moral values are crucial aspects of a healthy society, and it is a fact that a decline in these areas heavily contributes to societal problems.
Addressing Root Causes
While the causes of crime are complex and multifaceted, the truth is that the root cause is a lack of spiritual connection with the ONLY SOURCE of GOOD. There is critical need to emphasize the importance of positive values and ethical behavior for a peaceful and secure society.
We have completely rejected the way of Righteousness and instead adopted to heart the path of worldly pleasures, selfishness, greed and corruption (the way of “Wrongteousness”). All around us, we experience the consequences of the path we are following. Yet still we continue along this foolish pathway, groping in the dark and still expecting to find light (good results).
Finding Solutions
Traditional methods of crime prevention are important, but the problems we experience will continue to get drastically worse since we fail to address the ROOT cause of the problems. Fostering a sense of purpose (of human life) and connection could contribute to positive change.
We were given an instruction manual to be our guide to a peaceful, healthy, prosperous, secure life. However, the majority of mankind has rejected this precious knowledge. Instead, we have adopted a self-centered and evil lifestyle of Sin that is the root cause of ALL the ills we see in our world.
Crime will continue to increase and intensify. The robberies, the violence among our youths, the corruption in high and low places, gun violence, ………. and more, more…MORE!
A Call to Action
The clarion call goes out to all who want to stand on the side of RIGHTEOUSNESS. The path is narrow, and sacrifices are required to be made, but it is the ONLY SAFE path.
The good book reveals that ONLY a FEW will walk this narrow path. The majority and I emphasize the. MAJORITY will prefer the evil dangerous path and follow it.
We are caught in a warfare between Good and evil. We have got to decide on which side we will stand.
The signs are all around us. Time draws near to the end. The enemy is on a rampage to destroy as many lives as he can.
HOPE knocks on our hearts, pleading with us to submit to the way of RIGHTEOUSNESS and resist evil. How many of us will yield to the call to return to the Creator’s way ? How many ? How many ? Sadly, the good book says only a FEW that will follow the right path. Will we stand for the TRUTH and be numbered with that FEW or will we capitulate and travel the easy evil path that the MANY are following?
The choice is ours today.
I have utter contemp towards you Attorney General Steadroy Benjamin, especially when you say:
“…although we are seeing an increase now, most of these serious crimes are crimes of passion”.
You condescending fat fool!
“Crimes of passion”, when the majority of the criminal activities have involved the intent of collecting a gun, knife or some sort of implement to cause serious harm to the innocent or – in some incidents – death.
You, the Police Commissioner Attlee Rodney and Prime Minister Gaston Browne have been negligent in your duties of care and safety for all of us living here in Antigua at present.
WE WANT ACTION NOT INACTIVE SOUNDBITES!
Antigua needs some soldiers of fortune to rid it of criminals…just like an exterminator rid your house of roaches and rodents..
PRAYING IS NOT GOING TO HELP ANTIGUA..GOD IS NOT GOING TO SEND A LASER BEAM FROM THE SKY TO ZAP THE CRIMINALS..GOD HELP THOSE WHO USE COMMON SENSE AND PUT THE WORK IN TO HELP THEMSELVES
Really
So
PRAYERS IS NOT GOING TO HELP ANTIGUA ..GOD IS NOT GOING TO SEND A LASER BEAM FROM THE SKY TO ZAP THE CRIMINALS..GOD HELP THOSE WHO USE COMMON SENSE AND HELP THEMSELVES USING A GUN TO ELIMINATE THE PERPETRATORS OF CRIME .
Hey criminals, the people that responsible for this country being in bad shape is the ones you should be robbing. Don’t rob the hard working, honest living business people and citizens. Go after the ones that made you lose your jobs and made our country bad.
If criminals had brains, they would recognise this @ The real …
The types of crimes that had been occurring that we in the field label as inherently dangerous crimes that includes burglary, arson, assault, robbery, rape, kidnapping, etcetera are not crimes of passions. They are the best indicators of whether a community is adequately proactive and whether those steps are effective. at this time because of the frequency of robbery, burglary, etcetera in Antigua and Barbuda, I can not professionally support the statements in this article. Also, it is clear the new norm is this, the criminals no longer have any fear of being caught (proactive methods are not effective), and they have decided to continue committing these crimes and this will continue without better and more effective methods. again, the solution is available.
https://antiguanewsroom.com/attorney-general-urges-calm-amid-crime-concerns-in-antigua-and-barbuda/
Drug use, broken homes, ineffective police force and lack of church going are fueling the rise in crime. Vegalanty justice will take the place of our formal legal system.
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