The Antigua and Barbuda Chamber of Commerce has announced plans to address mounting security concerns following the fatal shooting of businessman George “Charlie” Barnes outside his Ottos New Town home last week.
The Chamber’s Executive Director, Martin Cave, said the organisation will convene a meeting of its members to discuss how businesses have been affected by a rise in violent crime and robberies. The aim, he said, is to generate “concrete solutions” to present to the authorities.
“We need to have a meeting of all membership to understand exactly how the business community has been impacted by the proliferation of crime,” Cave told Observer Media. “We’re hoping to have some concrete solutions that we can present to the authorities… Can we work in concert to address the scourge that we have?”
Chamber Director Celia Samuel added that business owners are increasingly uneasy. “We do not feel safe,” she said, calling for increased police patrols, wider use of security cameras, and deeper collaboration between government and the private sector.
The Chamber’s announcement coincides with a government initiative to install an island-wide surveillance system. Prime Minister Gaston Browne confirmed that negotiations with providers are in their final stages, with 200 cameras expected to be deployed in the first phase.
Both Cave and Samuel welcomed the development but stressed the need for broader measures to restore a sense of safety for the business community and the wider public.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
While I welcome and encourage the plan to implement 200 cameras, this does not, in my eyes, prevent the crime or acts as a major deterrent. I personally think business owners need to be granted firearms. Or course this comes with the necessary training and ensuring they spend time on the range to hone their skills. Of course, background checks etc and all the additional requirements and screening that come along with it. People have the right to protect themselves and cameras very seldom stop this from happening. They only help after the fact with investigations and sometimes yield no results.
This is just my view and I know not everyone agrees with it. That’s fine. But yall ain’t John Wick who took out three people with a pencil… Just saying….
everything goes back HOME TRAINING, so the “Business Leaders” need to meet with the Nation PTA. Last time I checked, the President was Allister Thomas.
PARENTS must train their children properly. When the family unit is broke, everyone in society is affected too.
See this is part of the problem…….
Everyone sits back and waits for someone else to fix the problem. No one is working together.
How about we hear what the authorities are doing and then businesses come together and say what the can do to minimize the threat and temptation.
Business men and women are being targeted because criminals think that they have cash on them and most of them do!
Stop the practice of holding large amounts of cash in businesses or on your person and you as a target will go away.
Cameras, street lights, neighborhood watch, and also need to put cameras on police, we need to make sure their doing their job right cus they can’t be trusted
Something shouldn’t always have to happen for something to happen
From blue light to ring cameras, that have been around for decades they do not stop crime nor criminals. To those in the business community, how about you clean up your palaces, mansions and businesses which are contributing to the illegal drugs and weapons markets?
How about seeking stiffer punishments for fraud, embezzlement, insider trading and the likes? Your henchmen and runners will get the message and stop supporting your criminal enterprises.