Browne links double homicide to ongoing gang feud, urges youth to change course
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua — Prime Minister Gaston Browne says this week’s fatal shooting of two youths may be connected to a longstanding gang conflict that the government had previously sought to address.
Speaking on his weekly Browne and Browne radio programme, Browne said efforts were made in the past to intervene and encourage young people involved in rival groups to pursue a different path.
“We tried to intervene and get those young men to change course,” Browne said, noting that some heeded the advice while others did not.
“Some of them took the advice and moved on, but a few did not,” he added.
The prime minister extended condolences to the families affected by the killings, describing the incident as a tragic outcome.
His remarks come amid ongoing concerns about youth violence and gang-related activity, with authorities continuing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the double homicide.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
The people of this Country are no taking this crime situation serious enough. Are you going to wait until someone in your family gets eliminated, we do not know who will be next and when. We have to put politics aside and think about self and country. Time to get rid of this Administration, they have long outlived their usefulness. We need a complete reset
This is a rather crude approach to dealing with what is obviously a very difficult and troubling situation. I am not satisfied and comfortable that we are even approaching this situation in a sensible and holistic way that would bring about positive outcomes. And look where much of this is taking place…..in the Prime Ministers constituency. We must accept and admit that there are significant parental shortcomings and weakness in the area and others. If that is not addressed, it is unlikely that the situation would ever change. We need to offer parental training to foster positive, proactive and constructive relationships between the youths and their parents and guardians. We also need to utilize street outreach workers to connect with high-risk youth and offer social services, including counseling and educational support, to help them move away from gang life and criminal activities. I intend to make myself available to assist in this regard. No body is beyond help and change. We just haven’t put enough effort and power into it.
Lord, this is so crass!!!
Is this what a leader says to the young people he has responsibility for? Is this coarse, in your face the way you seek to protect and defend your young citizens.
Is this gangster-type ideology the right way to go?
Are we breeding our own homegrown Donald Trump with that type of fascistic talk?
Election on demand, telling our youth to choose life or death. What next?
My heart bleeds for this little doomed island nation.
You did not try to fix the problem the last time. Rather than letting the professionals handle it, you turned it into a media moment, got the young people together, made your pronouncements and give out your inducements and then declared the problem solved.
Sort of reminds us about Trump and his one and done war.
BTW, you’re sure you two not related? You know, like brothers from another mother?
I don’t have a problem (this time) with what the PM said. US and Canadian politicians, district attorneys, community leaders, etc. have used the “Prison or Grave” line to gang members for decades to try and motivate them to quit that life.
I have a home in Provo, TCI and the island had a record 48 murders in 2024. For an island with a population of less than 50,000, that was nuts and the citizens called for action to be taken by the government. Like Antigua, guns are flooding the TCI in record numbers. Last year, the police changed their tactics and went on the offensive and killed 6 known gang members including a notorious gang leader who had been wanted for years.
This year, the TCI police have continued with their aggressive campaign against organized gang members and violent criminal networks and to date, there has been a 43% reduction in murders with none reported in January for the first time since 2019. Effective, no-nonsense policing works and the Antigua police could be doing more, especially in the known hotspots. The TCI deployed their army for a while to assist their police. What’s stopping the ABDF from patrolling the streets of Antigua? If a problem exists, you use every tool you have available to fix it.
This statement “out of chaos comes order” is the way charlatans who’re poliTRICKtans, pied pipers, crooks and have no idea or are not genuinely interested in solving many issues which negatively plagues, undermines and destroys our communities.
Out of chaos comes order in politics means, the same ones who sit back and even assist in allowing situations to become CHAOTIC are the same ones who’ll turn around and blame everyone but themselves for the problems, as they put policies (usually in an Ad Hoc manner), in place with the appearance of bringing ORDER to the CHAOS which they helped to foster in the first place.
@Westside your comment agreeing with the term “JAIL OR GRAVE” being used by politicians, community activists with racist and classist intent is exactly why THE WOMB TO PRISON PIPELINE is such a profitable business for many in the judiciary, large corporations and communities where PRISONS & JAILS are BIG BUSINESS.
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Foot #Garrate_Bastard
Vere Edwards
“This is a rather crude approach” and “Lord, this is so crass!!!” are two comments that I have read so far and I couldn’t even bother to read the rest of the comment because “REALLY”????
I agree with the PM (on this one)! They made the choice to resort to a life of crime so now they must also make a choice….life/death or jail.
Regardless if I put the weapon in their hand, THEY made the choice to use it! The government can do all it can to rid the streets of guns, put more police on the street, and impose tougher sentences, BUT a criminal mind will also be that….a criminal…and they will always find an opportunity to commit a crime.
Criminals, make your choice and choose wisely.
Comments are closed.