Editorial: Antigua and Barbuda Cannot Afford to Normalise Violence Against Its Business Community
The killing of businessman George “Charlie” Barnes on Friday night has shaken Antigua and Barbuda. His death outside his Otters residence is not an isolated act of violence but part of a troubling pattern that has left the nation’s business community increasingly under siege.
In recent weeks, the island has witnessed a series of robberies, burglaries, and armed attacks targeting entrepreneurs and professionals. Businessmen have been assaulted at ATMs, stripped of cash in public view, and left injured by masked assailants. Small shops, gas stations, and bakeries have also suffered. The consistency and boldness of these crimes suggest something more serious than sporadic lawlessness: a growing trend that undermines both public safety and national confidence.
This escalation carries profound consequences. Entrepreneurs and business owners are not only private citizens—they are the backbone of Antigua and Barbuda’s economy. They provide jobs, drive investment, and keep local commerce alive. When they are singled out, the risks extend well beyond individual loss. Fear erodes trust in the security environment, discourages investment, and casts doubt over the island’s reputation as a safe destination for tourism and foreign capital.
The government has acknowledged the crisis. Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced plans to install 200 surveillance systems and has introduced harsher penalties for violent crime. Citizens, however, are demanding more immediate measures: a stronger and more visible police presence in vulnerable areas, proactive investigations, and the assurance that justice will be swift.
What is at stake is not only the safety of business leaders but the stability of Antigua and Barbuda’s social and economic fabric. The nation cannot afford to let criminal violence become the new normal.
Friday’s tragedy should be a turning point. Whether it becomes one depends on the resolve of authorities to restore security and the confidence of a shaken public.
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Girl Antiguanewsroom never fail to eduentertain me. I truly hope there’s some sort of justice for our business community!!! It’s too many times we’ve seen business people suffer deaths or robbery and little to nothing is done. RIP once again Mr. Barnes
Another stella piece by Antiguanewsrom love the narrative. Hopefully we will get help for our businessmen.
Bottom line, we need to get rid of the shitty administration, these are people who only care about enriching themselves, the will talk a good talk but can’t walk the talk and the majority of their supporters are as blind a Budah
This wasn’t murder this was a clear ASSINATUON aka an organized HIT….He wasn’t robbed of anything besides his life…..did it ever said they took monies …etc NO ….
SO CALL IT WHAT IT IS “A HIT” ….BUSINESS MEN ARE BEING TARGETED…1ST ASOT now CHARLIE whose next ……
Antigua has become a cest pool of murders and the government needs to do more cas clearly dem not doing enuff..
Then theives will get what Ticks got… die without known cause…everyone one of you…so enjoy the money while you can because it won’t last…neither will your lives…karma is real
Geared up to read something meaningful only to be disappointed by this garbage. Change the title from editorial to bedtime story telling.
The government should get solar powered streetlight with camera combination out of china to replace all existing streetlights system and help the police and government solve crime, and it will curtail potential crime and save lives.
AntiguanewsROOM and another classic hitting home! Continue with these making the news field an exciting place to be!! I hope this video brings results cause it’s always like that when a new one drops. Justice for the business community
~ Antigua Surf, a dedicated follower of Antiguanewsroom. a
It’s shocking that we continue to hear stories like this. But how many more lives must be lost before change happens?
Great way to raise awareness about what truly matters. The business community should applaud you guys for this
Rip Mr.Barnes,business owners shouldn’t have to be fearful for their lives by doing a honest living,shame on these young men
An enterprising gentleman. Lovely person. RIP. More surveillance cameras are needed by individual property owners and for traffic and crime surveillance.
It’s interesting that so many think the answer to crime is surveillance cameras.
Cameras do help. But they don’t stop or solve crime.
They are a tool among many resources in the tool box against crime. A hammer don’t build a house.
The Government response to crime so far is not just inadequate; its illustrates incompetence and disregard for the public welfare.
This is going to get worse. Criminal violence has become the norm, and the judicial system needs overhaul. The attorneys will not be happy.
Take a look at other Caribbean islands who did not nip crime in the bud.
This is a government that is soft in crime; and seem to suffer from the notion that crime is inevitable and affordable.
The attorney General Steadroy Benjamin recent response to to increase crime was the “Antigua and Barbuda has the lowest crime in the Caribbean”.
My opinion, in the AG’s view about crime in Antigua and Barbuda; we need to catch up.
What’s more mind boggling; there was little or no response to that statement.
The answer to crime, is the same answer to sin: JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth
“LOVE GOD”
“LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF.”
The #Prevention is better than, the #cure!
To be forewarned is to be forearmed!
Nothing, as in #no #thing, ‘tis the only thing, that happens by mistake.
Who don’t hear, will feel.
@Winston Southwell…common sense thinking on your part.
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿 Garrat_Bastard
Vere Edwards
An outstanding ANR editorial opinion piece, that has highlighted the growing concern for the business community and honest hardworking citizens at large.
Without doubt there’s something gone awry in the country that we all should be concerned with.
Home invasions are up, child molestation has been a growing concern for some time now, daytime robberies is another issue, and gun crimes seem virtually unstoppable.
These issues have steadily increased over the last 10-11 years, yet the outcry from Antiguans have been largely ignored by elected Members of Parliament. Why?
I love my country with a passion, and I expect the exact same from our legislators, lawmakers and elected politicians of all political persuasion.
Sadly, it doesn’t seem to be there at present.
Is it because these people are cocooned in their gilded cages and they have their own security on 24 hour watch? How about the rest of us?
I’ve already highlighted on a previous commentary that our current politicians seem more focused on issues on the periphery, rather than tackling criminal activities head-on.
This ANR opinion piece has RIGHTLY hit the nail of concern on the head.
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Look, the world will never be a crime free habitat, not when the devil is to and from throughout the world, but it doesn’t mean that something cannot be done and should be done about evil. It does mean you should cowardly kneel to evil doers and look your doors and windows hiding from them.
Evil should be punished in this life, and will be punished in the life to come.
So the only way to combat evil, is to punish it, and that is to punish it harshly. These people who try to talk about inhumane treatment of criminals and all the other soft fufu arguments they come up with, just not to punish criminals, need to take seat somewhere.
Where is the humanity the killer when they just blatantly gunned down a innocent man, where is the humanity in Chantels killer, where is the humanity in the young man who took a bullet to his head, where is the humanity for the cop that shot many in the back while fleeing for his life?
We will never be a crime free island, but evil should be punished to the harshest degree.
So bring back the death penalty for premeditated murder.. look at the Arab nations, they are not perfect, but go hurt one of their children innocently and see what happens to you. Go rob a neighbor and kill him in the process and see what happens to you.go rape a woman and see what happens to you?
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