Public Petition Demands Urgent Action from Prime Minister Following Chantel Crump’s Murder
St. John’s, Antigua – A powerful public petition calling for sweeping changes to law enforcement and child protection in Antigua and Barbuda has gained significant traction in the wake of the tragic kidnapping and murder of Chantel Crump. The petition, launched on March 20, 2025, by concerned citizen Bonita Williams, has already garnered more than 2,300 signatures, with a target of reaching 2,500.
The petition expresses mounting public concern over rising crime and the safety of children, with Crump’s case exposing what many believe to be serious failings within the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda. It also suggests a disturbing pattern of violence and unresolved criminal cases in the country, including disappearances and murders that remain unsolved.
“The public have lost faith in the police force,” the petition reads, citing a long-standing erosion of trust exacerbated by an increase in unsolved crimes. While Prime Minister Gaston Browne has previously acknowledged the need for reform and additional resources, the petition asserts that urgent intervention is required now to prevent further tragedy.
The demands laid out in the petition are direct and extensive:
- International Assistance – Petitioners are calling on the Prime Minister to formally request the assistance of external agencies such as The Metropolitan Police (formerly Scotland Yard) or the FBI to investigate Crump’s murder, as well as other unresolved cases. They specifically name Angela Mejia and Simbad Gellizeau as individuals who should be interviewed by skilled interrogators, and suggest possible links to other cases, including the murder of Jenifer Bridge and the disappearance of Orden David.
- Proof of Action – The petition calls on the Attorney General to publicly provide evidence of all communication with external agencies, to ensure transparency and accountability.
- Monthly Public Engagement – The petition demands that the Prime Minister, Attorney General, and Commissioner of Police hold monthly press conferences to keep the public informed on crime-solving efforts, while also providing timely police updates on pressing matters.
- Child Safety Patrols – In response to concerns about children’s safety, petitioners want law enforcement and the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force to patrol streets surrounding schools and bus routes at the end of each school day.
- ‘Chantel’s Law’ – Advocates are calling for a new law to be enacted in Crump’s name, mandating an immediate and coordinated police response to reports of missing children. This includes roadblocks, foot and car searches, emergency alerts to mobile phones, and public bulletins—all within minutes of a child’s disappearance, not 24 hours later.
- Police Reform and Community Engagement – The petition closes with a call for an internal review of the police force, urging leadership to address the divide between law enforcement and the public. It notes that citizens have attempted to share information but have been ignored or dismissed, preventing meaningful progress in solving serious crimes.
With 1,965 people signing on the same day the petition was launched, the response reflects the widespread concern and urgency felt throughout the nation.
Organizers hope this petition will compel immediate action from the government and spark reforms that could prevent future tragedies, restore public trust, and bring long-overdue justice to grieving families.
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I understand the need for this kind of call but I have an issue with informing the general public every month on what is being done to combat the crime wave. Informing the general public is also informing the criminals who, once they can perceive the strategies being employed by law enforcement they can then look for ways to combat that.
For instance, if a stop and search is being carried out and if as some believe there are moles in the force, then the effect of the stop is minimized. If on the other hand the heads of departments such as the Commissioner and his Deputy, the Head of the Tactical Unit and Head of CID are the only persons who are aware and the rank and file are not advised until they are in the area of the stop and search then it is more likely to yield more result. The downside of this is the moral of the rank and file. So, they should be told upfront that this will be happening, not that they are not trusted but that it leaves less room for them to be fingered.
How about adding to the petition that we also need neighborhood watches and neighborhood group chats? From the time we close our doors we don’t care what is happening outside. We could hear our next door neighbor bawling murder and most of us wouldn’t even look out much less call the police.
Yes I know the next argument is that the police won’t come, but that’s just an excuse for most of us to do NOTHING and actually be quite OK with it.
Reform is needed but until the public start getting involved nothing will change. The police cannot do it alone.
From all the accounts, many of the requests mentioned in the petition are already in effect as the Prime Minister has acknowledged them and the acting commissioner is actively facilitating his new strategies to combat crime.
What is left out of the petition is the responsibility of citizens to report anything suspicious and to come forward when police is carrying out its investigation. We’re much too tight lipped it doesn’t concern us directly.
Let go of the emotions and work on strategies.
Damn well agree wit bringing in Scotland Yard and FBI to interrogate both suspects can’t mess up this one
Mr PM, You night want to start by finding out the true extent of the network involved in this child’s abduction and murder. This was no isolated incident!! The sad thing, though, is that an innocent child become collateral damage in a major plot that requires immediate, professional investigation. The police hierarchy that can barely string two correct sentences together cannot cut it. It is quite obvious, even from the limited information spoon-fed to the public by the AUTHORITIES, that the young diablesse charged so far, was a mere sprat in a sea of alien fish tossed to gullible Antiguans/Barbudans to shut us up. I an fearful that, on its present trajectory, this case will be swept under the carpet and the perpetrators left to continue their fiendish rituals. Even; and perhaps especially, a young child from the ghetto is entitled to the pursuit of inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
Meanwhile, there is an old fart out there by the name of SINBAD who should have been where the demonic ‘Angela’ is now. He however seems to have connections with some imaginary important people in Antigua and this may well explain his escape from the long reaches of the law, so far. I am just one voice, perhaps in the wilderness, but in whatever limited time has been allotted to me on earth, I will forever champion Chantel’s right to and fight for justice.
JUSTICE FOR CHANTEL! Lest, as some hope, we just forget.
Whilst there’s a good argument that the police services could do better with preventing and solving crime, but the blame for police failures with combating and resolving should not be directed entirely at the police’s doors, but it should be directed entirely at the AG’s doors who has perpetually failed the services on a monumental scale: poor wages, poor working environment, lack of resources to combat and crime prevention.
The Attorney General has failed the nation;
Police are in capable of resolving crimes and executing successful prosecution, not necessarily because they are wholly incompetent, but because they are no equipped with the skills and resources needed to be effective. It is a shame that two teenagers in Antigua was brutally murdered and the police have not been able to arrest and bring charges against the murderer (s).
In February 2025 a Swetes resident Richard Whinfield (aka Monk) was brutally murdered, the police was given cctv footage of the murderer walking up the drive way to execute his premeditated act, cctv showed the murderer leaving the scene after killing Whinfield, but the police failed to charged the murderer because the image of the murderer was blurry. However with the right forensic technology the identity of the murderer could be revealed. Instead of the police actively doing what is necessary to ensure public safety, the murderer remains at large where he could potentially kill again. It purported that the gun the murderer used to kill Monk has been used before!
When can family members, friends an love ones of these killings can expect justice and closures?
Yes there’s a need for greater improvement within the police services, but they is greater expectations for the AG to equipped the services to allow officers to perform better.
In addition, the AG, has at his disposal to authorised the removal of Spanish, Haitians, Nigerians and Jamacians from our shores , as step towards crime reduction. In addition, the Spanish community must be told that as a result of one of them who took one of our lives on our shores it will not be tolerated.
After all, Antigua has not benefitted nothing from the Spanish community apart from prostitution and other vices.
Wadadli Forever, you just hit the nail on the head, but that will never happen, ….remember it’s the only way ABLP can win an election and they know it. Funny thing some Antiguans still vote for these kleptocrats to their own detriment. I wonder how many more disappearances and murders it will take Antiguans to come to their senses, maybe when it’s one of their own
@Dave Ray – All of Antigua and Barbuda is looking forward to leading the Iron Band to Federal Plaza, New York, NY to support the one and only Teflon Prime Minister his wife and son for the upcoming Alpha Nargo Trial latter this year or early next year, once the preliminaries like interrogatories, depositions and briefs are completed by the Russians attorneys.
Being a Versed American who’s always hyped, ready willing and able to assist Mr & Mrs Browne, are you a part of the legal team or just the hair braided and moustache trimmer? Please gather all of Gaston’s and Maria supporters in America and lead them to the Federal Plaza, with the Point & Villa – Iron Band and HSO (Hellsgate Steel Orchestra).
You’ll be #KILLING_2_BIRDS with one stone, while flying over the Cuckoo’s Nest. We know that, you got this because you are very VERSED and versatile. Please don’t get to VERSED on me. Save some of those lyrics for your tantrums on the mike in front of the Federal Courthouse, Federal Plaza, NY. Remind your protege DO NOT DROP THE SOAP AROUND DIDDY.