Public Safety and Justice Minister, Attorney General Steadroy ‘Cutie’ Benjamin was not his usual well-mannered self when he met with the high command of the Royal Antigua and Barbuda Police Force on Monday.
An upset Benjamin read the riot act to the officers, ranked senior seargent to police commissioner, over the increase in killings this year.
There are a recorded 19 murders this year, the highest in a decade. Though Benjamin had earlier sought to downplay the statistic, claiming it was mostly the result of gang activity.
A reliable source told Antigua News Room (ANR) that Benjamin demanded answers for what could be done to get the issue under control.
A few weeks ago, Parliament passed a Bill to increase jail time for gun crimes. The Cabinet also committed to giving the police force the funding it needed to fight serious crime.
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The Honourable Mr. Benjamin knows full well that “raking people over the coals” rarely inspires any organization to great heights. Crime prevention is an initiative that cannot be measured through objective criteria. A strategy which works one year may not have the same impact the next. Major crimes require resources to successfully investigate them. Face it, not every bad person is in gaol, nor will imprisionment deter them from committing offences in the future. A concerted effort by the Public Safety Minister, the Royal Police Force, Corrections, and so on needs to happen to change the culture of crime which exists.
“Law and order” prevention by cop and court?
Dream on!
But why are’nt we hearing anything from the commissioner though? Is he sleeping or something? Does he even understand his role in this island? Hmmmmmm!
‘… the funding needed for fighting serious crime…’ — love the vagueness of that phrase…
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