“We’re the Safest in the Caribbean”: Matthew Rejects Crime Narrative
A government minister in Antigua and Barbuda has dismissed claims that the country is becoming increasingly unsafe, insisting that it remains one of the safest destinations in the Caribbean.
Speaking at a political rally on Friday night, Daryll Matthew, a Member of Parliament with the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP), acknowledged concerns about crime but said it was important to view the issue within a regional context.
“Even one instance of crime is too much,” Mr Matthew told supporters. “But look around the region — we are still the safest place in the Caribbean.”
His comments come amid ongoing public debate about crime levels on the island. Opposition parties have raised concerns about rising incidents and called for stronger government action on law enforcement and youth engagement.
Mr Matthew, however, accused critics of exaggerating the country’s challenges for political purposes.
“Stop trying to make Antigua and Barbuda seem like the most dangerous country in the world,” he said. “That’s not only unfair — it’s untrue.”
The MP said the government continues to invest in public safety and urged citizens to avoid echoing what he described as a “doom and gloom” narrative that could damage the country’s reputation.
“You must love your country, defend your country, speak good of your country,” he added.
The government has not released recent crime statistics, and the opposition has not yet responded to Mr Matthew’s latest remarks.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
I am not going to talk good and ignore all the bad just because I’m Antiguan fuck that, If you love your country you criticize it so it because better. But your can’t deny the reality that crime rate is going up look at the murders and robberies, people are more worried about it then ever before
Tell that to the Crump family! Bird brain ALP fool! The country is overrun with foreign criminals killing with impunity.
Hey guys, you live in Antigua and Barbuda, the crime that is affecting you is in Antigua and Barbuda. Comparing where you live with where you do not live does not change the fact inherently dangerous and vicious crimes are happening where you live at a rate you are not accustomed to where you live. Please mark this politician now as someone who cares nothing about your safety and dishonest. Why on earth would he, MP Darrel Matthew, attenpt to use politics to diminish facts (vicious crimes increase, frequency of crime and how you feel). I told the idiots never ever compare jurisdictions when it comes to crimes.
If he wants to compare jurisdictions, let us compare jurisdiction to those who pay government employees timely. Those jurisdiction who select competent and qualified employees to head agencies. Those jurisdiction who have had great water supply for decades now. Those jurisdiction who have their leaders step-down immediately as soon as their are national and international accusation of malfeasance in which that party should focus on as it will be distracting for them to do their jobs. If you want to compare jurisdiction, please do it the right way.
Comparing one person who lost his arm to another who loss his leg to another that loss his kidney to another that loss is penis to another that loss her breast to another that loss their tongue to another that loss their ear (hearing) does not change the each person had their own serious problem in which is seriously affecting each person.
Guys, you are seeing signs of incompetence daily and it is said you can not pick them up. It is sad people are so loyal to a party that you can not say they are dunces and ignorant when they are being dunces and doing ignorance.
I want to tell Antigua and Barbuda, I feel your pain in terms of crimes and I am here for you. I will continue to do what I can to bring down these vicious crime rates and to make sure you can begin to feel safe again. Your feelings matters to me, and I will ensure you are safe, even if I have to be security to each and everyone of you. I do not know how I can be in all places at once but you are my valuable people and I will do all I can for your safety, progress, success, and happiness. I do not need anything from you and I will soon be handing over additional equipments to the force and some to my community. I am not at all interested in politics but I am interested in all of you being safe and happy in your community with your family.
Safest? Guns guns and more guns, people disappearing, dead bodies turning up, robberies, rape amd the list goes on.. the ocutbry us het to be modernized with cameras better signage, better roads a better town..y’all rather fatten your pockets.
Darryl look like one dirty old man with that face beard 🤢
He is right about viewing crime in a regional context. According to the Insight Crime website, in 2024 St. Kitts had 28 murders, St. Vincent had 54, St. Lucia had 77 and the Turks and Caicos Islands had 48. Antigua is not listed on that website but I found elsewhere that 12 people were murdered in 2024. Not surprisingly, the bigger islands have seen an increase in murders and crime over the last few years. The entire region is dealing with it and the main cause is the same; gangs, guns and drugs.
While Antigua is safer when compared to the islands mentioned above, the increase in crime here has been shocking to many because it is not what we are used to. I visit Provo quite often and the crimes there have been alarming, enough for the US State Dept. to issue a Level 2 Travel Advisory (Exercise Increased Caution). I think we are lucky that we have avoided a Level 2 Advisory here (and even higher levels of crime) but more proactive policing is needed. Hopefully, the new police commissioner can make some positive changes.
Antigua may not have the highest crime rates, in the Caribbean region ,but the lack of police availability when and where they’re needed.”missing persons” and the “killings ” the rates are highest in our area, police investigations of the cases go cold within two weeks, citizens left wondering what the he’ll is going on in Antigua.
the easy availability of firearms,can exacerbate crime rates, especially with violent crimes like homicide, there are to many immigrants migrating too Antiguan bringing their own behaviors and lifestyles that Antiguans are not accustom. Antigua lack of jobs especially the youth not having jobs it just create resentment and frustration which potentially leading to crime.
Is safety linked to political party?
Is so then is it reasonable to conclude that the state of crime is determined by the party in opposition?
If that is so then we can conclude that the labour party is a gang of criminals.
During the reign of the UPP they cried about the rate of criminal activity.
I have never known a government to destabilize a country while in powerr.
So it is also a reasonable conclusion that the then opposition now government was behind the spate of crimes in the country.
Thats why they can boast of Antigua being as safe as it is.
The UPP is not a threat to national security.
The government shoukd there give credit to the opposition for the safe state of Antigua.
That cannot be said when the labour.parrt is in government.
Patient has cancer, brain cancer, was told not to feel bad because Johnny, another person, has breast cancer? Patient asked, how does that make me feel better?
ABLP: Because you do not have breast cancer, you have brain cancer.
Patient: But how does that help me with my cancer?
ABLP: You are not on the Breast cancer list.
Patient: But how does that help me with my brain cancer?
ABLP: You need to focus on Johnny and his cancer.
Patient: I will just die
ABLP: Focus on Johnny
So crime is rate us calculated by murders only? You need to know how many robberies, larceny, home invasions, rapes, gun running and smuggling happen on a regular. How many missing persons have we had over the past two years? Everything these chameleons are now saying are the same things they said when they were members of the UPP. They cannot be trusted; just show them the money and then own them.
So this joker is calling Antiguan’s liars?
They even manage to kill off one of their beloved MP’s, and people should think Antiguan’s are safe in their homes?
Yes, tell that to the Crump family you fool. Tell that to all the families of the missing. Tell that to your own police force that’s inandated with guns and drugs pouring into the island, where just the other day your government has to put out a gun amnesty.
This just tells you how out of touch and cold hearted this administration is.
They never care about crimes in Antigua, that has never being their MO, because after all, the most money making schemes in politics are tied directly to criminals.
So go figure people!
And this is the government that’s going around telling people that they are the smart ones folks..smdh..
Just listen people, just listen.
What I think we need to be safe from the ALP running this country.
I see some try to suggest that the crimes happening now are worst than in the past. These persons need to take a read of the artciles from for eg 15 years ago and before (eg Mullany murders, the young child that was killed at Botanical park, the murders in barbuda (party yacht in 1994. ). No one can deny that at times we have not had a gruesome murder. However the shock displayed by residents is evidence to the unusualness of such. Mathew is correct, A&B is indeed the safest place to be in the caribbean. People like MR bYUM are simply using crime for political reasons