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BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Apr 21, CMC – Prime Minister Mia Mottley has held talks with senior security officials as Barbados comes to term with the latest wave of violence that left three people dead on Sunday.
Mottley, who returned here from the United States where she had been attending the International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank annual meetings, said that she met with the Commissioner of Police, Richard Boyce, his deputy as well as the Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force, Brigadier Carlos Lovell..
“In moments like these, nothing matters more than the safety of our people. With the tragic events over the last 24 hours weighing heavily on the country, this was where I needed to be,” Mottley wrote on her Facebook page.
Police are searching for the gunmen responsible for the triple killings in St James, west of here on Sunday, with Boyce warning anyone sheltering those involved in the murders that they will be pursued with the same urgency as the killers themselves.
In a national address on Monday night, Boyce said the police were clear about the nature of the attack, saying that the killings on Sunday night were “a clear act of retaliation.
“It was a deliberate attempt to take out the leadership of one of the groups involved in violent criminal activities in this country. That is what this is. We are not guessing. We understand the nature of what happened and we are responding accordingly.”
Police said three men died following a shooting at a beach bar in Lower Carlton, St James on Sunday night and that they had received reports of gunshots in the area, where a group of people had gathered on the beach and that the investigations have so far revealed that three men exited a silver vehicle and opened fire, injuring four males.
One of the victims died at the scene, while three others were transported by private vehicles to a medical facility. Two of them later succumbed to their injuries.
Legal Affairs and Criminal Justice Minister, Michael Lashley, in a statement, expressed “sincere condolences to the families of those persons who passed away and deep regret to those who were injured in this recent act of senseless violence in our country”.
Lashley said that the Barbados Police Service (BPS) is actively pursuing its investigations into the matter and will continue that work with focus and urgency in order to swiftly bring those responsible to justice.
“At the same time, it is clear that this apparent state of war between certain gangs of young men has spiralled completely out of control, with retaliation and reprisal now seemingly the order of the day. We will not tolerate this behaviour.
The dead men have since been identified as Jamar Leron Edwards, 34, Lyle Anderson Robinson, 33, and 33 year-old Jamar Kareem Ramsay.
In his address, the Police Commissioner told the nation that a “number of persons were liming on the beach when a car pulled up. Three men got out of that vehicle. A large number of shots were discharged.”
He said the shooting was being treated with urgency, with officers interviewing residents and pursuing all available leads.
“Let me be equally clear. This matter is being treated with the seriousness it deserves,” he said, urging those involved to surrender because the police “know who you are.
“Turn yourselves in. Get a lawyer. Go to the nearest police station and surrender yourselves. Do it now. We know who you are. We know the circles you move in. We know what happened
“Those who are helping them, hiding them, transporting them, housing them, passing messages or assisting them in any way … you will not be allowed to run rampant. The associates of those responsible will not be allowed to move across this country as though there are no consequences,” he added.
Boyce said the incident was “organised, dangerous violence” and warned against ongoing retaliation, urging the gunmen to turn themselves in.
He warned “the way these retaliations are going, it is better that it is us that comes for you.”
The top cop assured the public that police were fully aware of the individuals and groups involved in recent disputes and were actively working to prevent further violence.
“We know what is happening. We know the nature of these disputes. We know the individuals and groups involved. We are acting. We will continue to act until those responsible are put before the courts.”
Boyce urged anyone with information to come forward. “If you know something, say something … This is not the time for silence.”
He also issued a broader warning to those involved in crime.
“Barbados will not be held hostage to violent groups. Our communities will not be surrendered to fear, and The Barbados Police Service will prevail.”
The opposition Democratic Labour Party (DLP) shadow minister on legal affairs and criminal justice, Corey Greenidge, has called on the government to do more to deal with the issue of crime here.
“With three killed and others injured in a single act of violence, we have reached a stage of mass shootings in this country, a level of violence that was once unthinkable and which now signals an unprecedented state of affairs,” Greenidge said.
“Year after year with no real action to stem the violence. In other words, the country is tired of the talk and tired of the empty statements while the situation continues to deteriorate,” Greenidge said, even as he supported the position outlined by Lashely calling for the full arm of the security services to respond.
“If, in fact, there is credible intelligence as to the violent groups of young men who are participating in this retaliatory violence that threatens to destabilise our society, then the security services must now move immediately and decisively to disrupt further violence and protect our communities. Barbados cannot afford to normalise this state of affairs,” he said.
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