A state prosecutor has expressed concern about women increasingly appearing before the courts on firearm and ammunition charges, saying he hopes the trend does not continue.
Acting Senior State Counsel Paul Prescod made the comments during sentencing submissions in the case of Twana Ayasha Shaquanna Greene of New Orleans.
Greene previously admitted before the No. 4 Supreme Court to possessing a 9mm Luger calibre pistol without a valid licence on March 30, 2023.
Prescod said, “Far too often we are having men coming before the court in relation to firearm offences but now we are seeing women appearing in court for such offences, and we are hoping this is not a trend that will continue.”
He identified several aggravating factors, including that the firearm was concealed in a vehicle being driven by Greene and that the offence occurred in a public place. He also pointed to the prevalence of firearm offences in society.
Mitigating factors included that the weapon was not used to commit another offence and was recovered by police.
The prosecutor proposed a starting point of 11 years’ imprisonment, with a one-year reduction for Greene’s previously clean record and expressions of remorse before considering her guilty plea and time spent on remand.
He submitted that the State was not seeking to separate families but to keep Barbados safe and suggested that the first-time offender instead receive a $25 000 fine, with $20 000 payable immediately and the balance within four months.
Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell will sentence Greene, who is represented by Senior Counsel Angella Mitchell-Gittens, on November 13.
(JB)
