Attorney General Pushes for Harsher Penalties for Gun Offenses

By Abigayle McIntosh

Attorney General and Public Safety Minister Sir Steadroy Benjamin is advocating for stiffer sentences for gun offenses in response to the recent surge in gun violence across the island.

Benjamin stated his intention to discuss this matter with the magistrates.

“Because you see, that’s the first court, small man’s court, but the AG cannot dictate or tell the magistrate what to do. He can only sound the concerns of the citizens, and in any event, when they pass sentencing, they’re bearing in mind the guidelines laid down by the courts.”

“We’re living in a society. They must know what is happening. They must take appropriate action to send strong messages out to the public that persons who commit those types of crimes must be dealt with differently,” he added.

Benjamin also revealed that the government has already taken steps in parliament to empower magistrates to fine and imprison those convicted of firearms offenses.

“Some magistrates or adjudicators are reluctant to do that, especially for first-time offenders. I just read a case from one of the neighboring islands, where the court concluded that look, the law says fine and confine. These crimes are rampant. I’m going to be fine and confined. And on appeal, it was held that that law was good. So, I intend to bring that to the attention of magistrates as well,” he said.

The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC), with the support of the British High Commission and the US Embassy for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, introduced a set of Sentencing Guidelines back in 2019 aimed at promoting and streamlining the Court’s approach to sentencing across its nine-member jurisdiction.

The first set of Sentencing Guidelines was officially launched on 17th September 2019 and came into effect on 1st October 2019.

It includes guidelines for Firearm Offences; Drug Offences; Offences of Dishonesty compendium with guidelines for theft, robbery, burglary, and aggravated burglary; and Re-issued Sexual Offences compendium for rape, unlawful sexual intercourse, aggravated unlawful sexual intercourse, indecency and incest.