The Big Stick Approach to Crime | Editorial

By Kieron Murdoch

Many people say they do not feel as safe as they once did, even in the comfort and privacy of their homes.

Some business owners say they are fearful every minute they remain open after dark. Some are anxious even in the day, having witnessed too many examples of brazen banditry in broad daylight in Antigua and Barbuda.

Parents are questioning the level of freedom they give to their children even in the day. Where are they? Who are they with? What if something happens?

Unfortunate though it may be, this is the mood that has understandably gripped the nation at this moment as a consequence of a number of violent crimes perpetrated over the last few weeks, the last few months, and in recent years. Most shocking among them have been the murders and sexual violence.

An 18-year-old, Malachi Martin, who was the one of the victims in the Last Lap shooting at the East Bus Station this year, died at the hospital a week ago on August 14. Kergus Martin, 43-years-old, died days before, a victim of the same shooting.

Two others were shot as well. Now, the latest victim of a violent death is a 15-year-old girl, Achazia James, whose body was discovered at Runaway Beach with reportedly gruesome chop wounds.

We at antigua.news extend our sincerest condolences to the relatives of those who have recently lost their lives to violence, and to all the families of this year’s ten homicide victims.

We acknowledge that words can only do so much. In fact, words often do very little to ease the anguish of the bereaved parents, children, siblings, and loved ones of the deceased.

As a society, we have a responsibility to do more than offer words, and instead, to offer action. We must do more collaboratively to increase our collective security, deliver justice to those who have done heinous acts, and reduce the likelihood of our young people – our most at-risk young men in particular – ever becoming gun and machete wielding criminals.

In times of national distress, it is normal for people to look to their leaders. The Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, asked the nation for its attention on Tuesday evening for a national televised address on the issue of crime and violence.

He certainly got our attention. There were things with which we agreed, and things we thought were of concern when it came to what said.

He announced a tougher stance on crime, promising more resources to the police and reminding of recent additions made to bolster their numbers. He warned criminals and nerdowells that they would be met with the full power of law enforcement.

He said he made no apology for the men who died in a shootout with police recently – one that occurred in daylight in full view of the public – saying that officers had a right to get home safely. And he took aim at the courts for – as he put it – lenient sentencing and offering bail to those who shouldn’t have it.

We were pleased to hear the nation’s leader strike a defiant tone in the face of lawlessness by a handful of miscreants who, in many respects, seem determined to engage in armed banditry, regardless of the risk to their own lives. We were pleased to hear him offer his full support to the police.

We often underestimate the mountainous task they (the police) have before them with their limited numbers in our limited circumstances, and with greater threats to our collective peace and security.

And to some extent, we were happy to hear him raise the issue of sentencing and bail. It demonstrates that this important issue is on the executive’s radar, as he promised legislative action to bolster penalties and introduce anti-gang measures as well.

But there were things that the Prime Minister said which gave us pause. Indeed, things he did not say gave us pause as well.

On the issue of bail and sentencing, it strikes us as peculiar that he chose to focus on this to the extent which did. It runs the risk of giving the impression that this alone is the cause of our crime and violence woes.

It is incumbent upon all of us to acknowledge that crime and violence are complex issues which must be addressed at multiple levels – the police who investigate, the prosecutors who prosecute, the courts who determine innocence or guilt, and the social interventions that ought to reduce the likelihood of further crime – interventions which must be facilitated through an all of society approach.

A greater public discussion and understanding of the issue of bail would be beneficial to us all, we believe. But denying bail in more cases and giving longer sentences cannot be the answer alone.

Very troubling for us was the Prime Minister’s statement that “there are currently 474 repeat offenders who are roaming our streets with impunity” and “a significant number of them are on bail” – statements made to bolster his stance on the judiciary.

We were not only troubled by the number of “repeat offenders” according to the Prime Minister, but by the implications of what he said for our prison and penal system.

Is he suggesting that there are 474 additional people who he believes ought to be in prison at this very moment? Can His Majesty’s Prison house an additional 474 people? The answer is clearly no, unless some expansion has occurred unknown to us here at antigua.news. This raises the recurrent sore that is our prison – unfit for purpose and a human rights headache.

If circumstances were such tomorrow morning, that the courts were in a position to sentence or remand all of the 474 people to prison, where on earth would we put them?

The Prime Minister also addressed the issue of juvenile detention and social programmes to dissuade youth from delinquency and substance abuse. These are hugely important issues. But these were fleeting mentions made at the end of speech that focused more heavily on “fighting fire with fire” and “steel with steel”.

The Ombudsman recently criticized the government severely for the illegal practice of housing juveniles in the main prison. It is a reminder that we still do not have a coherent enough approach to separating young offenders and putting them on a programme to turn their lives around.

Last evening, The PM promised that a facility would be built at Crabbs. But such promises have been made before. Promises of programmes to address youth and drugs have been made before, and are actually referred to in law.

Even promises of a new prison have been made before. What have they come to? We need those promises to be fulfilled. We need them prioritized.

And even having a physically adequate prison or a new juvenile facility is not enough. We need programmes in these facilities – especially in the case of juveniles – to reduce the likelihood of reoffending.

These may include efforts to promote gainful employment, improve earning capacity, improve academic interest and literacy, address mental health and violence habits, and enforce monitoring and mentorship as a condition that immediately follows release.

Put simply, if we lock up badmen for robbery and violence, incarcerate them in overcrowded, rundown conditions, and do little to change their tendencies, do we really believe that upon release, they are likely to turn to Jesus and sing kumbaya?

If the prime minister says “474 repeat offenders” are on the streets, then it is incumbent upon right thinking citizens to ask: What is the approach to tackling recidivism?

There are many who, having seen last night’s address by the nation’s leader, feel reassured about the commitment of the police to fighting crime, and willingness of the government to explore solutions related to the judicial arm of government. However, how many of us came away feeling like enough of a social approach was discussed as well?

As a society, we need to remember that crime is a complex and not a simple issue. Beating it with a stick is not going to make it go away.

Written by Kieron Murdoch for antigua.news

About the writer:

Kieron Murdoch worked as a journalist and later as a radio presenter in Antigua and Barbuda for eight years, covering politics and governance especially. He is an opinion contributor at antigua.news. If you have an opinion on the issues raised in this editorial and you would like to submit a response by email to be considered for publication, please email [email protected].