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Members of 2Drilly and Grays Farm Killers
By Aabigayle McIntosh
The members of two of the most notorious gangs in Antigua and Barbuda convened for a historic face-to-face meeting and officially declared a truce.
This evening, the unprecedented gathering took place at the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party Headquarters, marking a potentially significant turning point in the country’s efforts to address gang-related violence and conflict.
“Everlasting peace is what we are seeking,” Prime Minister Gaston Browne emphasized during the meeting
After separate discussions with both groups, they agreed to a truce by the end of the meeting.
“We’re here to engage you because we care,” the Prime Minister said, highlighting the government’s commitment to finding solutions for peace.
Browne stressed the importance of cooperation to ensure the success of rehabilitation programs that aim to help the gang members become productive citizens.
He further explained that many young people have enrolled in education and employment programs, and it is essential that the ongoing conflict does not disrupt these opportunities.
“It is a condition precedent for you to have this truce, to start to work together again as one family. Because at the end of the day, all of us are part of the Antiguan and Barbudan family,” he stated.
Prime Minister Browne acknowledged that while the government may not be able to resolve the gang problem overnight or secure everyone’s cooperation, he is committed to making a difference, even if it means reforming just one person.
“We are appealing to you, to help us help you,” he added.
He also bluntly stated that the government is offering alternatives in exchange for peace. For those who continue with crime and violence, he warned that new anti-gang laws and harsher penalties for serious crimes would be introduced in Parliament next Tuesday.
“So gun crimes, the maximum is going from 10 years to 25 years. The minimum, currently two years, will increase to five years. Even loitering will be penalized if you’re found aimlessly around as a person on the edge,” Browne explained.
He also announced a curfew for anyone under 18, banning them from the streets between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., with strict enforcement expected from law enforcement.
This is what we need,God forbid if this meeting didn’t happen there was going to be a big generation gap.A big loss for our country,both parties just need to stand by their words including the government as well.
Let us truly hope for the best. We honestly don’t need the kind of violence we experienced over the past years. A man and his son died during carnival. Others injured along the way. Antigua is too small to be experiencing this. Kudos to you PM. You are a brave heart.
This all just sounds so bloody-well made up.. 2 dillly or drilly whatever they are called and grace farm killers… just sounds so dumb… this comes off to me as a created problem to get media recognition that someone is doing something… just a politician ploy… I’m from grace farm and yet to have met or heard of grace farm killers prior to these news reports… NONSENSE
This clearly shows that government intervention in the gang violence could’ve curved what we are experiencing today or may have experienced over the past months!! And this is why the group made themselves clear on Facebook. The government stayed low key and now it shows that there was no care for our young ones out here on the streets cause their own are safe n protected!!
Was all this violence a cry for attention?? Were our youths being neglected?? Was society turning a blind eye? Was the government failing to give a helping hand?? Someone said “person with a mentality to do one thing. Will only strive to do one thing.”… another said “don’t matter what the government do, these good for nothing youths won’t change.”…. But now the news is spitting in their faces for classing our youths in the wrong! Here’s the government stepping in with opportunities and there’s our youths accepting. I ask the question again, was all this violence a cry for attention??