There must be an aggressive approach to the hearing of murder and gun-related cases in order to let people know that there are consequences to their actions.
Prime Minister, Mia Mottley expressed that she believed it was time for Barbados to have this discussion and put things in place to achieve this, as it cannot be business as usual.
“This notion that persons can be on bail for murder is so repugnant to me, I can’t even begin to understand how a person who is on bail for murder can be charged with another murder. But I
speak not as a defence lawyer but as a defender of this nation’s society and we have to recognise that, to be fair to the defendant, what is required is quick justice,” she said.
“And it is to that extent therefore that the Government has made available the resources such that there is no excuse for us not to be able to turn around a murder case and a serious criminal case, particularly gun-related crime within six to nine months of the charging of the accused person.”
She stated that the small handful of brazen people were a part of the problem and believed that if we could aspire to achieve swift justice, then when persons saw that persons who have been brazen are being held accountable immediately for their actions, there would hopefully, more than likely, be a change of heart of those persons thinking of getting themselves involved with foolishness.
Mottley went on to assure the Royal Barbados Police Force that the current administration will continue to appropriately equip them to do the job.
“We understand that in an evolving Barbados where you are putting your lives on the front line for us, we must do all that we can do protect you and enable you to protect those that you are required to protect,” she said.