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There has been a worrying surge in gun violence, particularly among young people and gangs. The scourge has now spread to Antigua and Barbuda from other parts of the Caribbean, which has seen a recent surge in gun crime.
Antigua has had a very low homicide rate throughout my lifetime, but this cherished tradition has unfortunately been disrupted by a surge in daytime robberies, especially at small supermarkets, and, even more tragically, by an increase in homicides.
The current wave of violence in Antigua, while deeply disturbing, reflects a trend that has long been prevalent in other Caribbean countries. Haiti, for example, is the worst affected country, where armed gangs still control large parts of the country despite the presence of Kenyan troops at the invitation of the government and with the approval of the United Nations Security Council.
My friend and Antiguan colleague Lennox Weston recently shared with me an alarming report listing the murder rates per 100,000 people in the Caribbean Community countries in 2022, compiled by the World Population Review: Jamaica (53.4), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (40.41), Trinidad and Tobago (39.52), St. Lucia (36.7), Bahamas (31.22), Belize (27.88), Haiti (18.02), Barbados (15.27) and Antigua and Barbuda (10.67). Based on anecdotal evidence and media coverage of the killings, these figures may have increased over the past two years, highlighting the severity of the problem in the region.
Violence in the Caribbean is fueled by the ongoing illegal gun trafficking. Most of these weapons come from the United States. Despite promises made by the current US administration, the flow of illegal weapons has not slowed. The problem is linked to the ease with which Americans can purchase weapons. Inadequate record keeping, as well as domestic US politics, where the gun lobby and many citizens strongly advocate for the right to own and purchase weapons.
As long as gun purchases remain a domestic political issue in the United States, the availability of critical information about gun shipments to the Caribbean will remain sporadic, limited to instances where U.S. customs officials have managed to intercept illegal shipments at its ports. This reality requires CARICOM countries to take cooperative measures to jointly police their territorial waters and use overlapping jurisdictions to intercept vessels carrying illegal weapons. The issue is both regional and national, and while countries like Antigua and Barbuda are strengthening their maritime capabilities, regional cooperation is essential. This includes the right to pursue suspicious vessels in each other’s territorial waters.
Historically, the Caribbean’s geography has made it vulnerable to illicit trafficking routes, a challenge that continues to evolve as modern criminals exploit regional integration efforts to expand their networks. Organized criminals are taking advantage of economic integration to develop lucrative criminal networks, particularly for gun and drug trafficking, and to establish local “branches” throughout the region. In fact, these criminals are better organized regionally than CARICOM law enforcement agencies, despite the lack of a comprehensive regional law enforcement mechanism such as the CARICOM Executive Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) and the Regional Security System (RSS).
It is worth noting that IMPACS itself has also drawn attention to the fact that “regional criminal gangs are increasingly integrated into international criminal networks” and that “criminal gangs are becoming more diverse and their criminal activities are becoming more widespread.” IMPACS also reported that in 2023, 80% of homicides in the Caribbean Community countries were related to firearms.
Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, was appalled at the fact that “474 repeat offenders were at large” and announced that, despite Antigua’s liberal immigration policy, “there would be no tolerance for any immigrants involved in criminal activity”. Once they were convicted and had served their sentences, they would be immediately deported. This stance was aimed at people of all nationalities, not just CARICOM nationals. Nor was it “anti-regionalism”; regionalism was for law-abiding people, not for lawless ones.
In addition to regional efforts, there is an urgent need to strengthen international cooperation. The US gun trafficking problem is part of a wider global problem of arms proliferation. The influence of the US gun lobby extends beyond domestic politics to neighboring regions such as the Caribbean. There is a need for greater cooperation not only within CARICOM, but also with the wider alliance, including countries and organizations such as the Organization of American States (OAS), the United Nations, and even European countries that have territories in the region and are affected by similar problems.
In December 2023, as Chair of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States, I introduced a resolution on “Guns, Gangs, and Violence” that recognized the interconnected nature of transnational organized crime. The resolution called for a cross-border, collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach to address the root causes and consequences of criminal gang violence, particularly gun-related violence. While the resolution was a step in the right direction, the wheels of building effective law enforcement mechanisms have been slow to turn. Unfortunately, addressing crime cannot be done slowly. Lives and livelihoods are at stake, as is the right of people to live freely – free from the fear of crime and to live in peace. The national action that Prime Minister Brown is taking is therefore imperative.
The economic impact of rising crime is equally severe. Tourism is an important industry in many Caribbean countries and could be severely affected if the region continues to be perceived as unsafe. This would not only affect national economies, but also the livelihoods of millions of citizens who rely on tourism. In addition, high unemployment, especially among young people, has led to an increase in gang activity. Economic policies that create jobs and opportunities are essential to steer young people away from crime.
Announcing a series of measures aimed at curbing crime, Prime Minister Brown said: “Allowing these criminals to destabilise our country would have disastrous consequences. We cannot grow our economy or create a prosperous future for our people in an environment dominated by crime and violence. Defeating these criminals is not only a priority, it is an absolute necessity for our country’s continued security and prosperity.”
Few in the Caribbean would disagree with his view, especially that crime is no longer random or accidental, but organized. Its elimination requires strong, concerted action by governments, businesses, civil society organizations and all those who wish to live in peaceful, law-abiding societies.
（The author is the Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the Organization of American States. The opinions expressed in this article are entirely his own. Responses and previous comments: www.sirronaldsanders.com）
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