Prime Minister Mia Mottley has declared Barbados will enact comprehensive domestic terrorism legislation in response to a mass shooting incident in Bridgetown that left ten people wounded. The announcement came during an urgent press conference where Mottley characterized the early Saturday attack as an act designed to instill widespread fear and panic among citizens.
The violent episode occurred approximately at 3 a.m. along Hinks Street and Nelson Street as passengers disembarked from the Dream Chaser 2 party cruise vessel. Medical authorities reported five victims required hospitalization, with three undergoing surgical procedures, while others received treatment and were discharged. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital implemented temporary precautionary lockdown measures during the emergency response.
Mottley emphasized the distinction between conventional criminal charges and terrorism legislation, stating: ‘It is one thing for a person to be charged with murder; it is another thing for a person to create panic and to cause people to be the subject of terrorism and terror.’ She condemned the shooting as unacceptable behavior that would not be tolerated within the nation.
The Prime Minister contextualized this incident within a broader pattern of violence occurring at gas stations, residential areas, and public spaces during traditionally safe daylight hours. While police intelligence indicates the violence involves a limited number of individuals, Mottley warned that Barbados would not permit a minority to endanger the broader population.
Commissioner of Police Richard Boyce confirmed the Major Crime Unit and Serious Organised Crime Unit are leading ongoing investigations. He publicly assured citizens they should have no fear and appealed for information cooperation from the community, defending the force’s overall crime strategies despite this high-profile incident.
The government’s response included redirecting 87 patients to Winston Scott Polyclinic to alleviate pressure on emergency medical services. Mottley placed the shooting within the context of external geopolitical tensions and internal social challenges, reiterating her New Year’s appeal for national unity against gun violence.
Concluding with a determined stance, the Prime Minister signaled that difficult decisions lay ahead but affirmed: ‘There shall be no retreat and no surrender’ in protecting public safety through enhanced legal frameworks.