A sitting member of Parliament for the Caribbean island of Barbuda has sounded a urgent public alarm over a sharp, destabilizing rise in residential break-ins, telling national legislators that property crimes are now occurring every single week on the small island. Trevor Walker brought the pressing public safety issue to the floor of Parliament during ongoing debate over the 2026 Firearms (Amendment) Bill, a legislative package crafted to introduce harsher penalties and stricter regulatory measures aimed at curbing gun-related violence and other high-priority criminal offenses across the nation of Antigua and Barbuda.
During his remarks to the legislative body, Walker shared a personal, recent example of the crisis, confirming that a home owned by a relative of his wife was targeted by burglars just last Friday. The MP went on to connect the growing frequency of break-ins to a longstanding concern he has held: the relocation of convicted repeat offenders and individuals with active criminal histories from the larger island of Antigua to Barbuda following their release from incarceration.
Walker told fellow lawmakers that dozens of relocated offenders currently residing in Barbuda are legally required to check in regularly with local police, and that on any given day, multiple people can be seen completing this mandatory reporting at the island’s central police station. He even shared that he wishes he held the legal authority to remove these individuals from Barbuda, a remark that comes despite the fact that free movement between Antigua and Barbuda is guaranteed as unrestricted domestic travel within the single sovereign nation.
The MP’s comments aligned with the broader goals of the proposed firearms legislation, as he made clear he fully supports government efforts to crack down on violent crime and emphasized he holds a stance of “zero tolerance” for the current elevated levels of criminal activity on his constituent island. Walker also used the opportunity to call for increased and improved resourcing for the small detachment of police officers permanently stationed in Barbuda, specifically highlighting the need for additional patrol vehicles to help officers respond more effectively to emerging reports of crime.
He was careful to acknowledge and praise the existing work of police leadership and frontline officers in Barbuda, noting that local law enforcement already responds actively and diligently to every reported incident. Even with that recognition, he stressed that the current volume of criminal activity outpaces the resources available to local police, making additional investments non-negotiable.
Walker doubled down on his concern about repeat offenders, noting that the recent break-in at his relative’s home was especially disconcerting because the primary suspect is believed to be someone who has already been convicted of multiple prior offenses. Closing his remarks, the MP argued that meaningful progress on the island’s crime crisis requires both tougher, clearer legislation and consistent, effective enforcement. He emphasized that local residents should not be forced to accept weekly burglaries and persistent criminal activity as a normal part of daily life on the island.