The government of Antigua and Barbuda has formally committed to directing extra funding, upgraded equipment and tailored support to the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, following a recent Cabinet meeting focused on addressing national crime rates. This commitment will only go into effect for areas where verifiable, legitimate operational needs have been confirmed by police leadership.
Speaking to reporters immediately after the closed-door Cabinet session, senior official Maurice Merchant shared details of the administration’s new directive. He confirmed that Prime Minister Gaston Browne has ordered consistent, ongoing check-ins with the top command of the Royal Police Force to track progress on ongoing crime reduction initiatives across the twin-island nation.
“Prime Minister Browne has directed that sustained engagement be maintained with the leadership of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda to advance their crime-fighting mandate,” Merchant stated during the press briefing.
According to Merchant, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of regular communication between political leadership and police command to proactively spot gaps in resourcing, equipment, or operational support that could slow the force down as it carries out its core public safety duties. Any unmet needs that are validated through this process will receive swift backing from the national government.
Merchant added that the full Cabinet has reaffirmed this policy stance, noting that “where legitimate needs are identified, the government will continue to provide the police with appropriate support.” The overarching goal of this additional resourcing is to sharpen the force’s operational capacity across three key areas: crime prevention, criminal detection, and criminal investigation.
In a notable show of confidence in the force, both Prime Minister Browne and the full Cabinet also publicly commended the Royal Police Force for the measurable improvements it has delivered in recent months in the fight against violent crime and general criminal activity across Antigua and Barbuda.
This latest discussion around police resourcing forms a single piece of the administration’s broader, holistic strategy to tackle crime at a national level. The full strategy combines enhanced resourcing for law enforcement with updated, stricter criminal legislation and expanded rehabilitation programs for offenders, designed to address both the immediate and root causes of crime in the country.