During parliamentary debate over the 2026 Firearms Amendment Bill, opposition Senator Malaka Parker has delivered a searing critique of both the government’s approach to curbing gun crime and the corrosive influence of political connections that she says allow convicted criminals to escape legal consequences. Parker, who brings personal trauma to the debate, opened her remarks by revealing that her own brother was killed by a stray bullet years ago in Gray’s Farm, a tragedy that left 10 children fatherless. The man convicted of her brother’s murder was sentenced to 16 years behind bars, but was released earlier this year. Parker claims that the offender, who should have been deported immediately following his release, was granted an unlawful extension to arrange his personal affairs solely because of his ties to a high-ranking sitting politician.
Malaka Parker says criminals have politicians on speed dial in Antigua and Barbuda
