In a decisive response to a recent surge in violent crime, the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has unveiled a comprehensive new security strategy. The urgent policy shift follows an emergency three-hour summit convened by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, St. Clair Leacock, with Police Commissioner Enville Williams and the entire high command of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF).
The high-level meeting was triggered by two recent homicides—the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Kevin Richards in Mesopotamia on Friday and 43-year-old Lenford Peters in Diamond/Brighton on Saturday. These incidents mark the nation’s fourth and fifth homicides of the year, placing the country on a trajectory matching last year’s total of 40 killings.
Central to the new government agenda is an immediate and thorough review of the nation’s firearm licensing framework. Minister Leacock expressed profound alarm over the proliferation of illegal weapons, stating there are “too many firearms in the hands of the wrong people.” The government will enact more rigorous background checks and, in a significant policy reversal, will revoke all previously issued licenses for high-powered rifles held by civilians.
Furthermore, the government issued a stern warning against gang proliferation. Leacock emphatically declared that no gang or individual would be permitted to exert control over any territory within the nation. He emphasized that combating this threat requires a holistic, society-wide approach, calling for collaboration between police, government agencies, civil society, private sector partners, faith-based organizations, schools, and families.
The Deputy Prime Minister pledged the government’s unwavering support to the RSVGPF, committing to provide all necessary human, financial, and material resources to bolster national security operations. This commitment is further reinforced by specific initiatives outlined in the forthcoming 2026 National Budget.
Commissioner Williams welcomed the government’s support and outlined critical operational requirements needed to enhance the Force’s crime-fighting capabilities.
Concluding on a resolute note, the RSVGPF issued a dual public statement: an appeal for law-abiding citizens to report criminal activity and a stark warning to perpetrators to cease all unlawful conduct immediately or face the full force of the law. The Force reaffirmed its mandate to investigate, arrest, and prosecute offenders to safeguard public security.