A Barbados parliamentarian has issued a forceful demand to reinstate executions following a deadly mass shooting that claimed the life of a young man in his constituency. St. Lucy MP Peter Phillips made the emotional appeal hours after the island recorded its 13th homicide this year, declaring that capital punishment must be implemented to address escalating gun violence.
The tragedy unfolded on Sunday evening around 10:50 pm in Fryers Well, Checker Hall, when assailants in a dark-colored vehicle sprayed bullets at a karaoke gathering. Thirty-one-year-old Romario Archer was fatally wounded and pronounced dead at Sandy Crest Medical Centre, while nine other victims received treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital for gunshot injuries.
Phillips, who visited the grieving Archer family, described the killing as deeply personal due to his long-standing relationship with the family. The MP asserted without hesitation: “I support capital punishment, and I say this without any kind of hesitation. I believe we have to begin to hang a couple of people for doing these foolish things.”
While Barbados legally retains hanging as punishment for murder, no executions have occurred since 1984. The Caribbean Court of Justice ruled in 2018 that death sentences cannot be automatic, requiring individual judicial consideration for each case. This legal framework has effectively created a de facto moratorium on executions, though the penalty remains technically available.
Phillips argued that the absence of functional capital punishment has emboldened criminals: “People believe they can do whatever they wish because they can go up Dodds and sit down and relax and eat four square meals a day.”
Despite his strong stance on punishment, the MP simultaneously pleaded for calm, directly addressing residents: “Let there be no retaliation where this is concerned. Put down the guns. Put away the guns. The Lord will take care of this. We must not take matters into our own hands.”
He characterized Archer as “a good, decent guy who always stayed out of trouble,” noting his cheerful nature and strong work ethic. The killing represents the second tragedy for the Archer family, who lost another relative to similar gun violence in March 2022.
The debate over capital punishment in Barbados reflects broader regional discussions. While public opinion traditionally supports retaining the death penalty, particularly during crime surges, empirical evidence regarding its deterrent effect remains inconclusive. United Nations studies and criminological research indicate that certainty of detection and swift justice serve as more effective crime deterrents than the theoretical threat of execution.