Carib Scope

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  • Leaders urged to reject ‘small-island limits’ at Possibility Summit

    Leaders urged to reject ‘small-island limits’ at Possibility Summit

    Against a backdrop of escalating global uncertainty and overlapping cross-border crises, Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley has delivered a bold call to action for the small island nation: shed outdated psychological limitations tied to geographic size and rebrand itself as a world-leading testing ground for cutting-edge innovation, arguing that incremental economic progress will never be enough to shield the country from mounting global volatility.

    Mottley’s remarks came during a candid, informal fireside-style dialogue with Minister of Innovation Senator Jonathan Reid, which served as the centerpiece of the national Possibility Summit. The event convened a high-profile global cohort of technology executives, United Nations officials and leading international scientists to collaboratively map out a sustainable, technology-powered development path for the Caribbean region.

    Opening the discussion, Reid turned to the foundational governance philosophy that has defined Mottley’s tenure, recalling a defining moment on the eve of her first electoral victory. At that time, Reid shared that he had considered leaving Barbados to pursue world-class professional opportunities abroad. In response, Mottley challenged him: “Why can’t you do world-class work in Barbados? Why don’t you come with me, let’s do some world-class work.” That exchange, Reid noted, has set the tone for the administration’s work over the past eight years. Reid then pressed Mottley on what fuels her relentless, often round-the-clock work ethic that sees her pushing forward with policy work as late as 3 a.m.

    Tracing her motivation back to her upbringing in a newly independent Barbados, where she was surrounded by dedicated early public servants and national icons like cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers, Mottley explained her drive grows from an unshakable belief in Caribbean potential and a deep rejection of systemic inequity. “God has blessed me with the ability to love this country beyond anything else and to believe that we are special,” she said. “The fact that I am a young person going into public life never crossed my mind that I was young. The fact that I was a woman going into public life, it never crossed my mind… I feel passionate about the Caribbean civilization, and that is the purpose of my life.”

    The conversation soon shifted from personal conviction to tangible national development strategy. Reid noted that while Barbados has notched an extraordinary milestone of 20 straight quarters of economic expansion and cut its debt-to-GDP ratio substantially, there is a clear gap between short-term macroeconomic stability and long-term transformative change, asking Mottley to outline her long-term vision for the nation.

    Mottley stressed firmly that incremental, traditional economic gains are not enough to insulate the island from coming global disruptions. “Comfort does not give us sufficient buffer to withstand the gale force winds that are coming at us individually as a small state but collectively as a planet,” she warned. “The country has had on average 2.5 per cent growth… that’s not enough for us to do the transformation.”

    For Mottley, building genuine long-term economic resilience requires three core shifts: boosting national productivity, strengthening inclusive social capital, and restructuring the economy to deliver widespread citizen ownership of assets. She issued a blunt challenge to the local private sector over its approach to workforce treatment, stating: “If you tell me you can’t make money by treating your workers right, get out of the wrong business, shut shop and go home. Fundamental to any enterprise is in fact the workers… I feel that Barbados can continue to lead the world in showing what dignified labor producing at high levels can look like, creating opportunities for ownership.”

    Reid then turned to the balancing act of modern leadership for small island states, recalling the overlapping crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 ash fall from the La Soufrière volcano that strained national capacity. He asked how Barbados can preserve its laid-back, distinctive cultural identity while embracing the urgency needed to capture global economic opportunities.

    Mottley acknowledged that constant uncertainty is now a permanent feature of the global order, pointing to the ongoing “polycrisis” that combines accelerating environmental degradation and intensifying geopolitical tensions. She voiced particular alarm over the rapid unregulated deployment of artificial intelligence without a coordinated global governance framework, as well as the growing fragmentation of global action to address climate change.

    Rather than giving in to pessimism, Mottley argued that pragmatic, science-backed diplomatic action is still achievable, highlighting global methane reduction efforts as a critical, actionable starting point. She emphasized that Caribbean nations cannot afford to remain passive consumers of foreign technology or collateral victims of global policy decisions made by larger powers. Instead, she argued, the region must step into a new role as the testing ground for the innovative solutions that the entire world urgently needs to build a more sustainable and resilient future.

  • ECCAA Pays Tribute to Veteran Aviation Official Simon Lewis

    ECCAA Pays Tribute to Veteran Aviation Official Simon Lewis

    On a Thursday marked by both celebration and sorrow, the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) found itself balancing two monumental moments: the official opening of its expanded headquarters at Antigua and Barbuda’s V.C. Bird International Airport, and the somber announcement of the passing of one of the region’s most respected aviation professionals, Simon Lewis.

    The opening ceremony, which brought together senior government officials, key aviation industry stakeholders, and regional diplomatic representatives, was paused to honor Lewis’ decades of service to Caribbean aviation. In a quiet act of collective remembrance, all ECCAA staff in attendance pinned gold and black ribbons to their clothing, and the entire room bowed their heads for a minute of silence to celebrate his life and legacy.

    Lewis, who most recently held the role of operations officer for aerodromes at ECCAA, passed away in the early hours of that same Thursday, bringing to a close a career in civil aviation that stretched across more than 50 years. ECCAA Director General Anthony Whittier delivered the official tribute during the opening event, sharing that the entire organization was grieving the loss of a beloved colleague and foundational leader.

    “It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of our colleague, Mr. Simon Peter Lewis, who served the Eastern Caribbean aviation community with unwavering dedication and distinction,” Whittaker told the assembled crowd.

    Lewis’ journey in aviation began in 1971, when he started his career working dual roles as an air traffic controller and a meteorological officer. Over the course of his early career, he worked his way up to leadership, eventually taking on the position of air traffic department manager at Grenada’s Maurice Bishop International Airport. It was in this role that he first earned widespread recognition across the region for his steady leadership and unmatched technical expertise.

    His impact extended far beyond Grenada’s national borders, as he took on key regional and international roles to advance Caribbean aviation. From 2001 to 2006, he served as chairman of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Eastern Caribbean Working Group, where he played an instrumental role in building cross-border cooperation, aligning regional safety standards, and expanding air connectivity across the Eastern Caribbean.

    Even after officially retiring from full-time public service, Lewis continued to contribute to the industry he loved. He joined the ECCAA team on July 1, 2012, where he supported aviation development initiatives across all of the authority’s 10 member states. Whittier emphasized that Lewis remained actively involved in on-the-ground assignments right up until his death, noting that Lewis had completed an official ECCAA inspection and outreach mission to Dominica as recently as last month.

    “He generously shared his vast knowledge and experience, providing comprehensive guidance and support that significantly contributed to the improvement of civil aviation across our member states,” Whittier added.

    Colleagues across the region remembered Lewis not just for his professional contributions, but for the personal qualities that made him a beloved mentor and friend. Working remotely from his home in Grenada, Lewis was known as a consistently responsive, supportive colleague who was always willing to drop his own work to help a teammate facing a challenge. Professionally, he was widely described as dedicated, dependable, meticulous, punctual, and hardworking in every project he took on.

    Beyond his work ethic, Lewis will be remembered for his warm, approachable personality. “Simon was known by his colleagues as dedicated, dependable, punctual, hardworking, and meticulous in all of the work that he undertook,” Whittier said, adding that he was also “jovial, approachable, and warm.”

    In a statement following the tribute, ECCAA leadership confirmed that Lewis’ decades of work have left an indelible mark on every corner of Eastern Caribbean civil aviation. His legacy, the organization noted, will live on through the hundreds of aviation professionals he mentored, the regional cooperation frameworks he helped build, and the improved safety standards that will benefit the region for decades to come.

  • Wadadli Aquatic Racers Shine at The 34th Annual Sonia O’Neal Memorial International Invitational Swim Meet in Barbados

    Wadadli Aquatic Racers Shine at The 34th Annual Sonia O’Neal Memorial International Invitational Swim Meet in Barbados

    Antigua and Barbuda’s competitive swimming club, the Wadadli Aquatic Racers (WAR), closed out the recent Sonia O’Neal Swim Meet with a landmark showing, turning in a display of consistent excellence that saw multiple athletes hit key qualifying benchmarks for upcoming regional and global tournaments.

    Heading the club’s impressive cohort of competitors was rising teenage swimming talent Isabel Nicholas, who claimed the event’s Age Group High Point Trophy after a string of blistering races. Every one of Nicholas’ results at the meet met AA qualifying standards for the CARIFTA Championships, the flagship regional age-group swimming competition, and her times in four core events — the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, and 50m butterfly — came within touching distance of the more stringent AAA standard, marking her out as a serious contender for podium finishes at next year’s tournament. This latest performance builds on Nicholas’ already formidable regional reputation, following standout results at the ASATT Invitational and the Republic Bank National Age Group Championships (RHAC) that have already cemented her status as one of the Caribbean’s top age-group swimmers.

    In the boys’ 13–14 age division, Christopher Walter turned heads with his breakthrough showing, not only locking in AA CARIFTA qualifying times but also breaking his own existing personal best record in the 100m breaststroke. The result underscores the steady progress Walter has made in recent years and reinforces his position as one of WAR’s most promising elite competitors.

    Tristan Nicholas also notched a major career milestone at the meet, recording his first ever AA CARIFTA qualifying time. He came agonizingly close to securing a second qualifying standard, missing out by just 0.04 seconds — a narrow margin that does nothing to undermine the clear rapid improvement and bright long-term potential his performance revealed.

    Espriit Shaw turned in arguably the most well-rounded result of any WAR competitor at the event, showing unwavering consistency and strength across a full schedule of races. Shaw not only slashed time off multiple personal bests, but also secured both AA and AAA qualifying times for both the CARIFTA Championships and the Pan American Games, while also setting a new Age Group Record in the 400m Individual Medley. When ranked by World Aquatics points, his results confirm his status as one of the top contenders for a spot on Antigua and Barbuda’s international competition teams.

    Two other young WAR athletes, Elianna Spencer and Jadon Green, also turned in encouraging results, hitting A qualifying times in multiple events to signal their own upward trajectories. Even the club’s developing emerging swimmers showed clear momentum, with Kaia Belle turning in major improvements to most of her personal best times while gaining invaluable high-level experience racing in a long course meters international environment — a critical step forward in her athletic development.

    Taken as a whole, the WAR team’s performance at the Sonia O’Neal Swim Meet makes clear that the club’s development program is moving from strength to strength, fueled by a deep pool of natural talent, rigorous discipline, and a clear structured pathway to regional and international competitive success. With multiple swimmers already having locked in qualifying standards or moving close to meeting them, the future looks exceptionally bright for the Antigua and Barbuda-based club as it builds toward the 2027 CARIFTA season and future international competitions.

  • Air Travel Costs Lead Sharp Increase in Antigua and Barbuda Inflation

    Air Travel Costs Lead Sharp Increase in Antigua and Barbuda Inflation

    On May 29, 2026, the Statistics Division under Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Finance and Corporate Governance published the official Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for April 2026, revealing key inflation trends for the small Caribbean nation. Year-over-year, headline inflation reached 3.1% when comparing April 2026 to the same period one year prior. Core inflation, measured by the All-Items Less Food and Energy index, stood at a higher 4.0% over the 12-month period, while food inflation remained muted at just 0.3% overall.

    The marginal overall increase in the Food Index masks stark divergence across different product categories. Five food segments recorded price declines, three saw increases, and the Sugars, Jams, Honey, Chocolate, and Confectionery category held steady. The upward pressure on food prices came almost entirely from sharp gains in two segments: Fish and Seafood prices jumped 11.0% year-over-year, while Vegetable prices rose 8.0%. These gains were almost entirely offset by significant drops in other key food categories: Fruit prices plummeted 12.9%, Milk, Cheese and Eggs fell 6.5%, and Meat and Meat Products declined 5.2%, bringing the overall food inflation rate down to its low 0.3% level.

    Core inflation was driven heavily by skyrocketing costs in the transport services sector, which soared 60.3% year-over-year. The Statistics Division attributed this massive increase to rising regional and international airfares, which have pushed up average transport service costs dramatically over the 12-month period. Other sectors seeing notable annual price gains included Recreation and Culture, which rose 30.2%, Education at 13.3%, and Restaurants and Hotels at 4.5%.

    Looking at month-to-month changes between March 2026 and April 2026, the overall CPI rose a full 1.0% in a single month. The Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages index outpaced overall inflation with a 2.4% monthly gain, bouncing back from a 1.5% contraction in March. Vegetable prices led the monthly food increase with a 7.5% jump, with Fresh and Chilled Vegetables posting a 13.3% monthly gain – the steepest one-month increase for that segment since a 19.4% rise in November 2024. Fruit prices rose 4.7% month-over-month, while Fish and Seafood increased 3.9%. Non-alcoholic beverages also saw above-average gains at 2.6%, driven by an 8.2% jump in fruit and vegetable juice prices and a 2.9% rise in soft drinks.

    On a monthly basis, the All Items Less Food and Energy index rose 0.9% in April 2026. Transport services again led gains with an 11.7% monthly jump, directly tied to a 14.0% increase in average airfare prices. Recreation and Culture followed with a 14.5% monthly price increase, while the Health index rose 2.4%.

    For context, the CPI is the world’s standard benchmark for measuring overall inflation, tracking the average monthly and annual change in prices of the basket of goods and services purchased by a typical household. The Antigua and Barbuda National Bureau of Statistics collects price data monthly and quarterly from retail outlets and service providers across the country, and updates the basket weights based on regular household expenditure surveys. The current index framework is based on 2006 expenditure patterns, and the full index, including 12 component sub-indices, is published on a monthly basis. For full methodological details, the public can contact the bureau’s senior statistical staff directly.

  • Prime Minister Browne Welcomes INS Sudarshini During Antigua Port Call

    Prime Minister Browne Welcomes INS Sudarshini During Antigua Port Call

    A key moment of diplomatic engagement unfolded this week in the Eastern Caribbean, as Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne formally hosted the commanding officer of India’s sail training ship INS Sudarshini during the vessel’s scheduled five-day port call to the twin-island nation.

    Per official confirmation from India’s High Commission based in Guyana, Commander Ravikanth Nandoori, the lead officer overseeing the INS Sudarshini mission, held a formal courtesy meeting with Prime Minister Browne between May 27 and May 31, the full duration of the ship’s stay in Antiguan waters.

    Diplomatic discussions during the gathering centered on the deep, decades-long friendly relations that have existed between the governments and peoples of Antigua and Barbuda and India. Prime Minister Browne opened the meeting by extending warm gratitude for the goodwill visit, emphasizing his appreciation for the consistent development support and collaborative assistance that the Government of India has extended to Antigua and Barbuda over the years. He reiterated that the Caribbean nation openly welcomes Indian naval vessels and deepened bilateral engagement, reinforcing the open and productive partnership between the two states.

    In response, Commander Nandoori extended his own thanks to the Antigua and Barbuda government for the seamless logistical cooperation and warm hospitality extended to the ship and its 100-plus crew members throughout their time on shore.

    This port call is not an isolated journey: it forms a core segment of the INS Sudarshini’s international deployment under the Indian Navy’s flagship Lokayan 2025 initiative, a global maritime diplomacy program designed to expand practical maritime cooperation between India and partner nations across the world, while building people-to-people goodwill across maritime borders.

    As one of the Indian Navy’s premiere purpose-built sail training vessels, the INS Sudarshini has a long track record of participating in long-distance international voyages and public diplomatic outreach missions across every major ocean basin, carrying India’s message of collaborative maritime security and friendship to ports across the globe.

  • Five Major Spending Categories See Prices Fall Despite 3.1% Inflation Rate

    Five Major Spending Categories See Prices Fall Despite 3.1% Inflation Rate

    When the National Bureau of Statistics of Antigua and Barbuda released its latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for April 2026, the headline figure of 3.1% annual inflation told only part of the story. Far from a broad-based increase in consumer costs, the new report reveals a deeply split inflation landscape, with nearly half of the nation’s 12 core consumer spending categories actually registering year-over-year price drops, contradicting assumptions of universal cost growth across the economy.

    Digging into the details of the CPI breakdown, two categories posted the steepest annual deflation, with both clothing and footwear, and miscellaneous goods and services recording a 4.4% price decline compared to April 2025. Health care costs followed with a 2.3% drop, while the broad housing, water, electricity and other fuels category saw a 1.3% overall reduction. Even alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics posted a minor 0.2% price decrease over the 12-month period.

    The downward shift in housing-related costs was not a random fluctuation: the trend was fueled in part by an 1.8% drop in electricity prices year-over-year, alongside a 1.4% decrease in actual rental rates for residential properties, bringing tangible relief to households’ largest recurring expense.

    While falling prices in these sectors provided a counterweight to overall inflation, sharp spikes in other categories were large enough to push the aggregate inflation rate above the 1.7% recorded in March 2026, marking the second straight month of accelerating year-on-year price growth. Transportation saw the most dramatic jump among major categories, surging 18.8% annually. This increase was driven almost entirely by a staggering 60.3% rise in transport services, as regional and international airline fares pushed travel costs sharply higher.

    Recreation and culture followed with an even steeper 30.2% annual cost increase, while education costs climbed 13.3% and prices at restaurants and hotels rose 4.5%. For the closely watched food and non-alcoholic beverages category, the overall annual increase clocked in at a modest 1.2%, with core food prices alone rising just 0.3% thanks to falling costs for many staple goods. Consumers saw fruit prices drop 12.9%, milk, cheese and egg products fall 6.5%, and meat products decline 5.2%—offsets that kept overall food inflation muted even as vegetable and seafood prices rose.

    Breaking down the full CPI structure, five of the 12 top-level expenditure categories recorded price decreases, seven posted increases, and at the more granular sub-group level, 12 categories had higher prices, 10 had lower prices, and one held steady from 2025.

    This fragmented inflation landscape means the cost of living impact varies dramatically for different households across Antigua and Barbuda, the statistics office noted. Families that allocate a large share of their monthly budget to travel, leisure activities and education are facing significantly steeper expenses than a year ago, while households whose spending is concentrated on housing, health care and staple food items like fruit and meat have actually seen their cost burdens ease in these key areas.

  • Relatives, friends warned against sheltering gang members

    Relatives, friends warned against sheltering gang members

    As part of sweeping new anti-gang legislation under debate in Barbados’ House of Assembly, government ministers have issued a stark warning to family members and associates of gang affiliated individuals: knowingly sheltering criminal gang members will carry severe legal consequences, and harm communities and households across the country. The discussion centered on the Criminal Gangs (Prevention and Control) Bill, a piece of legislation crafted to crack down on gang-related activity and address gaps in existing law that have allowed criminal networks to operate with impunity.

  • Caribbean Female Empowerment Movement Hosts Inaugural Girls Day Camp in Antigua

    Caribbean Female Empowerment Movement Hosts Inaugural Girls Day Camp in Antigua

    On a sunny Sunday in late May 2026, a groundbreaking new initiative for young women took root at Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Environment Conference Room, as the Caribbean Female Empowerment Movement (cFEM) welcomed dozens of girls from across local communities to its first ever Bloom and Become Girls Day Camp. What unfolded over the day was far more than a routine community gathering: it was a transformative experience built on intentional learning, joyful connection, deep self-discovery, and targeted empowerment for a generation of young girls ready to step into their power.

    Founded by Dominican-born counselor, educator and renowned youth advocate Nicola Reefe-Babb, cFEM’s girls program was built to address a critical gap in youth development: providing dedicated, safe spaces where girls can build the foundational confidence, practical life skills and growth-oriented mindsets needed to thrive through life’s challenges, while fully embracing the unique potential each participant brings to the table. Unlike generic youth programs, the Bloom and Become camp centers the specific needs of growing girls, creating a judgment-free supportive environment where attendees are encouraged to chase big dreams, nurture trusting healthy relationships, and practice leadership from a young age.

    The day’s schedule was carefully crafted to balance education, engagement and fun, with a diverse lineup of activities tailored to different interests and growth goals. Girls took part in interactive group discussions, hands-on creative projects, collaborative team-building challenges, and targeted empowerment workshops focused on core life skills: building sustainable self-esteem, navigating personal growth, setting actionable long-term goals, building resilience in the face of setback, and making intentional positive decisions for their futures. Every session circled back to a core message: every girl has inherent worth, her individuality is a strength, and she deserves the confidence to pursue every personal and academic goal she sets.

    Speaking after the event, Reefe-Babb shared heartfelt gratitude for the collective effort that made the inaugural camp a success, thanking the volunteer facilitators, participating parents, community sponsors, and the girls themselves who brought energy and enthusiasm to every activity. She went on to outline the long-term vision that drives cFEM’s girls chapter: to build recurring, meaningful programs that support girls and young women across the region to overcome systemic and personal barriers, unlock their untapped potential, and grow into confident community leaders.

    Reefe-Babb emphasized that the one-day camp was never meant to be a standalone event. “This camp is not just a one-off gathering — it is an investment in the future of our region’s girls,” she explained. “Our goal is for every girl who leaves here to carry this certainty with her: she is capable, she is valuable, and she is born for greatness.”

    The sold-out, successful first camp marks a major milestone for cFEM, which is working to expand its mission of nurturing personal growth, leadership development, and systemic empowerment for young girls across Antigua and Barbuda and the wider Caribbean. Local communities across the region have already expressed enthusiastic support for the organization’s work, with many anticipating more impactful programming in the years ahead. As cFEM continues its work, it aims to turn girls with big dreams into women with clear vision — women who will go on to shape a more equitable, prosperous future for the Caribbean and the world beyond.

  • LETTER: Demand for Recognition of Jamal Jonas AKA Mello Don

    LETTER: Demand for Recognition of Jamal Jonas AKA Mello Don

    In the wake of the 2026 Antigua and Barbuda General Elections, simmering frustration has boiled over within the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP)’s St. John’s Rural East constituency, as a group of anonymous concerned supporters have openly demanded that party leadership formally recognize the outsized electoral contributions of local activist Jamal Jonas, better known by his moniker Mello Don.

    Many long-time and grassroots ABLP supporters in the constituency say they are deeply disillusioned by the party’s failure to acknowledge Mello Don’s work, arguing that his relentless on-the-ground campaigning was the critical factor that delivered the constituency’s win for the ABLP. Unlike many party figures who only made public appearances for media photo opportunities, Mello Don maintained a constant daily and nightly presence across the constituency throughout the entire campaign cycle.

    His work spanned every core function of a successful electoral push: he mobilized disengaged young voters, organized coordinated canvassing operations, lifted the morale of supporters who had grown discouraged by competing messaging, and personally bore much of the responsibility for keeping campaign momentum high from the launch of the race to election day. What is more, his commitment extended far beyond the borders of St. John’s Rural East: whenever neighboring constituencies needed extra support, Mello Don stepped in to bolster the ABLP’s outreach, strengthening the party’s overall electoral performance across a wider region.

    Supporters particularly emphasize his unique ability to connect with first-time and young voters, a demographic that has become increasingly critical to election outcomes across Antigua and Barbuda. Mello Don’s consistent presence and unwavering passion gave young constituents confidence that their political participation could drive tangible change, a message that drove unprecedented turnout among that group. The anonymous supporters make the unflinching claim that without Mello Don’s work, the ABLP would never have secured victory in St. John’s Rural East.

    Given this, the complete lack of public recognition for his contributions has come as a shock to grassroots backers, who say the snub is unacceptable. The letter argues that the party’s willingness to benefit from the tireless work of dedicated activists like Mello Don, only to cast them aside after votes are counted, sends a damaging message to rank-and-file members: that loyalty and hard work are only valued when the party needs something from them.

    Frustration over the slight is not contained to a small group of insiders, the letter notes; supporters across St. John’s Rural East are openly discussing the unfair treatment of Mello Don, and widespread sentiment holds that formal recognition is long overdue. The anonymous group is calling on ABLP leadership to issue a public, meaningful acknowledgment of Mello Don’s role in the 2026 election victory.

    The supporters warn that remaining silent on the issue will only deepen the disappointment felt by loyal backers and young activists across the constituency, and emphasize that the demand will not fade quietly. Those who witnessed Mello Don’s work firsthand have not forgotten his efforts, the letter concludes, and the constituency will continue to push for the recognition he earned.

  • PM urges parenting clubs as part of anti-gang strategy

    PM urges parenting clubs as part of anti-gang strategy

    As the Caribbean nation of Barbados grapples with a creeping spread of organized gang activity that has already claimed new lives, Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who also holds the national security portfolio, has put forward a multi-pronged strategy to curb the threat, warning that the country risks losing an entire generation to violent gang culture without collective action from families and local communities.

    Speaking during parliamentary debate on the landmark Criminal Gangs (Prevention and Control) Bill, Mottley emphasized that while Barbados’ gang problem has not reached the severity seen in neighboring regional territories, it cannot be addressed by government law enforcement alone. She pointed to deep-seated shifts in Barbadian social structures as a core root of the rising youth involvement in gangs, noting that long-held community support systems for childrearing have eroded in recent decades.

    Mottley argued that society too often makes dangerous assumptions that all parents inherently know how to raise children with consistent, firm guidance. Many modern caregivers mistakenly equate love with constant approval, she said, and fail to recognize the risks of letting pre-teen and early teen children roam public streets late at night, where they are exposed to gambling, illicit activity, and gang recruitment. These missteps have been compounded by the breakdown of extended family households and the loss of neighborhood mutual support — once cornerstones of Barbadian community life that ensured children received consistent guidance beyond their immediate household. When that collective support vanishes, she said, the void created leaves young people vulnerable to recruitment by criminal gangs.

    To rebuild that lost support network, Mottley is calling for the widespread creation of community-based parenting clubs across the country. These local groups will create structured spaces for caregivers to share guidance, learn evidence-based childrearing strategies, and support one another in navigating challenging behavioral issues with young people. Until these community clubs can be fully established and operational, the prime minister proposed the immediate launch of a national support hotline for parents struggling to manage at-risk children.

    A key provision of the new criminal gang legislation is a targeted exit strategy designed to help young people who have already joined gangs leave the organization safely. Mottley noted that gang groups often use coercion, violence, threats, and social stigma to trap members even after they recognize they made a mistake and want to exit. “Many young persons will realise that they can get in easy, and then discover that leaving ain’t so easy,” she said, explaining that the bill will create legal and support frameworks to remove the barriers that keep young people trapped in cycles of violence. The legislation also aims to dismantle the code of silence rooted in fear that allows gangs to operate, imposing harsh penalties that make gang activity unprofitable and unsustainable in Barbadian communities.

    The plan also includes a $5 million special grant facility for registered faith-based organizations to develop and run youth-focused community programs that provide positive alternatives to gang involvement for at-risk young people. Mottley stressed that these trusted local entities have a long track record of supporting child and youth development, and they will play a critical role in reaching vulnerable populations before gangs do.

    Mottley called on all lawmakers and responsible Barbadian citizens to unite behind the strategy, noting that the country had recorded a new gang-linked murder just hours before the parliamentary debate. She insisted that the nation will not surrender to what she called an “insidious culture that has no place in our jurisdiction.” Opening with a call for confronting hard truths about the scope of the problem, she argued that communities cannot allow fear to force families to choose between protecting their loved ones and speaking out about gang activity.

    “Sometimes there is that one person in the family who will not listen and sometimes you need tough love to be able to get that person to be dealt with,” she said. “Because the grandmother deserves to be able to sit on the step, if she wants to. She deserves to be out there getting little breeze if she wants to get breeze. The shopkeeper must be able to ply their trade without fearing that if ‘I got a karaoke here somebody can come and spray away bullets and therefore people ain’t coming and I ain’t earning money no more.’” Mottley concluded that these basic quality of life rights for all Barbadians are what the new strategy and legislation are fighting to protect.