DE PEIZA FOCUSSED ON CRIME AT THE DLP RALLY

Criminologist and former Democratic Labour Party (DLP) leader Verla De Peiza has warned that Barbados’ crime problem is worsening, urging urgent action to restore the nation’s reputation as a safe place to live.

Speaking to a packed crowd at the DLP’s national rally at Independence Square on Sunday night, De Peiza said communities continue to bear the brunt of violence while the root drivers of crime remain largely untouched. She argued that law enforcement officers must be given the resources and operational freedom to do their jobs effectively, criticising what she described as a lack of urgency in the current approach to crime-fighting.

“One of the biggest problems that you, the people of Barbados, signalled every time we went out with a questionnaire and a survey, is the ‘us and them’ in this country,” De Peiza said, pointing to the disproportionate punishment faced by young men on the street, while the financiers and facilitators of crime — the so-called “untouchables” — remain free.

De Peiza urged the police to target these individuals, saying: “Cut off the head of the snake, cut it right off, and the way to get that done is to allow the police to do their job.”

While she acknowledged the need for more police officers, De Peiza warned against lowering recruitment standards and suggested early recruitment initiatives, similar to the Barbados Defence Force cadet programme. She also called for the revival of the Police Boys and Girls Club to engage youth and build positive relationships with law enforcement.

Emphasising community policing, De Peiza said it must go beyond outposts, with officers actively building trust and involvement in communities.

She also criticised delays in passing key legislation, including whistleblower protection and anti-gang laws, stressing the need for urgent action. “We already have anti-terrorism legislation on our books. What we really need is anti-gang legislation,” she said, echoing DLP leader Ralph Thorne’s repeated calls for firm legislative measures to curb runaway crime.