We believe in a strategic, decisive and combined approach to restoring community safety.
Addressing the socioeconomic factors that influence the perpetuation of crime.
1
Enforcing restorative justice measures that address the actions of the offenders but also enable victims of crime to receive personal recourse.
2
Improving retributive justice through harsher jail terms and the death penalty in cases of extreme violence (e.g., murder).
3
Current state of crime in Barbados
Our beloved paradise consumed with fear
2025 was a year unpleasantly characterised by a surge in murders, vehicle and livestock theft, and firearm-related crimes. The safety and comfortability we once felt in our neighbourhoods has been replaced with fear, trauma, and a burden on public health resources
This erosion of public safety undermines trust in institutions and discourages civic engagement, especially in communities, where residents have called for stronger police presence and more visible enforcement.
Just as concerning, is the repeated incarceration of young men for gun-related offences. This signals a deeper crisis: the loss of human capital and the perpetuation of a cycle of violence and marginalisation. With so many young men entering and exiting the penal system, or dying due to violence, their potential contributions to the economy and society are stifled, weakening the island’s future workforce and leadership.
Dr. Dwayne Devonish published a comprehensive study which indicated that our communities are plagued with higher unemployment, gang activity, and limited access to social services. This threatens long-term development, as youth disengagement and criminal behaviour reduce opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable growth. Without targeted interventions, Barbados risks entrenching inequality and instability, jeopardising its aspirations for a secure and prosperous future.
A community of safety and healthy development
We believe in prioritising targeted employment and skills development programs for at-risk youth in our communities. There should be an increase in vocational training for young people. There needs to be a wide-scale introduction of paid apprenticeship partnerships with private sector employers, providing participants with experience and reducing financial barriers.
We will advocate for and develop programmes which expand the access to mental health and substance abuse services, so those who are struggling know how to better recover, and families and communities are better equipped to offer them the loving support they need. Inter-agency collaboration is integral to all of these, linking our education, health, and housing needs, and delivering wraparound services to the vulnerable communities.
Enhanced community policing units should be instituted in the communities where they actively work to build trust and engage residents in crime prevention.
We recognise that criminal gangs are among the most dangerous threats to national security, social cohesion, and public safety in Barbados. To confront this crisis head-on, we will reintroduce and modernise comprehensive anti-gang legislation, aimed at disrupting, dismantling, and deterring criminal organisations operating across the island.
To restore, or to retribute: each in their measure
Where the offence involves property theft, minor assault, or community disruption, initiatives such as repayment of stolen items, mediated apologies, and community service should increase as a measure to not only combat crime, but to provide tangible justice to victims. When used alongside retributive justice, restorative justice can balance the scales—severe crimes warrant firm penalties to uphold justice and deter future harm, while lesser offences benefit from rehabilitative approaches that prevent the cycle of incarceration.
Longer prison sentences can reinforce the seriousness of criminal conduct and signal a firm stance against lawlessness. Countries with strict sentencing regimes such as Singapore and the United States, have demonstrated that the certainty, severity, and in some instances, finality of punishment can reduce the incidence of violent crimes, when paired with proper and efficient enforcement.
We support the reintroduction of the death penalty. Capital punishment serves two primary functions: retributive justice and deterrence. By imposing the ultimate penalty for the most egregious crimes such as premeditated murder or acts of terrorism, we assert that Barbados values human life and will defend it without compromise.
Victims and their families deserve justice, and we as a government will have a duty to uphold that principle through lawful and proportionate consequences.
A balanced approach
On your behalf, we will fight for stricter legal safeguards, judicial oversight, avenues for appeal, and the highest standards of evidence to ensure that justice is not only done but seen to be done.
We will lead national conversations including consultations with civil society, legal experts, and faith-based organisations, to guide the reimplementation of these measures that are transparent, just, and consistent with our values as a nation.
And for crimes such as aggravated robbery, armed assault, and sexual violence, we will consult with you, citizens of Barbados to gain feedback on the use of corporal punishment in cases where imprisonment alone may not suffice as a deterrent or a form of restorative justice.
