Prime Minister Mia Mottley has declared the recent surge in violent gun crime across Barbados “untenable”, vowing decisive action to combat the growing threat, including the expansion of the armed forces.The Barbados Defence Force (BDF) is to grow to at least 800 personnel under a plan announced several months ago that will move ahead in response to escalating crime.Speaking after the swearing-in of Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Lovell as the new Chief of Staff of the BDF on Tuesday, Mottley reiterated the urgency of the situation, highlighting that the arrest of a 17-year-old for multiple offences, including murder, was a stark reminder of the island’s significant illegal firearm problem.“We have now the reality that there are tools available to people that have a disproportionate impact on our lives,” she declared, referring to the accessibility of illegal guns. She also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to bolstering the BDF’s ranks, particularly in light of rising crime and delinquency among the youth.Mottley expressed regret over what she described as the nation’s slow response to addressing youth delinquency and anti-social behaviour.
