Speaking at the
annual police conference at District "A" recently, Commissioner Darwin Dottin said the use
of firearms to commit violent crimes was
"of the greatest concern" to the force and it could not be solved with a single-factor approach.

"It is our intention to influence the participation of greater Barbados in the delivery of a range of creative and innovative approaches that would
be part of this new strategy . . . . Such an approach not only affords us an opportunity
to work with and
get closer to the communities we serve,
but it also provides community members
with an opportunity to acquire a sense of ownership of our policing initiatives.

"With this in mind, I intend to invite the participation of corporate Barbados, some of the influential young people and public figures, in spreading the message that the use of illegal firearms only promotes violence that inevitably leads to death," Dottin explained.

He said the enormity of the problem had been highlighted locally by attacks on citizens and visitors. He added that the growing gun culture among young people in major countries was of no comfort to the force.

"It is important that we reverse this trend, as the availability of illegal firearms not only provides persons with the ability
to inflict grave or serious injury to other persons,
or relieve others of their property, but it also creates a debilitating environment, to the extent that persons become paralysed by fear and incapable of leading wholesome and productive lives."
(YB)