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police
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Wednesday, 27 February 2013 02:30
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By Donna-Marie McIntosh
Antigua St. John's - The news of a store worker being shot and killed in Heritage Quay on Tuesday has sent shock waves throughout Antigua. The woman was identified as Susan Powell, a mother of five.
Minister of Antigua & Barbuda National Security Dr Errol Cort told the media at a press conference yesterday evening that he was “outraged and saddened at the horrific tragedy that saw the life of a young mother being indiscriminately taken”.
He offered his deepest condolences to the family of the deceased, and reassured them and the public that “no stone will be left unturned in bringing the perpetrator to justice in this matter.”
Antigua has seen an escalation in gun-related crimes over the past few months. A special task force was established in January.
Dr Cort said “the task force has had some success, but regrettably much more work needs to be done to bring this escalating violence under control. The Ministry of National Security, in conjunction with our law enforcement agencies, are currently reviewing all available options in an effort to curtail any further gun-related violence. I want to reassure the public that these brazen, heartless criminals will be brought to justice.”
The minister offered a reward of $50,000 to anyone who could provide credible information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the shooter.
He went on to offer $50,000 to anyone who could provide information to the police which leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone who had committed a crime using a firearm.
“The public outcry from this, our hurting nation, has not gone unnoticed by my government,” Dr Cort said. “I give you the assurance that all available public resources will be utilized in an effort to curb this escalating criminal behaviour forthwith.”
He noted that the death penalty still forms part of the laws in Antigua & Barbuda, and said a bill will be passed for stricter penalties to control criminal activity.
When asked if there would be a task force specific to tourism, the minister said “there will be greater patrols in that area.”
Officer Solomon, a member of the task force, said “in recent times, gun-related crimes have been on the increase.
We must reduce the fear of crime. The task force cannot function alone. We are seeking support from the general public…With support from the general public and our effort with the limited resources we have to bring this to an end.”
Dr. Cort address printed in full below:
Today, I am outraged; outraged and saddened at the horrific tragedy that saw the life of a young mother being indiscriminately taken.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family of the deceased, Ms. Susan Powell and to reassure them, and the public of Antigua and Barbuda, that no stone will be left unturned in bringing the perpetrator to justice in this matter.

Over the past few months we’ve seen an escalation in gun related crimes in our small twin-island state. Because of this trend, a special Task Force on Serious Crime was established on January 5th 2013.
A part of the mandate of that Task Force is to reduce the impact of gun related crimes in Antigua and Barbuda as well as to reduce the fear of crime in Antigua and Barbuda.
In this regard, the Task Force has had some success, but regrettably much more needs to be done to bring this escalating violence under control.
The Ministry of National Security in conjunction with our law enforcement agencies are currently reviewing all available options in an effort to curtail any further gun related violence.
I want to reassure the public that these brazen, heartless criminals will be brought to justice. However, the Security forces cannot do it on their own, you the members of the public need to provide further support to our officers by sharing critical crime related information with them.
As a first step, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda is offering a reward of EC$50,000 to anyone who can provide credible information to the police that leads to the arrest and successful conviction of the person or persons who committed this heinous act of murder today.
Further;
The Government is offering a reward of EC$50,000 to anyone who can provide credible information to the police that leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone who would have committed a crime involving the use of a firearm.
The public outcry from this our hurting nation has not gone unnoticed by my Government. I give you the assurance that all available public resources will be utilized in an effort to curb this escalating criminal behavior forthwith.
I also call, on the private sector, to partner with the government in this regard as we collectively seek to address these current challenges.
In an effort to further buttress the Security Forces, I, as Minister of National Security have instructed the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force and the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda to immediately recall all member of their respective administration who are currently on vacation, so that they can forthwith take up active duties.
I am also calling on the Reserves of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force to avail themselves for service, so that a full compliment of security officers will be on hand to aid in the thrust to ensure the safety and security of our nation.
There will be an immediate increase in day and night patrols, stop and search exercises as well as other surveillance techniques, in an effort to apprehend those who insist on committing violent acts and seek to hold our nation under siege.
I wish to emphasize that the death penalty still forms part of the Laws of Antigua and Barbuda.
To this end, all necessary legal processes needed to give effect to the death penalty will be utilized.
Also, I will be shortly taking to Parliament a Criminal Justice Bill, that will seek to not only increase the penalties for gun related and other serious crimes, but will also seek to create a number of new offences and stiffer penalties in an effort to further control criminal activities taking place in the country.
I again wish to reassure the public that the Security Forces will do everything in their power to combat this escalating trend of crime and violence.
I urge anyone with information to share it with the relevant authorities by calling the Criminal Investigation Department on 462- 3914 or Crime Stoppers on 800- TIPS (8477).
See related story:
Tragic Shooting at Heritage Quay
73 Comments In This Article
Pastor
Equip the police force for the battle
Pay them well and on time
Make sure investigation continued
sever penalty should be in place for anybody who get caught in disturbing the peace of the nation.
I take the responsibility to spend time in Praying and fasting for the country because this is not a light attack. God bless Antigua and Barbuda
Steve
TIME WILL TELL
god is watching
this guy in blue shirt looking lazy
god is watching
what about the security cameras?
Alvin Jarvis
@ Tenman
But Tenman, i will let you win this time.
my way of helping
Think a bit more outside the box gentlemen #3
Observer...
Think a bit more outside the box gentlemen #2
Observer...
Think a bit more outside the box gentlemen #1
Observer...
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
Smoke n Mirrors
my way of helping
..
tenman
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
We will get more, even if it is my family and sadly, i can't honestly say we deserve better officers and securing because we reward officers by cursing them and hating them, even back then when crime was not an issue, we still hated police and say all manner of evil against them, now you want them to risk their life for us, after we repay them with conviction. more to come people.
my way of helping
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
ANTIGUAN WOMAN
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
Observer 2
my way of helping
..
tenman
FIGHT FIRE WID FIRE
JahMa
@ Tenman, part 4
being guilty in criminal court does not mean you are responsible in administrative or civil court and vice-versa. You know my style of blogging, look at the case and you know, it is not because he is my father, i could not convict any man with the same circumstances, no witness, the criminal was shot in the front (lower left chest), my father was standing with a family member and he left after seeing the suspicious activity who had a weapon and did not comply with a police lawful order.
my way of helping
@ Tenman, part 3
Tenman, their are many courts, administrative courts, criminal court and civil courts.
The case that was made against my father was not sufficient, no evidence of intent to commit a crime, acted lawfully to question a suspect who then attacked him because they do not want no one to speak to them and hold them accountable.
my way of helping
bounty money, or?
lethal.
@ Tenman, part 2
Tenman, because some of the public don't like you, it means you should not have your job or you should not blog or you should be innocently punished?
Well, i guess you would think so, you think we deserve a court of appeals here only because we are we and that is the justification, nothing else.
my way of helping
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
Joker government
@ Tenman
Tenman, i had the entire case file and if you were that officer, no way i could have charged you much more to convict you. Read the case, sit in court. he testified, my father did not.
The other court cases, what does those have to do with my point? explain your logic and again, i do not want you to regret wasting your time explaining.
Under one government, he was found clear, about twice for this case, then under this government guilty, what new happen. I know, i was visiting Antigua at the time, then they put him in to be one of the person's to be the commissioner and then miraculously they open back the case and charged him, no new evidence.
my way of helping
@ Ms. Scotland
You made me feel sick.
Wadadlian
my way of helping - real solutions
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tenman
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
Annetta Washington
@picadilly
Dave
it is what we get for the ignorant ones in Antigua
It will get worse, but you people here who loves to condemn these officers who do their jobs correctly will pay and fell.
Now, do what you do best vote against this statement, be negative.
my way of helping
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
Picadilly
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
just wondering
Antiguan Benna
Ms Scotland
Life in antigua and Barbuda!
Throw them out the door;
Anyone for a passport?
Fully supported by the cort.
Murder on the rise
The answer - more UPP lies;
No-one is secure
Crime is worst than before.
Economic hardship filling the jail
So everyone and everything is now for sale;
400,00 will give a new life
50,000 will be the reward for the loss of a life.
Calypso Eroll
Big Bounty For Shooter
mentality.By now we must relaise that this is not the Antigua that we used to know... whereby we left our doors open..This generation is a diffreent breed of people....They Na Fraid Jail....for many of them Jail is dollyhouse.
Protector
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
SlyThatGuy
Crime?
What a shame!
Voice of the People
Big Bounty Offered For Shooter
Tired
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
Auddie
Big Bounty offered for Shooter
Ben laden and his murderous cronies hit the World trade centre.....Heritage
Quay is the Heartbeat of Antigua's vital tourist industry..... we must realise also that the only developments taking place in the country....are strip Clubs,Gambling dens from Market Street... to who knows where... they are popping up all over the place..... bars.....and these are right in our face...
PATRIOT
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
How could this happen in broad daylight are the criminals so sure that the ill equipped police force will never catch them or what?
Auddie
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
Resident
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
The Police can only be as strong as the citizens. When parents/relativ es hide their loved ones and the material things they accumulate illegally, blame the Police huh? Even if there are corrupt elements in the Force, do we not know who they are? Do we endeavour to point them out to the PSC?
I'm not a apologist for the government, but I have been around for a while and for some people, if their homes run out of toilet paper, blame the government.
We do not place any blame on ourselves for upholding a culture of grab-e-ology and fanatical materialism. These gun-toters have mothers, fathers, and relatives who in many instances do nothing to arrest their descent into irresponsible and menacing behavioural patterns.
More to come. Go figure!
At school
Words are Cheap
At Your Own Risk
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
buss
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
Fed Up
Cops Need Big Guns Too
RoboCop
We are all just as guilty
We all have to remember that no matter how much we gain from the proceeds of crime, we will not be able to enjoy it here because we would have destroyed the country anyway.
Nemesis
Find him...wherever he sleeps and hides pt. 2
Dig It
FOOD FOR ACTION
As a young Antiguan who wants a better and safer nation to live in and enjoy I am suggesting to the higher authorities to bring back one of the old crime task force team that had included Corpral RAY JOHN and CLAUDE WILLIAMS who were very effective in there crime stopping duties. Please revisit this task force for Antigua and Barbuda need an intervention and I believe these men can get the job done. Pray for our country, nothing beats prayer; God bless us all.
Jesus is way...
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
Madness
Find him...wherever he sleeps and hides pt. 1
Dig It
talk, talk talk
..
tenman
know thyself - Caribbean unity II
One blogger even argued that Caricom deportees should be allowed entry because they have served time and payed their dues to society - not our society certainly.
Our cultural identity (what little we had), our standard of living and general way of life is under siege. We are prisoners in our own country. Locking your windows and doors and avoiding certain neighborhoods no longer guarantees safety. We now watch our backs at work.
Dessalines
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
It is sad that ANOTHER young, talented, beautiful, HARD WORKING (Unlike these ministers), MOTHER (Most important of all) of five had to succumb to this. I wonder if it was the w*fe, m**her, au*t* or keep w*m*n of the great Error Caught how would he feel.
Election will come and the UPP will go!
fire
know thyself - Caribbean unity
Simply put neither the authorities or the general public have any idea who or what is living among us. The word is out that Antigua is 'easy' to get into and get 'stay' and the deportees from other Caricom nations have gotten the message. Minister Cort's admitted not long ago that they are here among us and we do not the mechanisms to know what type of crimes they committed abroad. It is ironic that the same Minister responsible for allowing entry to these elements and granting them residence without background checks is the same person tasked with getting the escalating crime under control. And he like other free movement armchair pundits can see no correlation between influx of unskilled 'brothers and sisters' and escalating crime.
Dessalines
Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled! PT4
It can be said that the PM's Committee and the Dr's Task Force had everything before them, they had nothing before them, they were going to Parliament, they were going the other way, in short they were the quietest of authorities as they insisted that $50K be received for good or for evil.
Morris warns of the Hidden Hand of Leaders. Jumbee Picknee sees Capos & Consiglieres. To remove our youth from "DeM Clutching Hans" & The Pale White Horse, the Nation must ask: Quote:to rid us of rogue cops, **ed civil servants and "bobol artists" in the Private Sector.
Heaven Help Us All!
John French II
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
Dr. Cort, in case you haven't noticed, there are far too many other stones still unturned so please don't blow smoke up the family's and public's rear end. Your plans, policies, and directives have all amounted to abysmal failures. I hope you realize that since you don't seem to be a part of the solution that you must then be a part of the problem. I know that, because of your big ego, that acknowledgement will be a bitter pill for you to swallow.
Morris
Lets Go after the Bandits Hideouts
Contractor
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
alex.h
Death Penalty?
Cort has no shame! He should offer his resignation like the Two Senators did last week! Then again I guess he thinks he's too important to even think of that!
A politician with an ego is a dangerous thing!
Miego Man
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
carvaa
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
bjsm
real cop
Real cop
Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled! PT3
Rastas it has been suggested that GoAB Transform the Coast Gaurd into a power unit similar to SAM's, enlarge its youth Cadet Corps and Draft unemployed Youth, Males & Females, into the Corps with three hots & a cot, rather than expend meagre resources of housing them at the Old Army Barracks constructed to the East of The City in 1735.
What would we as a people have done if we had not been dragged kicking and bawling through the Middle Passage?
John French II
Young Fighting Force Need
NYC
Get to the root!
Its not one criminal out there! Look at over the weekend how much things happened in one night. ALL were gun crimes. Getting more police and the army involved to patrol the streets is not gonna solve anything. Yes the city will be filled of officers walking up and down but what else? busting the guy with lil weed in his bag? oh please
We need to find out where all these guns coming from? they are either being obtained locally or dey coming n from outside. either by air or sea! This is where they need to tackle these criminals, importation of drugs and weapons go hand in hand. The US protect their borders not only to bust no big drug deal but to curb guns from entering.
We need to protect our borders, we need to invest in the police force, we need to invest in the army, landforce and coast guard. thats where we need to start. but just patrolling the city is not going to help.
From how i see it, we are not safe any where, not even at work? where ya working hard to make an honest living?
Big bounty?
Police chief
Redonda.
Robinhood
Etradication + Economic Stimulus
Skyewill
Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled! PT2
From 2002 to 2011 A&B received 275 criminals & felons from the US alone. 27.5 per year. With US recidivism at 33%/yr, Canada @ 41% & England & Wales @ 50% for males. You do the math using only US Figures - A minimum of 90 folks with no source of income. Add such "hardtone" adults to impressionable young men with deferred dreams. Skyewill has seen the canary in the mine since 2002. Some saw it in the 90's.
John French II
Police
So do you think the Commissione of Police have the full support of the Force. He and his favourites should go try solve the escalating crime problem if they have the experince to do it.
Police
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
I often tried to understand how could one commit these crimes be it day or night and just walk away without a trace? I know our police can't be every where but
carvaa
Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled!
Friends, let us reason together and seek solutions to ensure that Quote:
John French II
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
Jokers/Leaders
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
The Nation is going Down now is Time to Ban and clean up the criminals. Starting from curruption.
Bless to all and May god send Some 3 Day of Show and blessings for Antigua and Barbuda. Thank you
The Time is now
Bring back the Canadian Mounties
We all clamor and say give a local the job, and now Vere Browne is Commissioner,.. . Crime has spiked, too many go unsolved and criminals get away easy easy.
#bring back the Mounties
Fireworks
RE: Big Bounty Offered for Shooter
my way of helping
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