Caribarena Antigua The Best Caribbean News Portal

**Straight Talk** » 2012-03-18 06:54

Betsy-

If you read the article and the comments in detail, they aren't just liberal commentary... they are also a call for change and a more serious attitude about fighting crime. The point of the article was to raise the question about repeat offenders with the purpose of getting people talking... Out of that talking should come solutions as you point out. Two other articles written by the Cedar Valley Neighbourhood Watch do call for specific change. You should read them if you have not. The article "It is Time for Change" (see http://caribarena.com/antigua/opinions/letter-to-editor/99619-it-is-time-for-change.html) calls for using the Local Constable Act as a way to boost the effectiveness of the police and local neighbourhood watches while the article Criminal Activity Needs Public Attention (see http://caribarena.com/antigua/opinions/letter-to-editor/99620-criminal-activity-needs-public-attention.html) encourages the police to look closely at the rise in pawn shops and the role they might play in crime.

**Betsy Dorran** » 2012-03-08 23:31

am so shocked at the liberal attitude toward these criminals; I believe in rehabilitation but feel that there is not enough enforcement being provided to really identify and cordon off these people from the citizens that are identified according to neighborhood and vulnerability. People need to feel safe and protected by the means that they rely on. Law enforcement needs to step in and show that they are vital in their role.

**Betsy Dorran** » 2012-03-08 20:16

What do you propose to do? I would like to hear direct solutions not questions about maybe this or may that.

**sly-bacon** » 2012-03-08 05:57

.... ANTIGUA UNDER SEIGE....
Clearly the Legal system in Antigua is not working.
I would respectfully like to call on the Caribarena news outlet, or any other thinking person's news outlet,either Nationally or Regionally, sympathetic to this cause, to take the initiative from the many valuable comments raised in response to the excellent water shed correspondence from Adam and Terrence to champion this cause and publish an Editorial comment hopefully leading to an official investigation into the lack of accountability within our failed Legal system.
I am sure the wider public interest this worthy cause would generate would not least be excellent for their circulation and perhaps lead to the invited and long over due comments from our elected and appointed officials.
If we do nothing we face an inevitable escalation with the certain introduction of more violence by the perpetrators, and, however reluctantly, perhaps the intended victims, of these crimes.
....WHO WILL BE NEXT - WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH!!....

**Jumbee Picknee** » 2012-03-06 20:59

Again, CRIME PAYS, for without these wanton, vile, brutal, vicious acts of crime, the lying lawyers, the **ed policemen, the begrudging judges and the blinded politicians would all be searching for new professions. They too, grease the wheels of the revolving door which makes it easy for the criminals to live a lucrative life of crime....memba, marga dawg tun rung and bite you...

**Straight Talk** » 2012-03-06 05:35

Is it really that not enough people care or is it that they don't think they can make a difference? I think the latter is true. We're a small island. If enough people speak up - starting here - our voices can be heard! Use this forum to start and then go on to call in shows, call the MPs, and shake the tree...

**Straight Talk** » 2012-03-06 05:32

Coopin... you missing my point. I don't disagree with the desire to do anything... I just think that the laws are stacked against people doing their own thing. It may feel good to call for vigilante justice on this blog, but it is better to call for changing the laws so good people can adequately defend themselves in their homes and neighborhoods.. . and patrol their neighborhoods if necessary. This is why I like the article "Its Time for Change" (see http://www.caribarena.com/antigua/opinions/letter-to-editor/99619-it-is-time-for-change.html). This says it right: Change the laws so neigbhorhood watches can serve as "local constables" in support of the police. Train them and then have them help themselves... what they're already doing. This will give them legal protection and put the criminals on the run.

**HTH Peppersauce** » 2012-03-06 01:35

Terrence and Adam, I feel your pain. I too, have watched firsthand, while the Antiguan 'lack-of-justic e' system churns career criminals right back out on the streets again. I do not understand why the judges of this island can't see that their poor decisions, combined with lawyer's trickery and manipulation of the system, are responsible for the crime problem on the island.

I do not expect to see it change in my lifetime (at least not change for the better). It seems like it should be easy to change (better policing, stiffer penalties), but for some reason, not enough people seem to think we are in the grips of a crime problem. Too many people think that as long as it only happens to other people, then there is no crime spree.

**Jumbee Picknee** » 2012-03-05 18:00

very simple, Joe Don Baker carried a big stick in "Walking Tall," to get justice. A DOUBLE BARREL SHOT GUN, granny style will stop the revoling door. That is, granny sits in her couch, gun across her lap, several pieces of shells strung to some fishing line, circling her house, friends and family are forewarned, DO NOT ENTER, they keep their mouth shut, BOOM BOO bOOM BOOM BANG DA BANG BOOOOM...can someone please call the police? And bring a callabash with some soursop and ginger tea...ahhh, so refreshing.

**Coopin** » 2012-03-05 17:03

The sad thing is.....this man has gone to prison so many times , he foget how many. The sad thing is.......you the hard working man is paying to feed him and keep him. The sad thing is...... he comes out of prison and do it again, and then back to prison. The sad thing is.....you paying for the court,police,ju dge and trasport etc,etc. The sad thing is.....one day if someone don;t stop him.....he could end up killing someone in their own home........ and then what.........?? ?????

**Straight Talk** » 2012-03-05 14:27

I see your point Judge, but typically the police and society seem to always deal more harshly with vigilantes, but seldom does society think about why someone might be driven to become a vigilante. Vigilantism is wrong. But if we are to avoid vigilantism or people giving up and living locked up in their homes in fear of criminals, we need to create laws that empower good people to work with the police to keep communities safe. Such laws need to allow people to protect themselves, their homes, and their neighborhoods without a hole host of rules that make it impossible for people to actually protect themselves. I would recommend an extended castle rule where if a repeat offender tries to commit a crime, then a good citizen can act accordingly whether they are in their home or their neigbourhood.

**Judge Dredd** » 2012-03-05 14:05

Very simple. Wait and plan for him. He will be back and when he comes deal with him permanently.

**Straight Talk** » 2012-03-05 13:00

Simple-

You have a point, but isn't it sad that good people have to break the law in order to protect themselves from those who break the law? Most people don't have guns and if you don't shoot a person breaking into your house in a way that makes a Magistrate happy, you'll end up a criminal.

Simply... sad.

**Coopin** » 2012-03-05 11:47

The next time this man brakes into one's home.........Sh oot Him !!! Then just put his body on the main road ......and when dem aks ah wah...........d e whole neighbour hood sey....... me nuh no . problem solved !!!

**skyewill** » 2012-03-05 10:32

You are correct. This person needs to be put away for ever. The truth is in this justice system to include law enforcement, the court and the government. Criminals get a way without being challenged even after citizens report the crime. Even with evidence, witnesses and caught red handed. It depends on who the criminal is related to and the lawyer they hire who have connections. Link the lawyer to the criminal and see the trend.

**Dig It** » 2012-03-05 09:48

First of all, I fully support any Neighborhood Watch that would keep "repeated" offenders like this soon-to-be release criminal and others from "preying" on their neighborhoods! To have "Twenty-three prior convictions" and keep getting "lighter" sentences is just "outrageous!" It is evident that this career criminal is far from any "rehabilitation " to stop committing crimes, and shouldn't not be on our streets! Until our criminal justice system send a stern warning to repeated offenders or put proper measures in place to rehabilitate them, our neighborhoods will be their grounds to terrorize our citizens!

**Common Cents** » 2012-03-05 08:44

I fully agree with this article Mr. Nunes. The vast majority of crimes are done by repeat offenders. These guys are "career criminals" who make their daily living by stealing from others. In addition to giving these people longer sentences, I would ALSO encourage a rehabilitation programme, where these criminals would be trained with skills to make a living outside of stealing, as well as to be given access to jobs

**Charity** » 2012-03-05 07:06

Some would say, smother them with kindness, with that in mind, perhaps a tour of Antigua , Barbuda and in particular, REDONDA would be a fitting gift for this individual as a welcome back to society.

**Straight Talk** » 2012-03-05 06:54

I know of another case where the repeat offender has 50 prior convictions. This is absurd. At what point do we decide that the person lives by preying on others and respond accordingly? I would be very curious for someone in the police department to run a study to find out how many of the criminals they handle are repeat offenders and then categorize by offense, volume of convictions, and share of crime rate. I would guess that repeat offenders share a large proportion of crimes in Antigua.

Title	Answers
WHICH ONE OF THE BIRD IS DEAD	0
How do you keep people safe and seen on your roads at night?	0
what kind of plants do giant african snails affect?	0
wat are the names of plant pests in antigua?	0
how can i get in touch with musicians to start a new touring reggae band in antigua	2

Title	Answers	Hits
Was there a police report filed by Royal Caribbean Vision of the seas for the man, wife and 11 yr old child removed from the ship on December 20th, 2012 ? He allegedly attacked a man with a service dog on the ship and was set on the dock that day with hi	0	29072
PWD in shambles, what is the purpose of their position? I'm tired of these people in the dept who jsut come eac day to make you feel uncomfortable because of their miserable lives. someone needs to look into this.	0	14600
What is the world's largest airline?	2	5312
What is the amount ZDK owes for electricity ?	1	3656
any audio or video of Minister Farrakhan speech at the Multi-purpose Centre?	1	3573

19 Comments In This Article

Add comment

Follow us on Facebook

Popular Questions

Ask Your Question

Spotlight on Education

Latest Opinion Pieces

Most Read Opinions This Month

Search Directory

Directory Listings

App

CARIBARENA