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Armed Robberies: It's Too Easy to Get Guns in Antigua
A series of armed robberies - some in daylight - have put many people on edge. In this discussion we asked whether the crime spree was the fallout from persistent unemployment, and whether it could be tamed. Our guests offered many views, but all agreed that it's too easy to get a gun in Antigua and Barbuda. And you can't have gun crimes without guns.
John’s Delicious Pizza on Friars Hill Road was held up near the end of May. The Okay Supermarket on Church Street and Newgate Lane was robbed around June 20th. Days later a supermarket in Villa was robbed by a masked gunman. On June 25th there was an attempted robbery by gunmen at the Golden Grove Gas Station.
The last three incidents mentioned were caught on security camera. Chilling images of cashiers with guns pointed at their heads were soon being widely shared. In some cases - like the assault on the Golden Grove Gas Station - suspects were soon arrested. But what is responsible for the spree?
Clearly many people are struggling and out of work due to the most severe recession Antigua and Barbuda has endured in modern memory. How much does desperation play a role in crimes of this nature? What about opportunism and youth at risk? Then there's the gun problem. What will it take to better resist gun smuggling into the country? What security measures businesses can take to reduce the risk of tragedy? Those were some of our themes in this episode.
The host is Kieron Murdoch. The guests are:
This programme first aired on NewsCo Observer Radio 91.1 FM on July 4th, 2021. Get the latest news from Antigua and Barbuda at the Antigua Observer online.
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By The Big Issues Production TeamA series of armed robberies - some in daylight - have put many people on edge. In this discussion we asked whether the crime spree was the fallout from persistent unemployment, and whether it could be tamed. Our guests offered many views, but all agreed that it's too easy to get a gun in Antigua and Barbuda. And you can't have gun crimes without guns.
John’s Delicious Pizza on Friars Hill Road was held up near the end of May. The Okay Supermarket on Church Street and Newgate Lane was robbed around June 20th. Days later a supermarket in Villa was robbed by a masked gunman. On June 25th there was an attempted robbery by gunmen at the Golden Grove Gas Station.
The last three incidents mentioned were caught on security camera. Chilling images of cashiers with guns pointed at their heads were soon being widely shared. In some cases - like the assault on the Golden Grove Gas Station - suspects were soon arrested. But what is responsible for the spree?
Clearly many people are struggling and out of work due to the most severe recession Antigua and Barbuda has endured in modern memory. How much does desperation play a role in crimes of this nature? What about opportunism and youth at risk? Then there's the gun problem. What will it take to better resist gun smuggling into the country? What security measures businesses can take to reduce the risk of tragedy? Those were some of our themes in this episode.
The host is Kieron Murdoch. The guests are:
This programme first aired on NewsCo Observer Radio 91.1 FM on July 4th, 2021. Get the latest news from Antigua and Barbuda at the Antigua Observer online.