Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley is urging musicians to think carefully about the music they release as the area looks for ways to reduce crime.
People can be seen as a form of motivation, encouraging others to walk in their path by hopefully partaking in activities that will contribute to the greater good of this world. Some individuals may take a turn to follow the Influence of someone who has committed horrific acts against others. It’s similar to that the influence of music.
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The Prime Minister noted that we must not tolerate Caribbean music that denigrates women and supports firearms.
She stated, “This has nothing to do with curtailing anybody’s freedom of speech, it has to do with the mirror image. At the end of the day, if we are looking into the mirror and only seeing women as an object then that is how people are going to treat them in our societies.”
According to Mottley, the battle against crime must involve artists, athletes, and young people in addition to governments.
During a recent panel discussion at the Regional Symposium: Violence as a Public Health Issue – The CARICOM Challenge in Trinidad, Mottley made the remarks.
She urged CARICOM’s top officials to work together more effectively in the battle against crime.
In order to solve issues like persons receiving bail for murder, Mottley urged teamwork.
PM Mottley shared that in her time serving as a criminal defense lawyer, she had never heard of such a high murder rate. She also disclosed that many killings in the area are perpetrated by individuals who have been convicted of multiple murder charges.
The PM stated, “If you can get people to court within nine to 12 months you have a good chance of a person not being given bail, after 12 months any number could play so why are we spending money separately and individually in forensic labs?”
She continued, “Why aren’t we doing and pooling training because most police services in this region do not have enough forensic people to satisfy their own conditions and we need to be able to pull it together.”
Additionally, Mottley emphasized the necessity of proactive prosecutions as opposed to reactive prosecutions.
Mottley claimed that the only pillar added to the amended Treaty of Chaguaramas in the previous 20 years was security and that despite this, they have not implemented the kind of practical day-to-day collaboration that might make a difference.
She also advocated for a CARICOM arrest warrant, which would allow nations to avoid extradition concerns, and the rotation of judges and magistrates to guarantee that there is no familiarity with attorneys.
