ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has called on Caribbean courts to comply with legislation approved by parliaments that increases fines and jail terms for persons involved in gun-related crimes.
“The magistracy, the judiciary generally, I’m saying here, step up. Otherwise, you’re going to destroy these countries inadvertently by showing that you’re all-powerful and you’re independent.
“That is not the type of, let’s say, governance ethos that we wish to see within the judiciary. We know you’re independent, but God damn it, man. We say increase the fines, increase the penalties, increase the custodial sentences of people involved in gun crimes,” Browne said as police continue their investigations here on Friday into the murders of 17-year-old Omari Lewis and his 18-year-old friend, Brianna Clark, on Thursday in what residents described as an execution-style shooting, believed to be carried out from a moving vehicle.
Browne, who offered condolences and support to grieving family members, issued a strong call for tougher sentencing in gun-related cases, warning that lenient penalties are undermining efforts to curb crime.
“We’re doing all we can even to put away those who have guns, who are involved in gun crimes. I find, though, that in many instances, the court is not working with us. They are giving them lenient sentences. People involved in gun crimes should be put away for a long time, and the extent of their confinement should be such that the youth must think twice to know that, look, if you’re involved in a gun crime, you’re going to jail for at least 10 years.”
Prime Minister Browne questioned why, despite legislation allowing for significantly higher maximum sentences, some offenders were receiving sentences as low as one year or 18 months in prison.
“So I also want to appeal to the judiciary. We know that they’re independent of the Executive and the Parliament. But when the …members of Parliament go to Parliament, and they increase the sentence, maximum sentence, up to 10, 15 years, how can you justifiably give people 18 months and one year?
“And I’m saying that at the level of even the Appeals Court, they’re letting down the Caribbean region. They’re trying to show that they are in charge and that they can determine what level of sentences may be legally imposed.
“But if the Executive has shown that they’re willing to put away people for a long time, why are members of the judiciary, even at the level of the Appeals Court, seeking to undermine that? And that is precisely what they are doing. And they need to stop,” Browne said.
He said that members of the judiciary are not beyond criticism, saying, “You’re failing the Caribbean people.
“You need to stop it. You need to step up. Stop allowing these situations where you are literally reducing sentences for gun crimes. And even the judges have an obligation to carry out the laws.
“We say 10 years, we can’t do minimum. We say 10 to 15 years maximum for gun crime. How can you be given two?” Browne asked.
Police said that the bodies of the two teenagers were found lying side by side, and family members wept openly, some collapsing into each other, while others stood in stunned silence.
Police have launched an intensive investigation and are urging residents to provide any information that could help identify those responsible. The authorities say community cooperation will be critical to solving the case and bringing some measure of closure.
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