Official response to mass shootings worrying

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, his Deputy Mr Montgomery Daniel, and Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Mr Camillo Gonsalves, have all publicly spoken about the unprecedented and murderous mass shooting in Kingstown of July 19, in which five persons were shot dead and left no doubt about the gravity of the situation.

That being the case, I am at a loss as to the initial reaction of the Prime Minister to the mass murder, our first such experience. We react here when we hear of the all-too-often mass shootings in the USA, a country of over 340 million people and castigate its leadership for “not doing enough”. Well, what of tiny SVG, population 110,000, having a public mass shooting of five? We are lucky that the international press has not “gone to town” on us as yet.

More than four decades ago, the then PM, Mr. Milton Cato, was excoriated when in his public reaction to the eruption of the Soufriere volcano (1979), he advised Vincentians, with these words, “Don’t Panic”. I could not believe my ears when our current PM, on the morning after the shooting, gave the same advice. Yes, that was his advice; “Go to work” as normal.

My worry was further heightened when I listened to the reaction of the police top brass. We have been having murders left, right and centre, and the only salve being applied is that these are the works of a small group of men, apparently with drug connections arising from a drug deal conflict as far back as 2014. What have we done about it? If we have been unable to find a solution, have we sought outside assistance? It may be a “small group” responsible, but it seems that they are now acting with impunity. What if they had done this on Carnival Day? Shouldn’t there be concern for the safety of our citizens?

I don’t consider myself an alarmist, nor do I sympathize with those who are using the social media to try and create an atmosphere of panic, but the reaction of the leadership at both the governmental and security forces level, has not exactly inspired confidence.

I wish to congratulate SEARCHLIGHT for its searching commentary in the editorial of the midweek edition on Tuesday of this week, unfortunately only available online. It is entitled, “What happened to the 2017 crime-fighting plan”? That plan had been announced by the hierarchy of the police after an upsurge in gun-related murders.

In making the announcement the police, had referred to the year 2014, (again?) when 27 of the 38 homicides that year were perpetrated using firearms. In response, the police disclosed, “certain strategies had been put in place and those strategies had worked”, reducing firearm-related deaths to 12 in 2015. But complacency or other priorities seem to have gotten the upper hand and by 2017 and another rise in the death toll was attributed by the police to “an inability to sustain the measures they put in place in 2014”. What is responsible for the present situation?

I do not normally approve of the shallow response of the political opposition to deadly gun violence. It is easy to resort to alarmist tactics making out that “crime” and murder have taken over while not offering solutions. But Opposition Leader Hon. Godwin Friday has laid the ball squarely at the feet of Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, who is also Minister of National Security. He has even accused him of having too many irons in the fire and suggested that a new Minister of National Security be appointed.

The situation calls for national approaches and a hard look at the effectiveness of our security forces. The Prime Minister was abroad on very important missions, but we never got a sense that the mass shootings may have required his early return. It is one thing to tell us all about ties with Morocco but how much does that impress a population worried about such an arrogant display of defiance as indicated by the actions of armed assassins in public? Is citizen security not as important as economic and other benefits being negotiated?

The response by the government and security forces may well have left the way open for all kinds of irresponsible speculation and alarmist propaganda. It would be more than useful for Government and Opposition to hold some dialogue on the situation, placing our country above politics, and that this level of dialogue, seeking solutions, be extended to the business community, the labour movement, farming and community organizations and civil society as a whole. A hard look has to be given to our security services, its leadership and effectiveness. More of the same will not do.

• Renwick Rose is a community activist and social commentator.