Antigua and Barbuda: Prime Minister Gaston Browne has taken a bold step in his fight against crime by initiating meetings with parents and guardians of gang members. This initiative is led following the successful agreement with 2Drilly and Grays Farm Killers.
PM Gaston Browne has been actively involved in meeting gangs and criminals for a while now. He has planned these initiatives to minimize violence across the island nation. This new program is aimed at ensuring more effective rehabilitation for gang members.
According to sources, the Prime Minister Gaston Browne will be meeting the parents and the legal guardians of criminals in order to have a word with them to minimize the influence of the gangs across the nation.
He is planning to discuss measures to ensure lasting peace and aims to implement several youth rehabilitation programs, for which he believes the involvement of family members is crucial.
PM Gaston Browne however clarified that the government is working to eradicate crime in the country and not rewarding gangsters for their sins.
This initiative has been decided and implemented after the success of the truce between the 2Drilly and Grays Farm Killer, whom he met last month.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister told them that their motive in life is not to kill and be violent but to be productive and an asset to their communities.
He urged them to follow a pathway to peace and bring an end to conflicts while warning them that it will not just destroy others but their own lives over time.
“As Antiguans and Barbudans, we are one family with a common aim and destiny,” he said.
The members also agreed to follow the path to peace during the event and the Prime Minister in response to a change in their behaviour also assured them to provide employment and opportunities to develop themselves.
This initiative was not the first time led by the authorities; PM Browne earlier also met with the Red Shirt Gang almost two decades ago. The results came out to be very successful at that time as the gang dismantled themselves and followed the path to peace.
