Barbados has instituted more severe fines and penalties for gun-related crimes as the Firearms Amendment Act 2022 became effective on Sunday.
In 2021, Barbados recorded 32 murders, but that figure was surpassed last year, with the authorities acknowledging that of the 38 murders recorded in 2022, 29 were firearm-enabled.
A government statement said under Section 29(2) of the Act, “a person who aids, abets, counsels or procures another or conspires with another to commit an offence under this Act, is guilty of an offence and is liable to the same punishment as is provided for that offence”.
Section 30 allows for the penalties for offences under the legislation. It notes that for a first offence, a convicted person could serve a sentence of ten to 20 years in prison, and for a second offence, a sentence of 20 years to life in prison.
“In the case of a first-time offender, the court has the option to impose a fine of BDS$100,000 (One Barbados dollar=US$0.50 cents) in addition to the term of imprisonment. Also, the judge has the discretion to vary the mandatory sentence for first-time offenders in limited conditions and exceptional circumstances.”
The statement said Section 30B of the Act, stipulates that any sentence of imprisonment for an indictable offence “shall be served consecutively to any other sentence arising out of the same offence, or to any other sentence that the offender is subject to at the time of sentencing.
“In other words, the sentence for an indictable offence under this Act shall be added to and not run concurrently with any other sentence to which the offender is liable. This is subject to variation by the judge only in very limited conditions, and where there are exceptional circumstances.”
CMC/
