GANGS IN BARBADOS: UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE, PREVALENCE AND EXTENT OF

CRIMINAL GROUPS IN BARBADOS

CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH AND PLANNING UNIT

AIMS

• Investigate the nature and extent of troublesome groups including their

activities

• Classify these groups according to the literature on gangs and troublesome

youth groups.

• Offer recommendations which will inform policy on effectively tackling the

problem of gangs and troublesome groups in Barbados.

RATIONALE

Given the differing opinions expressed by stakeholders in the criminal justice system on the

existence of gangs, it is important to gain a sound, empirical, fact based determination on the

existence of gangs in Barbados. This will be gleaned in the following ways:

• An examination of the research conducted by local, regional and international experts.

• Interviews with stakeholders in the criminal justice system

• Interviews with known groups in districts across Barbados who have been cause for concern

among law enforcement, as well as inmates at Her Majesty’s prison Dodds who have been

identified by prison officials as being linked to criminal groups.

METHODOLOGY

• Ethnographic approach

• Purposive interviews – RBPF, Criminal Justice Stakeholders, Community

Resource Officers, ‘boys on the block’, current and former inmates of HMP

Dodds

• Research Assistants were trained in interview techniques and given the

opportunity to ‘practice’ prior to going into the field. These interviews were

guided by an instrument comprised of open and close ended questions.

• The interviews were then organized and analysed by the various themes

emerging from the findings, and compared to the literature on gangs.

LIMITATIONS

• Firstly, some of the men in the streets and in prison who were interviewed

were reluctant to share information on gang or criminal activity that they were

engaged in and even denied that they were involved in crime, despite police

intelligence which stated they were.

• Secondly, community members were also reluctant to share information on

gang activity for fear of being labelled as snitches and the potential danger

such a label can pose to them and their family.

• Thirdly, some police were also guarded in information shared as they

believed that this too can place them in danger. Some were also careful with

knowledge shared as they did not want to be seen as compromising police

intelligence.

• Lastly, there were discrepancies within the RBPF Anti Gun and Gang Unit,

information relating to the number and status of gangs

• No interviews were done with community members and as research shows this

is an independent source of valuable information on gang.

WORKING DEFINITION OF GANGS

• For the purpose of this study, the Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit (CJRPU)

through careful analysis of the literature and the working definitions of the RBPF as

well as Trinidad and Tobago and St Kitts (Gang) Acts, have defined gangs as the

following:

Any denotable group, made up of two or more persons, whether formally

or informally organized, which is generally perceived as a distinct

aggregation by others, recognize themselves as a denotable group,

invariably with a group name, that through its membership or through an

agent engages in any [identified]criminal activity.

CURRENT SITUATION

Dominant gangs

• There are over 50 identified blocks in Barbados. At the time of the study, six (6) dominant gangs were

identified as active by the Special Branch of the RBPF:

• Dawgg Pound- Chapman Lane, St. Michael.

• Red Sea- Deacons, St. Michael.

• The Dungeon- Pinelands, St. Michael.

• 187 Mafia/Wall Street/Wall Street 187 Mafias – Harrison’s Tenantry, St Lucy

• Academiks- Regent Hill, St. Michael.

• New World Order (NWO) – Harrison Road, Crab Hill, St. Lucy.

• Other groups were said to engage in criminal activity, but did not have the level of

organization of a criminal syndicate. These groups were:

• Red Beard- Paradise Village, St. Lawrence, Christ Church.

• Woodstock- Valerie, St. Michael.

• Ten Piece- St. Paul’s Avenue, Bayville, St. Michael.

• Tel Aviv – Villa Road, Brittons Hill, St Michael.

• Road Block- Medford Road, Dayrells Road, St. Michael.

• Membership

The bigger gangs have membership ranging from 25 to 50 persons, and the

smaller gangs have membership ranging from 15-30 persons. Information was

not obtained regarding gender distribution, but intelligence sources stated that

it was mainly men. All gangs had identified male leaders.

• It was gleaned that the general age range for membership was 17-40, and

the mean age was mid 20s. According to law enforcement, adolescents are

frequenting the blocks from 15 years old and sometimes younger. This was

seen to be as a result of older gang members having retired or taking a

backseat from the gang activity. Some retire altogether or recruit younger

members to do the active criminal behaviour.

• Criminal Activity

Crimes committed by these groups are wide and varied, but are mainly street

and predatory in nature. Crimes such as robbery, theft, drug possession and

distribution, firearm possession, serious bodily harm and wounding, murder and

other violent crimes are the most common criminal offences. Other types of

crimes are burglary, where items such as jewellery and cash are stolen, and

vandalism often occurs.

• Organized Crime and Gang Activity

Some gangs and troublesome groups are very organized in criminal activity,

and use businesses as covers for their illegal activity.

It was believed that some organized crime is linked to corruption in government

entities as well, where there is infiltration of the criminal element into certain

government departments, mostly in drug and firearm smuggling.

• Victims of Gang Activity

While it was generally agreed that most victims are rival gang members, it was

also stated that anyone can be a victim of gang activity.

• The association between deportees and gang activity

A senior officer from the RBPF stated that they work closely with immigration.

“As a unit we monitor immigration activity. We collect everything, we leave out

nothing, aliases, bank accounts, their girlfriends, family, and we work closely

with Interpol. There is a database, we target them if we have to, stop and

search if they look suspicious and conduct interviews and record.”

Female Involvement in Gang Activity

• While it was noted among some interviewees that there are female gangs in Barbados, and

females are also members of unisex gangs, some officers believed that females are mostly

associates, while only a small percentage of them are actual active gang members.

• However, other officers were of the belief that females play a bigger role in gangs than is

perceived. “They act as couriers, they carry the weapons and drugs, act as lookouts, as bait

by utilizing sex and feminine prowess, are used as recruiters, some are the masterminds and

managers as women are more educated. Women are under looked, but they play all roles,

some of which are major roles, some even call the shots in gangs.”

CONDITIONS THAT FOSTER CRIMINAL AND GANG ACTIVITY

• Poverty

• Firearms

• Drugs

• Unemployment

• Lack of/access to social programmes and services

• Poor academic performance

• Familial and environmental conditions

• Sense of belonging and peer pressure

• Materialistic ideals

• Media influence

• Location of gang activity

• Issues of corruption

RECOMMENDATIONS ON CURBING OF GANG ACTIVITY

• Anti gang legislation is needed for Barbados. This legislation should provide a clear definition as

outlined by this research. It should also define what is gang related activity and the penalties for

involvement.

• It is recommended that the most effective way to curb gang violence and gang activity is to

dismantle and disrupt through strong law enforcement efforts. In depth investigation should be

conducted on these identified groupings and consistent intelligence gathering on their presence,

structure, severity and characteristics.

• There is a need for a thorough needs assessment of high risk communities and this should be

coupled with outreach programmes. This is an important crime prevention strategy which can be

effective in identifying and addressing the specific needs of the young persons in the respective

communities.

• Social programmes should be developed targeting communities and individuals with

the identified risk factors.

• Prevention strategies should be primary in nature and target children as early as

primary school age. Children who display delinquent behaviours or are identified as

at-risk should be targeted for intervention.

• Related to the above, the families of children and young persons should be involved

in these interventions using case conferencing as a tool. This intervention can be lead

by Guidance Counselors in collaboration with social services.

• There is a need for a homogenous approach between law enforcement and social

services in a community outreach effort to eradicate the problem of gangs.

• It is recommended that the RBPF increase its patrol and community policing

programmes in high crime communities to curb gang activity.

• There is a need for the sensitisation and extensive training of members of the RBPF in

the area of gangs. Law enforcement must continue to be proactive in an effort to

curb gang activity. There should be training for other relevant stakeholders such as

Probation and Prison Officers.

• A recommendation is made for the strengthening of job attachment and

apprenticeship programmes.

• While previous studies conducted by the CJRPU have shown a high level of

confidence in the RBPF, where there are concerns regarding corruption,

improved reporting to promote accountability and transparency should be

implemented. Intelligence sharing can also play a major role infiltrating

corrupt individuals. In cases where individuals are found to be corrupt

protection of these persons should be secured to ensure justice is met.

• Programmes should be implemented to encourage current and past gang members to

leave/stay away from their gangs.

• Partnerships should be formed with governmental agencies, NGOs and the private

sector to introduce violence prevention programmes like the Cure Violence method

derived from the World Health Organisation. This initiative is data driven, evidence

based and adaptable to different cultures and environments. Community leaders

and former gang members can help lead this approach to change those responsible

for causing and committing violence.