Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne is set to meet with law enforcement and border protection agencies on August 10 as the government steps up efforts to address an uptick in violent crime.

Speaking on his weekly radio programme, The Browne and Browne Show, on August 8, Browne said Minister of Information, Communication Technologies, Utilities and Energy Melford Nicholas will also be invited to the meeting as the government will consider how to available technology to assist in the fight against crime.

Browne condemned what he described as an increasingly “brazen” criminal element, pointing to a recent shooting near the West Bus Station that left two men injured.

The shooting occurred around midday on August 6 in view of several bystanders.

However, Browne stressed that tackling crime cannot be left solely to the government and law enforcement agencies.

“Law enforcement can’t solve this in parallel. It requires an all-of-society approach. This is where the public should be sharing information with law enforcement,” he said.

Browne said the government has a longstanding programme offering cash incentives to people who provide information about individuals possessing illegal firearms.

He said the information provided under the programme is kept confidential and urged people who know individuals with illegal firearms to come forward.

The prime minister also said much of the violence in the country appears to stem from tit-for-tat disputes between rival factions.

Browne said he has personally been encouraging young people involved in such conflicts to put down their guns.

Browne also called for greater scrutiny when bail is granted to accused persons and for tougher sentencing for those convicted of certain crimes.

He described the criminal justice system as becoming a “revolving door” for some offenders, arguing that this can place both the public and offenders at greater risk of being victims of violence.

Browne said some criminals no longer fear being arrested or sentenced because they believe they will face little consequence for their actions.

He pointed to efforts by the government to increase prison terms for gun-related offences, saying sentences of up to 15 years are possible under the law.

However, Browne claimed that no one convicted of such offences has received a sentence of as much as five years.

While acknowledging that sentencing is a matter for the judiciary, Browne said short sentences undermine the intent of legislation passed by Parliament.

He urged the judiciary to work with the legislature to ensure that Antigua and Barbuda remains a safe and secure society.