Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr. Everton Jeffers, has issued a stark warning as the country faces a disturbing rise in youth violence. Speaking candidly and with urgency, Commissioner Jeffers declared the situation a national emergency and called for collective action to prevent the loss of an entire generation to crime and violence.
**_“In just one week, we’ve seen two heartbreaking cases involving teenagers. An 18-year-old has been charged with murder, and a 16-year-old is now in custody for the fatal stabbing of a 17-year-old from Liberta. These are not acts of youth mischief they are serious crimes. And the people involved are children. This is not normal.”_** the Commissioner stated.
Commissioner Jeffers pointed to growing incidents involving robbery, gang activity, gun and drug use, and homicide among the nation’s youth. He emphasized that these issues are no longer just police matters, but signs of deeper systemic failures in families, schools, and communities.
**_“We must stop pretending these are isolated events. They’re not. They are happening too often, too close to home.”_**
The Commissioner made a direct appeal to parents, teachers, pastors, coaches, and community leaders to intervene early and consistently in the lives of young people.
**_“We must teach values like respect, empathy, and conflict resolution and that must begin at home and be reinforced everywhere else.”_**
The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda is responding with expanded community policing programmes, mentorship initiatives, and stronger engagement with at-risk youth. However, Commissioner Jeffers stressed that law enforcement cannot solve this crisis alone.
**_“Parents, know where your children are and who they’re with. Teachers, spot the warning signs. Community leaders, help us reach these kids before the damage is irreversible…If we don’t fix this, we’re sentencing our youth and our nation to a future of crime, fear, and wasted potential. The time to act is not next month or next year, it’s now!”_** warned Commissioner Jeffers.