The legal fraternity in Barbados wants more focus on addressing the root causes of crime and violence and less on the enactment of additional laws.The Barbados Bar Association also suggests that the authorities find and crack down on the source of guns being imported.That’s the position held by president Rosalind Smith-Millar and criminal attorney Shadia Simpson, in response to Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s recent announcement of the plan to restore mandatory jail time for illegal gun possession.While welcoming the intended mandatory imprisonment for firearm possession, Smith-Millar said it would not get to the heart of the serious situation confronting the country.“There are some crimes which need a firmer hand when it comes to deterrent and punishment, and this [gun crime] is probably one of them. But there is more to this whole scenario than just somebody shot somebody,” Smith-Millar said in an interview with Barbados TODAY against the background of a recent spike in shooting
Under the watchful eye of armed police and other officers, Colombian Oswaldo Rafael Acosta Aroca, who is accused of entering Barbados illegally with almost $3.4 million worth of marijuana, made his first appearance in court on Wednesday afternoon.About 15 minutes after appearing before Magistrate Douglas Frederick, the 58-year-old driver from No. 20 De Octubre, Santa Marta, Colombia was escorted out of the District ‘B’ Magistrates’ Court at Horse Hill, St Joseph, in the same manner, having been remanded to Dodds prison for the next 28 days.Aroca was not required to plead to any of his five charges as the alleged offences are indictable and can only be adjudicated before a judge and jury.
A 53-year-old Colombian national will return to court here on September 7, after he was remanded to the Dodds prison on Wednesday on several drug related charges arising out of a multi-billion dollar drug bust.
Oswaldo Rafael Acosta Aroca of 20 De
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