St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Minister of National Security, St. Clair Leacock, outlined a comprehensive and somewhat controversial approach to firearms and citizen security on Wednesday. His perspective balances a strict stance on weapon availability with a sociological approach to crime prevention.
Leacock says there is a high volume of applications for gun licenses, which he interprets as a symptom of a society feeling “uncomfortable and insecure” due to a developing “crime culture”. However, he takes a firm stance against arming the general populace:
He argues that possessing a firearm psychologically changes a person, noting that “when you have a gun, you’re always looking for a chance to use it,” which leads people to escalate rather than deescalate conflicts.
He explicitly states his position that “the more guns that are out there… the greater the opportunities for more violence and missteps”. Consequently, he asserts that the government “can’t give every person a firearm”.
Leacock identifies a specific controversy regarding the type of weaponry currently in civilian hands. He expresses concern that automatic weapons, specifically M16s and M4s, have been issued to civilians.
He argues these weapons should be the “preserve of law and order forces” and intends to recommend to the Cabinet and Prime Minister that this practice should not be continued or facilitated.
While acknowledging the role of the police and Coast Guard, Leacock said that citizen security cannot be solved solely through “more boots and more hardware” (guns, uniforms, and personnel). Instead, he advocates for the application of “soft power”:
He calls on societal influencers—including the media, churches, schools, sports icons, and families—to speak with a collective voice to discourage crime and emphasizes the need for a cultural shift where the nation collectively decides that violence is unacceptable, noting that “if the whole nation speaks… we can get a result”.
Leacock is adamant regarding territorial control by criminal elements. He declares that “no criminal element gangs must be allowed to own any square inch of St. Vincent and the Grenadines” or force citizens to live in fear.
He describes his goal for citizen security as a state where people can “put their head to rest at the night,” close their stores safely, and even “leave their windows half open” without fear of being violated by deviant behavior.
Leacock on Wednesday addresses the relationship between the police and the public as a critical component of security.
He believes the police force has become a victim of “political culture” and requires better leadership, management, and specialized training to become a “direct police force” rather than one responding to political directives. The Minister advises citizens not to run from or fight with the police, even during arrests.
He cites a specific incident where a man fled police and was shot, arguing that while the shooting was not the “correct thing to do,” citizens must understand that fleeing escalates the situation,. He urges people to “stay put” and let the police do their interrogation, as resisting can lead to “skirmishes”.