Recently, in Belmont our nation witnessed a tragic and devastating incident where three persons were killed and two others wounded in a violent mass shooting. I want to begin by extending my deepest condolences to the victims’ families and the larger community. Incidents like these remind us of the brutality that exists among members of our society and emphasise the necessity of an all-efforts approach to the increase of violent crime throughout the country. Previous articles I’ve written on national security provide meaningful suggestions to develop the security apparatus and improve personnel quality of life; but this article is different. Instead of speaking to those tasked with investigating these acts, I want to focus on those perpetrating them.
In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a majority of the reported murders within the last five years can be traced back to individuals who were associated with criminal entities or directly engaged in illegal behavior; often referred to by senior officers as “individuals known to police”. More often than not, this leads to short-term public displays of condolence and soon after, silence, as the event is chalked up to retaliation. However, when victims do not have known ties to crime, this dismissal becomes more difficult. The reasoning is not as clear.
In legal terminology, mens rea refers to a “guilty mind” or that an accused person had nefarious intent when intentionally committing the unlawful act. In our regional context, the homicides often fit into three traditional categories: robbery, crime of passion (often rooted in personal disputes), or organised crime. When the intent behind the killing doesn’t seem to fit within any of these classes and evidence lacks the hallmarks of emotional or interpersonal motive, investigators are often prompted to look beyond the obvious. Another possibility emerges: a third party is involved. Could the person with the intent not directly commit the act? This is where the concept of contract killing comes in.
Contract killing describes the process by which one individual hires another individual or group for the service of murder, with compensation almost always being totally reliant on success of the service, essentially whether the target actually died. While often associated with crime or political activity, it can be used for personal reasons as well. As silent mention has been made across the country and in specific communities where these incidents have taken place, I feel it imperative to discuss what this actually means for the safety of the Vincentian public and how our police force and communities can respond.
Contract killers can be foreign or domestic, and this distinction is critical from both an investigative and national security standpoint. In many cases, these perpetrators are foreign nationals who exploit vulnerabilities in maritime security to enter undetected. Once inside the country, they execute the contract, and exit using the same covert routes, leaving little trace.
These actors are frequently unconcerned with collateral damage, sometimes carrying out multiple killings in a single incident. Such events often meet the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s criteria for mass shootings, defined as incidents involving multiple victims of gunfire in one event, excluding the perpetrator. This type of operation presents significant challenges for local law enforcement agencies.
The foreign origin of the perpetrators means that forensic evidence, such as fingerprints, DNA, or ballistic data, is unlikely to match any entries in domestic databases. Moreover, these individuals typically have no known ties to local criminal networks, leaving investigators with minimal actionable intelligence.
In contrast, local contract killers operate with a different level of precision and integration. These individuals are often more surgical in their execution, targeting specific individuals with minimal disruption to the surrounding environment. As residents, they benefit from familiarity with the terrain, access to local networks (including weapons suppliers and getaway support), and the ability to blend back into the community. While this makes them harder to distinguish from the general population, it also offers investigators more investigative pathways, such as tracing local communications and leveraging community intelligence.
We can and should highlight strategies law enforcement needs to take to address this issue. Expansion of Coast Guard capabilities, enhancing maritime domain awareness, and deepening collaboration with regional security partners must be prioritized. But the foundation of an effective response comes down to our community preparedness and our personal situational awareness. Grassroots action empowers citizens to detect, deter, and respond to emerging threats in real-time.
Initiatives like neighbourhood watch programmes are essential to ensuring community security. These organizations create a network of residents who are informed, vigilant, and ready to respond collectively. By fostering communication and trust among neighbours, communities are able to recognize suspicious activity early, establish response protocols for emergencies, including natural disasters and shooting incidents, and support law enforcement with timely information.
On a personal level, preparedness starts with awareness. Pay attention to your environment and the people around you. Trust your instincts; small observations can lead to big preventions and you see more than you initially realise. Just as importantly, take steps to ensure you can respond effectively if an incident does occur. Enroll in a certified first aid or trauma care course, and commit to practising those skills regularly. The ability to apply chest compressions or knowing how to seal a wound can mean the difference between life and death.
We are still our brother’s keeper, and despite the threats that we face, we can overcome them.
Daniel Y. Burgin
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