The new acting Commissioner of Police Trevor “Buju” Bailey has promised a tougher, more coordinated response to gun crime, insisting that the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) will not allow armed criminals to intimidate communities or erode public confidence.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Bailey said the current wave of shootings, particularly in Kingstown and surrounding communities, is having far-reaching effects on families, businesses and the country’s overall sense of security.
“Every shooting has consequences far beyond the immediate victim. Families are devastated, communities become fearful, businesses are affected, and the sense of security that every citizen [ought] to enjoy is undermined,” said Bailey, who rose to the helm of the force on Monday as the officer holder, Enville Williams is on leave for seven months.
Bailey stressed that the police leadership recognises “the seriousness of the situation” and drew a clear line against any acceptance of the current level of violence.
“We will not normalise gun violence. We will not accept a situation where persons believe that they can carry illegal firearms, discharge a weapon in communities, intimidate citizens, and take human life without consequences,” he said.
Bailey was joined at the ongoing press conference by acting Deputy CoP, Junior Simmons and Brenton Smith, an acting assistant COP, both of whom were also promoted effective Monday.
The press conference comes as St. Vincent and the Grenadines has recorded 31 homicides this year, most of them by gun, including a triple murder in Kingstown, a few hundred yards from the police headquarters on July 17.
Further, two women were shot and injured and a man was shot and killed in four separate shooting incidents in the city between Friday and Tuesday night.
Intelligence-led crackdown on guns
Bailey outlined a crime-fighting strategy anchored in intelligence-driven operations, targeted deployments and tighter supervision across the force.
He said the police are reviewing the deployment of personnel and resources to ensure that areas facing the greatest challenges receive increased attention, with specialist units, investigators, intelligence officers, patrol teams and divisional commanders expected to “operate as one organisation with one objective: protecting the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and its visitors”.
A central priority, Bailey said, will be the removal of illegal firearms from communities, backed by intensified intelligence-led operations to identify those who possess, store, transport or facilitate access to illegal guns and ammunition.
The new police chief also spoke of strengthening the force’s ability to trace firearms and connect ballistic evidence across incidents, and greater accountability for investigations and stricter supervision of policing operations.
He warned those involved in shootings or aiding gunmen that they should expect an unrelenting legal response.
“Know that those individuals who are involved in gun violence, that the [police] will pursue you with every lawful means that are available to us,” Bailey said.
“If you possess an illegal firearm, understand that our objective is to find that weapon and to remove it from the streets of St. Vincent and the Grenadines”.
He added that people who participate in shootings, or assist those who do, should “expect the police to come knocking”, promising thorough investigations and prosecutions where evidence supports charges.
‘Policing alone cannot solve this problem’
While promising a stronger operational response, Bailey repeatedly underscored that law enforcement cannot curb gun violence on its own.
He said that in almost every case, someone in the community knows where firearms are kept, who is carrying them, who is supplying them and when violence is being planned. Information shared with police, he argued, can be the difference between life and death.
“Information provided to the police can prevent a murder. It can save a child, a parent, a friend, a father, a mother, or even an innocent bystander,” Bailey said.
The acting commissioner appealed directly to communities, urging churches, civil society organisations, businesses, young people and “responsible citizens” to stand with the police rather than view the fight against gun violence as a confrontation between law enforcement and the public.
“The battle against gun violence cannot become a battle between the police and the communities. It must be the police and the communities standing together against those who use violence to terrorise our societies,” he said.
Bailey also invited the public to judge the force by its actions, not just its statements.
“I therefore ask the public to judge us not merely by what we say at this press conference today, but on the work that follows. We intend to be visible. We will be proactive. We will strengthen our investigations. We will recover the illegal firearms, and we intend to restore confidence and security within all of the communities within the state of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,” he said.
Call for lawful, professional policing
Even as he promised a more robust crackdown, Bailey emphasised that police operations must remain within the law and respect citizens’ rights.
He said officers have been reminded that every operation must be conducted “lawfully, professionally, and with respect to the rights of the citizens of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines”, insisting that “effective policing and professional policing must go together”.
Bailey framed the current moment as a test of leadership and professionalism inside the force, saying that every rank has a role to play.
“Every commander must lead … Every investigator must investigate [thoroughly]… Every patrol officer must remain vigilant… Every supervisor must be held accountable … Every police officer must understand the responsibility that comes with wearing the uniform,” he said.
New leadership roles and ‘new guard’ inside the force
Bailey linked the crime-fighting strategy to recent leadership changes in the RSVGPF.
He announced that Smith will assume responsibility for crime-fighting, providing “strategic leadership and oversight” of the force’s crime-fighting efforts and working closely with the deputy commissioner, divisional commanders, the Criminal Investigation Department, the Major Crimes Unit, intelligence personnel and other operational units.
Bailey said he has charged ACP Smith with strengthening coordination across investigative and operational units; tightening accountability for investigations; and bringing “renewed focus to gun-related crime and serious violence”.
He stressed that the appointment “is not simply about assigning responsibility to one officer”, but about reinforcing that crime fighting remains the responsibility of the entire force.
Bailey said that other promotions within the force might be announced in the coming days, adding this period should not be seen as a time for celebration but as one of heightened responsibility.
“We recognise immediately the seriousness, the responsibility that is entrusted on us,” he said.
Bailey described his own transition from team member to leader in stark terms.
“Whilst yesterday, I was a part of a team, today, I lead a team. Whilst yesterday I reported up the chain, today the chain reports to me, and they expect nothing but the best of me,” he said.
Calling for a “new guard” and renewed vigour, Bailey urged every member of the force “to rededicate every moment of your policing life to crime fighting” and to ensuring the safety of citizens and visitors alike.
Small minority shall not disrupt law-abiding citizens’ lives
Bailey framed the fight against gun violence as a defence of Vincentians’ right to live in peace.
He reminded the public that SVG “belongs to all Vincentians” and that every citizen has the right to live, work and raise their families in an environment of peace and security.
“We will not allow a small minority through gun violence, criminal activities, and intimidation to disrupt the lives of our law-abiding citizens or threaten the safety and security of the visitors to our shores,” he said.
The acting commissioner said the force remains “resolute, professional, and unwavering” in its duty to protect the public, safeguard national security and restore a sense of safety across the country.