On Tuesday 10th May, 2023, Members of the House of Assembly passionately expressed their concerns about the recent slew of gun violence on the island, particularly in the wake of Sunday night’s murder of the late Garmon Greenaway, and two other shooting incidents that occurred one week prior.
Thirty-five-year-old Garmon, a Customs Officer in the Anguilla Public Service, was killed in the vicinity of his residence on Sunday night. During the House of Assembly sitting on Tuesday, Members of Parliament commented on the tragedy.
While the Honorable Acting Premier, Mr. Kenneth Hodge, had otherwise issued a message to the community to “show a collective and concerted effort in removing guns from our streets”, he said in the House that he remembered Garmon as a very helpful young man.
“Today, we mourn the loss of young Garmon Greenaway,” the Acting Premier said soberly. “He was a young Customs Officer who was a very pleasant chap, Madam Speaker. I knew him quite well, as a very helpful individual. We extend to his family our sincere condolences.”
The Honourable Minister of Education and Social Development, Ms. DeeAnn Kentish-Rogers, observed that Garmon’s murder shows disregard for human life and requested prayers for his mourning family.
“In a moment like this where people are suffering so greatly from the inhumane, awful manner in which disregard for human life was demonstrated, I would encourage all of us to remember to pray for the family who now grieve, she said.”
Opposition Leader, Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge, said that action needs to be taken now in revisiting the laws against guns.
“The time has come for us, Madam Speaker, to revisit our laws. We need to look at the situation with which we are faced in this country. We need to be forward thinking,: she said. “If we do not take action today, where will we be tomorrow? Do we want to get to the stage where we have shootings in our grocery stores, (Heaven forbid); or in our schools? (Heaven forbid).”
“Crimes of this kind occur in other countries,” she lamented. “But let us not think that they would only happen off-shore, figuring that Anguilla will not be impacted. We are a global village. We must think globally, for our young people are exposed to everything that happens in the world.”
“There is a lot of work to be done in this country, Madam Speaker. And while we do nor cast any blame on any individual, group or organization, I support any initiative that is taken to come together to help us identify and address the difficulties that we are facing on this island and put a stop to gun crime,” Mrs. Richardson-Hodge said.
“We need to bring a certain recognition to our people that lives matter,” she continued. “Our young people need to be aware of this. They need to know that lives matter. It is not simply enough to commit a horrendous act and drive off and go to sleep at night. That is not where we want to be as a people.”
Also weighing in on the plaintive pleas was Parliamentary Secretary, Merrick Richardson, who suggested that a committee be formed to address the tide of gun violence.
“I am going to beg of this House that we form a committee for addressing gun violence,” he said. “We need to determine how illegal guns are being imported; how they are being accessed so easily and, more importantly, what is the reason for their importation, Madam Speaker.”
“I am not going to be silly in standing here and thinking that a committee would be the only solution to the problem, Madam Speaker. Solving this gun problem is going to take the entire community. It is going to take an entire island to start to get to the bottom of this plight. The entire island needs to get on board,” Mr. Richardson said.
