Dear Editor

I was so disheartened to hear and read about the death of Ms Powell.  It is a shame that her five children will have to grow up without their mother due to the insane criminal act of one individual.

As the mother of a nine-month-old, I cannot imagine what her children and her family are going through at this moment.  My heart and my prayers go out to them at this time.

It is time for the citizens of Antigua & Barbuda to take back their country.   Enough with the crimes, the murders, the robberies, the rapes, the accessibility to guns and the lack of effective police protection.  We absolutely need to bring back and institute the death penalty.

We need to have better training for and develop a stronger police force and forensic facility.  We have allowed criminals to infiltrate our peaceful island for too long.  We are a country where land and sea make beauty not where criminals can obtain ample booty (goods or money obtained illegally.)

I remember the days where you could leave your doors open and send your children to your neighbour to play with their children without worry.  What has happened to those days?

We need an impartial government where laws are created and enforced regardless of who you know or where you come from.  It is time that we, the citizens, put pressure on our government officials to work for the benefit of the people and create a safe environment for nationals and visitors alike.

I challenge those in power to make immediate changes starting with re-instituting the death penalty for murders as a punishment and more importantly as a deterrent for criminals.  I further challenge those in power to learn and adopt policies and laws from other nations that have historically been deemed “safe places” so that Antigua & Barbuda can join their ranks.

I want my daughter to be able to go to the beach, go shopping, visit relatives without fear of being a victim of crime.  I want to be able to boast that “ah Antigua meh come from” and know that the image that comes to mind is an island of land, sea, beauty and safety.