In a pointed critique of Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s recent address to the nation, talk show host and former government minister Dr. Jacqui Quinn described the speech as lacking substance and full of empty promises.
In her response, aired on Observer Radio, Dr. Quinn expressed disappointment at the Prime Minister’s remarks, which she characterized as “vacuous” and “bitter,” particularly in his repeated focus on the judiciary.
Dr. Quinn criticized the government’s plan to allocate $15 million for a 65-foot crime-fighting vessel, questioning the value for money in light of the existing knowledge about how illegal firearms enter the country.
“Why is this necessary when the police and customs authorities already know where and how the illegal guns are coming in?” she asked, pointing to airports and seaports as the main entry points for such contraband.
She went on to dissect other elements of the Prime Minister’s speech, such as the proposed anti-gang legislation and the deployment of 10 drones for police surveillance.
Dr. Quinn demanded specifics, asking when these measures would be implemented and highlighting the lack of timelines provided by the Prime Minister. “We want to hear that the anti-gang legislation will be brought to Parliament at the next sitting,” she insisted.
Quinn also criticized the lack of urgency in other crime-fighting initiatives mentioned, such as the recruitment of 140 new police officers and joint police-military patrols. She argued that these measures should have been in effect immediately if the government was truly serious about addressing crime.
Particularly alarming to Dr. Quinn was the Prime Minister’s announcement of plans to construct a juvenile facility at the Defense Force Headquarters at Crabbs.
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She noted that this facility is a legal requirement under the Child Justice Act of 2015, which aims to establish a criminal justice process for children based on restorative justice. However, she expressed skepticism about the timeline for this project, citing the ongoing renovations at the Boy Training School, which have dragged on for over five years.
In her critique, Dr. Quinn also took issue with the Prime Minister’s failure to address pressing concerns, such as his recent revelation about contract killings and the lack of condolences or empathy expressed for the families affected by recent violence. “The most egregious of all,” she noted, “not once did the Prime Minister express condolences, empathy, or sympathy to the families who lost their loved ones.”
Dr. Quinn concluded her response by offering several alternative measures she believes the Prime Minister should have announced. These included a high-level roundtable with all stakeholders, a gun amnesty, a curfew for teens, and the revival of community policing and neighborhood watch programs. She also called for the expedited construction of a long-promised forensic lab and a national prayer service to seek divine intervention in the fight against crime.
As the government moves forward, Dr. Quinn vowed that Observer Radio will hold the Prime Minister accountable for the promises made in his address, ensuring that the public is kept informed and that the government is transparent in its actions.
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