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Description and Analysis

It is desired that the economy of Caribbean islands is strong and healthy, not only to ensure
the safety of those residing in the Caribbean but to make them feel financially secure. The
increase in severity and number of assaults and robberies has negatively affected the
Barbadian economy. These offenses are mainly committed by individuals under the age of
twenty-five. If this problem continues, the economic state of the Caribbean will continue to
slowly decline, causing adverse effects on foreign exchange and security costs.

Crime has always been significant to the health of the economy. It has become more
prominent in recent years, as the rates of robbery and assault have been steadily increasing
between the years 2011 to 2013, reaching a peak of 196.9 and 528.9 per 100,000 population,
respectively, in the year 2012. According to Corin Bailey in the IDB Series on Crime and
Violence in the Caribbean, crimes tend to occur in popular places such as Bridgetown, where
there is heavy traffic of people each day. There have been reports of tourists being
pickpocketed or persons loitering to rob people, even at gunpoint which also increases
security costs, as stated in the Barbados Free Press (2014). Security costs are the costs that
are associated with protecting residents and tourist.

One main cause of crime is socialisation. When individuals under the age of eighteen grow
up in an environment that promotes violent behaviours, the environment shapes their
personalities. Hence, their mentality and perception of others actions are detrimentally
affected. As noted by the ECCB governor, Sir Dwight Venner in 2010, cruise ships fled the
island of St. Kitts because of a robbery of a bus filled with tourist at a popular site. Thus
affecting the amount of foreign exchange that the company could have gained during that
period of time. Professor Ivelaw Griffith also stated that crime against tourist is a major
concern because the Barbadian economy depends heavily on tourism for economic growth
and stability