By Hon. E. P. Chet Greene
October 11 2026 | Editorial
There are nights that pass quietly into memory and there are nights that mark a turning point. Last Thursday in Antigua’s first freed village, Liberta, we witnessed the latter.
The meeting hall was filled with probably an equal number of persons on the outside. Elders who carry the stories of this community’s proud history sat shoulder to shoulder with young parents, students and other concerned citizens. The atmosphere was not one of hostility or confrontation but of something far more powerful: a shared determination to confront the challenges before us and reclaim the legacy that is rightfully ours.
This village was born in freedom. Created immediately after slavery, it became a beacon of what formerly enslaved people could build when given the chance to govern themselves. The declaration that Liberta (derived from Liberty) was once “the best, most tranquil and cleanest village in all of Antigua and Barbuda” is not mere nostalgia, it in fact represents a standard. A standard we can and must meet again and resolve to maintain.
The concerns raised during the town hall meeting were real and urgent. Rising crime has touched families across our community. Residents spoke passionately about the need for better police-community relations, not as adversaries but as partners in a shared mission of community safety and security.
I heard the worry in mothers’ voices as they described the easy access our youth have to substances that steal their futures. I saw the pain in fathers’ eyes as they acknowledged that too often, we have left the raising of our children to others; to schools, to churches, to the state, when the first responsibility lies at home. This is not a judgement; it is a call to action. Our families must become more involved, more present and more accountable for the young lives entrusted to our care.
What moved me most was the spirit of respect that permeated the room. Residents engaged with our police officers not with accusation but with a genuine desire to understand and to be understood. Our officers, in turn, listened with humility and commitment. This is how communities heal. This is how trust is rebuilt.
As your representative, I made commitments last night that I intend to keep.
First, I will equip our police with the tools they need to serve you effectively. Bicycles for patrol and a motor vehicle for faster response times will soon be deployed. I hasten to caution that equipment alone is not enough. We will also improve the IT capabilities of the village police station so that officers can better respond to reports, track incidents and engage with the public in real time. A new computer system with program Bar Codes to facilitate easy access will be installed as soon as programmers are ready with the system.
A simple but symbolic act of changing the police station’s main door from wood to see-through glass is intended to change the perceived barrier between the police and the community. A glass door says something different: we have nothing to hide, and neither should you. We are also upgrading the station’s amenities to provide a better working environment for the officers who serve us daily.
Infrastructure and equipment, while necessary, will not solve our problems alone. We need an all-of-village rethink about our relationship with law enforcement. The police cannot be everywhere. They cannot see everything. We know that when a community and its police force work in genuine partnership, when residents share information, when officers treat every citizen with dignity, when we see each other as allies rather than opponents, that is when transformation happens.
To that end, I am calling for the formation of a community organization, the first of its kind anywhere on the island, that will bring together the church, the police, our schools, parliamentary representatives and PTA associations. This body will examine the social issues affecting our community; substance abuse, youth disengagement, family breakdown and will also promote positive virtues and preserve the cultural identity that makes this village unique. We have a rich heritage. We must protect it and pass it on.
I want to thank every resident who came out to last Thursday’s town hall meeting. Your presence sent a powerful message that this village cares and is concerned about the recent uptick in crime and criminal activity. This village is not willing to surrender its future to despair. This village remembers who it is and what it has been.hem together.
I commit to you now that these town hall meetings will continue, once per quarter. Your voice matters and I will keep coming back to hear it.
Even though the focus for this week’s editorial is a report on the outcomes of last Thursday’s town hall meeting, let me remind everyone that tomorrow evening, we continue our investment in this community’s well-being with a special health lecture featuring Dr. Jerry Simon and a team of medical and health experts. The event will be held at the Empowerment Center, beginning at 7:15 pm. Blood pressure and glucose monitors will be distributed to all in attendance. Your health is your wealth, come and be equipped.
Last Thursday, our village came together. Tomorrow, let us continue the work. The glory days are not behind us. They are ahead of us, if we are willing to build them together.
