A plethora of weapons are in circulation in Guadeloupe and murders are increasing. Generally speaking, violence is increasing locally. Certainly, the processing times for these files are long, but the elucidations of cases are numerous, according to Caroline Calbo. The Pointe-à-Pitre public prosecutor takes stock of the judicial response to delinquency and crime in the archipelago.
Published on October 21, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.,
updated October 21, 2024 at 3:03 p.m.
A homicide was perpetrated in Capesterre-Belle-Eau last weekend; the 26thth since the start of the year. In 20 cases, firearms were used.
The judicial authorities are therefore faced with a double problem in the archipelago: the rise in crime and the increased circulation of weapons.
The public prosecutor of Pointe-à-Pitre is moved by this situation. But, for her, in this context, the rate of elucidations of investigations is honorable, despite lengthy processing of files.
Saturday evening, October 19, 2024, a 26-year-old man who was riding a scooter was killed in Capesterre-Belle-Eau; he was the target of several shots, undoubtedly coming from an automatic weapon. Another man was seriously injured during this violent attack; it could be a collateral victim. The author(s) is (are) still sought after. The investigation is being carried out by the judicial police.
On October 6, 2024, a 32-year-old man lost his life after being shot in the head, in the Petit-Pérou district of Les Abymes.
On October 11, a group of students was targeted by a shooter in Baie-Mahault; two were injured, one seriously.
The next day, October 12, a 4-year-old child was the victim of stray bullets in Les Abymes.
And these are just examples among many others.
The Pointe-à-Pitre public prosecutor deplores these acts of violence and, in general, delinquency, as well as the multiplicity of acts.
Caroline Calbo highlights their shocking aspect.
What surprises me, or rather shocks me, disturbs me, are these victims who are in the wrong place at the wrong time. This 4 year old child who was outside at 10 p.m. with his parents and who found himself the victim of a stray bullet in a shooting is particularly shocking, as are students partying in a parking lot and who are taken to task.
Caroline Calbo, public prosecutor of Pointe-à-Pitre
But the magistrate, after taking stock with the heads of the police and gendarmerie services, recalls that these facts do not remain unresolved.
We have indeed seen a sharp increase, especially in armed robberies, but also more elucidation of the facts. I think it’s important to say it: we still manage to catch the perpetrators.
Caroline Calbo, public prosecutor of Pointe-à-Pitre
Of course, the delays in getting hold of the offenders can be long; they sometimes last several months, which the prosecutor deplores.
The investigation services are very diligent and are trying to find the perpetrators of these acts as quickly as possible. We have processing times for investigations that are getting longer, not for acts of violence with a weapon or theft with a weapon, nor for narcotics. But there are plenty of cases that take (I think) way too long.
Caroline Calbo, public prosecutor of Pointe-à-Pitre
Caroline Calbo talks about the many litigants who contact her to find out where their investigation is going. Some wait after filing a complaint years earlier.
I hear all that. We hold a lot of meetings with the investigation services, I send magistrates to the brigades, to the police station, to review all the procedures that are pending, in stock, to deal with them. We are really trying to meet the justice needs of Guadeloupeans, with the means available to us.
Caroline Calbo, public prosecutor of Pointe-à-Pitre
For the magistrate, the difficulty, in terms of human resources, lies in the number of investigators.
Finding the culprits is one thing. Preventing them from taking action is another. However, for the number of violent incidents to decrease, weapons must be confiscated… the prosecutor appeals to families to help.
The message I want to send is that we must not get used to this violence (…), to these constant news stories, with these gunshots. It is not normal that there are so many firearms in Guadeloupe (…). I appeal to all families so that they can confiscate these weapons. We must take these weapons, we must return them, we must throw them away, we must do something… but, in any case, do not leave them in the hands of the delinquents.
Caroline Calbo, public prosecutor of Pointe-à-Pitre
Delinquents who, once they are armed, use these devices of death with disconcerting ease. Hence the number of deaths and, even more, gunshot wounds in Guadeloupe.
