UPDATE: Click here for data up to Dec 2017
On August 22, the print edition of the Daily Nation newspaper published a list of murders for the year (‘Murder High’ Pg. 32). The list included names, ages, dates, how and where the victims died. The evening update of Barbados Today, an online news publication, listed a 23rd murder and also included similar information.
As a citizen and resident of Barbados, it pains me daily to read about the increase in violence in my own country. The loss of life, the impact on family members, friends and loved ones, as well as the social and economic consequences are more than simply disturbing and troubling.
However, as an independent researcher, I wanted to view and publish the data from different angles (not to make a political or social commentary, there is enough of that going around as is). What follows are a few basic images and charts based on what the Nation and Barbados Today published on Aug 22 2017.
Barbados 2017 Murder Map Jan 1 to Aug 22 2017
The above map (click it for a larger version) was created using Google Maps. Markers were placed on the map as close/accurately as possible to where the murder was reported in the media. In some cases, no specific address was given and/or Google Maps could not find the given location. As such, some markers are placed based on parish name alone. At a glance, out of eleven parishes, only four (to date) have not had any reported killings, these are: St. Andrew, St. Joseph, St. John and St. Lucy.
Murders by Parish
The chart above shows the number of murders by parish between Jan 1 and Aug 22. Top three parishes for murders are: St. Michael with 7, followed by St. George and Christ Church in second place with 4 each, and in third place, St. Philip with 3.
Murders by Month
The chart above shows the number of murders by month between Jan 1 and Aug 22. Since January 2017 there has been a steady increase in the number of murders per month with June and July recording 5 murders each (compared to 1 murder in Jan).
Persons Killed By…
Of the 23 killings recorded between Jan 1 and Aug 22, over 60% were shooting related. The 3 Unknown is where no data was provided and/or available.
Number of Victims by Age Group
The last chart, and the end of the this basic analysis on the murder data reported for Jan 1 to Aug 22, Â shows the number of victims by age group. The age groups with the highest number of victims are: 25 to 34 (7 victims), followed by 18 to 24 (5) and 35 to 44 (4), respectively. One of the victims age was given as being in his 40s. As such, the victim has been omitted from the above chart as it could not be placed into a specific age group and counted.
Summary:
23 murders reported between Jan 1 and Aug 22.
Out of eleven parishes, only four (at the time of this post) have not had any reported murders/killings, these are: St. Andrew, St. Joseph, St. John and St. Lucy.
Top three parishes for murders are: St. Michael with 7, followed by St. George and Christ Church in second place with 4 each, and in third place, St. Philip with 3.
Since January 2017 there has been a steady increase in the number of murders per month with June and July recording 5 murders each (compared to 1 murder in Jan).
Of the 23 killings recorded between Jan 1 and Aug 22, over 60% of were shooting related.
The age groups with the highest number of victims are: 25 to 34 (7 victims), followed by 18 to 24 (5) and 35 to 44 (4).
What would be interesting to see is if these victims were connected to any of the so called blocks that exist.
Does this include ppl who died in police custody?? Nope…..where is the justice for those innocent ppl who died in law enforcement care??
As I understand it, this information is with regards to ppl who have been killed. In order to include information on persons who “died” in police custody, there would have to be some solid information indicating that these persons were killed/murdered while in police custody. Good luck getting any member of the RBPF to admit to that!!
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