Premier Cora Richardson Hodge has urged the community to come together to “be part of the solution” following Anguilla’s ninth murder of 2025.
“We must not normalise this pain,” she said, as she offered thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of the latest victims.
Her speech came in a week marked by violence, with two fatal shootings occurring just days apart.
On 24 June, Jarmarie Richardson, 36, of Pond Ground was found dead inside a vehicle near Sile Bay beach with suspected gunshot wounds.
And in the latest incident, 25-year-old Pajal Liburd from Rey Hill was fatally shot in a convenience store opposite Sol Gas Station on Albert Lake Drive in The Valley on 27 June.
“It is with a heavy heart and deep sadness that we address the tragic and senseless loss of two young men whose lives were cut short by gun violence over the past few days,” she said.
Peace-loving
The premier extend condolences on behalf of the government and people of Anguilla to the families, friends, and loved ones affected.
She described Anguilla as a “close-knit and peace-loving community” and said the acts of violence that occurred are “not only heartbreaking, they are unacceptable”.
“The taking of any life, especially that of our young people, shakes the very foundation of who we are as an island,” she said.
“It disrupts families, it traumatises our communities, and it threatens the safe environment we have worked so hard to build and preserve.
“We must be unequivocal: there is no place for gun violence in Anguilla.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the actions of those who choose violence over dialogue, destruction over hope, and fear over unity.”
A time for action
Richardson Hodge said this moment calls for more than condemnation, adding: “It demands action.”
She said the government reaffirms its commitment to work with the Royal Anguilla Police Force, community leaders, schools, churches and civil society.
It aims to strengthen prevention efforts, improve community policing and offer our young people better alternatives through education, mentorship, employment and mental health support.
“We also call on every citizen to be vigilant, to speak out and to stand up. We must not be silent when our young men are losing their lives,” she said.
“We must not normalise this pain. Let us come together, parents, teachers, friends, neighbours, to be part of the solution.
“It is only through collective responsibility and national unity that we can root out this violence from our communities.”
Watch her speech in full below:
Nine homicides
This year’s fatal shootings began on the evening of 7 February when 69-year-old Carl Stephen Carter was found with a fatal gunshot wound to his head in his home in The Farrington.
Ten days later on 17 February, Omari Roberts, a 29-year-old visitor from the British Virgin Islands, was killed in a shooting in Hillside Bar and Grill in South Hill around midnight.
Shomari Fahie, 37, was then pronounced dead in Princess Alexandra Hospital after being shot at The Valley food court, also known as The Strip, in the early hours of 8 March.
Arnold Hunt of West End, 54, was found dead at about 8am on 31 March inside a van at Limestone Bay with apparent gunshot wounds.
Rashe Hodge, 31, of The Farrington was found dead on Hubert Benjamin Hughes Drive between the NCBA West bank and Hughes Medical Centre at about 11.30am on 9 May.
Later the same day, 22-year-old Jaheim Gumbs of North Side was killed in a shooting in the North Valley area at about 7.50pm.
Commissioner of Police Robert Clark has also reclassified the investigation into the disappearance of 27-year-old Teric Glenston Hickson on 4 January as murder.
Along with the two recent fatal shootings – this marks nine homicide since the start of the year. No one has been charged yet in connection with any of the incidents.
Six homicides were recorded in 2024, with charges brought in just one of those cases. Five homicides were recorded in 2023, again with charges brought in just one case.
Anyone with information on any criminal activity in Anguilla can call (264) 497-2333 or 497-5333, or leave an anonymous message, video or photo at secureaxa.com
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