A new Inter-American Bank study says an average of 40 percent of the Caribbean population identify crime and security-related issues as the main problem facing their country. So which are the most violent capital cities in the Caribbean when it comes to reported cases of violent robbery?
The report, ‘Combatting Crime and Restoring Paradise’ edited by Heather Sutton and Inder Ruprah, identified five. They are according to data from the IDB Caribbean Crime Victimization Survey of 2014/2015:
1: Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
The new report found that Port-of-Spain is the region’s leader for capital cities when it comes to reported cases of robberies committed with a weapon. Of the cases reported, 83 percent of them were from Port-of-Spain. Meanwhile, 71 of all reported cases were general robberies and in 82 percent of all reported robberies, the victim needed medical services.
2: New Providence, Bahamas
Taking the second spot with 81 percent reported cases of violent robbery was New Providence in The Bahamas. Seventy percent of the cases reported were also for general robberies and in 95 percent of the cases, the victim required medical care after the crime was committed.
3: Paramaribo, Suriname
Coming in at third of the list is Paramaribo in the Dutch Caribbean nation of Suriname. A whopping 75 percent of the robbery cases reported was committed with a weapon while 65 percent were general robbery cases only. In 80 percent of all robbery cases reported, victims needed medical care.
4: Bridgetown, Barbados
Taking the fourth spot is the Greater Bridgetown area of Barbados. According to the IDB study, 54 percent of all robberies reported were committed with a weapon while 56 were general robberies. In 90 percent of the cases, the victims required medical aid.
5: Kingston, Jamaica
Rounding out the top five is Kingston, Jamaica where 53 percent of all reported cases of robberies were committed with a weapon, the lowest for the five nations. Also, only 47 percent of the cases reported were general robberies, also the lowest of the five cities but in 85 percent of the cases, victims needed medical assistance.