Prime Minister Gaston Browne has summoned a national security meeting on Monday amid an increase in gun related crimes, including Sunday’s shooting of Chinese investor, Yida Zhang, the owner of the YIDA Special Economic Zone.
Browne said that the meeting will be attended by Public Safety Minister, Sir Steadroy Benjamin, the heads of the Police and Defence Forces, Customs, Immigration and Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy.
‘We want to address this matter in a serious way as we cannot afford to have criminals disrupt the lives of ordinary citizens, nor must we allow them to tarnish Antigua and Barbuda’s reputation as a safe destination to travel and to do business,’ said Sir Steadroy.
In addition Information and Communication Technologies Minister, Melford Nicholas, will also attend the meeting, as the government looks to expedite the installation of additional surveillance cameras in public spaces.
Police said that Zhang was shot after a gunman entered the property. Zhang is reported to be in a stable condition at hospital. The authorities have not determined a motive or established how the attacker gained access to the heavily guarded compound.
But the attack is the latest in a series of shootings in recent weeks several of which have been brazenly carried out in broad daylight, including a double shooting near West Bus Station last Thursday.
Police Commissioner Everton Jeffers has recently warned criminals that the police will be ‘coming for you.’