Barbados
Barbados has dedicated antiterrorism legislation from 2002, which was amended in 2019. The law establishes a detailed list of terrorist offences where the purpose of the crime is to intimidate the public or coerce government conduct or which are defined in treaties to which Barbados is a State Party. The maximum sentence for terrorist offences was the death penalty, but this was reduced in 2019 to life imprisonment. There is a limited carve-out in the definition for the exercise of fundamental human rights.
The Definition of Terrorism in Domestic Law
The 2002 Anti-Terrorism Act generally defines terrorism as a set of predicate acts where the offence has the purpose to "intimidate the public or to compel the government or an international organisation to do or refrain from doing any act".S. 3(1)(b), 2002 Anti-Terrorism Act.The predicate acts include killing or serious injuring a civilian, causing serious damage to public or private property (where that occasions a serious risk to the health or safety of the public), serious disruption to an essential service, prejudice to national security, or cybercrime.S. 3(1)(b), 2002 Anti-Terrorism Act.Also covered are the definitions in terrorism treaties to which Barbados is a State Party.S. 3(1)(a), 2002 Anti-Terrorism Act.
Adherence to Global and Regional Terrorism Treaties
Barbados is a State Party to most of the main United Nations treaties on terrorism.
| Treaty | Adherence |
|---|---|
| 1973 Convention on Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons | State Party |
| 1979 Hostage-Taking Convention | State Party |
| 1997 Terrorist Bombings Convention | State Party |
| 1999 Terrorist Financing Convention | State Party |
| 2005 Nuclear Terrorism Convention | State not party |
Barbados is a signatory but not a State Party to the 2002 Inter-American terrorism treaty.
| Treaty | Adherence |
|---|---|
| 2002 Inter-American Convention against Terrorism | Signatory |
Laws and Penalties for Terrorist Offences
The primary terrorism legislation in Barbados is the 2002 Anti-Terrorism Act. The maximum sentence for terrorist offences is now life imprisonment.S. 3(1)(c) and (d), 2002 Anti-Terrorism Act (as amended in 2019).Financial complicity in a terrorist act, irrespective of where the criminal conduct occurs, is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 30 years where the intent is to further the terrorist act or the financing of terrorism.S. 4, 2002 Anti-Terrorism Act (as amended in 2019).
Counterterrorism Capacities and Policies at Domestic Level
Barbados does not have a dedicated counterterrorism unit within the Barbados Police Service.
Glossary
Twitter