Barbados Passes Domestic Terrorism Bill
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — The Barbados Parliament has passed the Domestic Terrorism Act, 2026, creating a new offence aimed at penalizing violent acts in public spaces that spread fear or are motivated by bias.
The bill received its first reading on Aug. 7, moved through second reading, committee, report and consideration stages on Aug. 11, and was passed the same day, according to the parliamentary record. It now awaits final procedural steps before becoming law.
Under the legislation, “domestic terrorism” is defined as a serious criminal offence committed in a public place with the intention of causing the public — or a segment of it — to fear for their safety, or committed recklessly without regard to public safety. The definition also covers acts motivated by bias against race, nationality, ethnic origin, sex or sexual orientation, gender or religion, as well as the unlawful importation, possession, carrying or use of firearms or ammunition in quantities or manners that pose a significant threat to public safety.
A person convicted of domestic terrorism where the underlying serious criminal offence is murder is liable to death or life imprisonment. For other serious criminal offences, the penalty is life imprisonment, to be served consecutively to the sentence for the underlying offence. The act also specifies that committing an act of domestic terrorism shall be considered an aggravating factor in sentencing.
Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced plans for the legislation in January after a shooting in Bridgetown left 10 people injured, warning that acts designed to spread fear and panic would not be tolerated. The government said the measure is intended to address crimes that go beyond individual acts of violence to intentionally cause widespread fear, panic and chaos in public spaces.
Minister of Legal Affairs and Criminal Justice Michael Lashley said he supports the bill as part of a broader effort to combat gun violence and organized criminal activity. Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams has also backed the legislation, framing it as a tool to strengthen Barbados’ response to violent crime while aligning with regional and international counter-terrorism standards.
The bill has drawn some criticism from legal professionals and opposition figures. In January, two attorneys argued that priority should be placed on addressing the social and economic problems fueling poverty and gang activity rather than pursuing new terrorism legislation. Opposition Leader Ralph Throne questioned whether an anti-terrorism approach targets the real source of the violence, calling instead for focused anti-gang laws.
Supporters of the bill, including former Democratic Labour Party minister Michael Lashley, have pointed to existing anti-gang proposals that define gangs, criminalize recruitment and financial support, and allow for enhanced evidence rules in gang-related cases. Lashley said such measures carry steep penalties, including sentences of 20 years or more, and represent a comprehensive approach to illegal activities tied to gang violence.
The passage of the Domestic Terrorism Act comes as Barbados prepares for its next Caribbean Financial Action Task Force evaluation round in less than a year, with officials emphasizing the need to strengthen regulatory frameworks to meet international anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards.
