Anti-Crime Activist To Lead 1,000 Man March
By Karissma Robinson:
Local anti-crime activist Rodney Moncur is seeking to lead the country back to a place where everyday citizens ultimately "chose peace above crime."
Mr. Moncur plans to host a 1,000 man anti-crime march throughout the streets of New Providence as The Bahamas celebrates its 37th anniversary this Saturday.
He is hoping to send a strong message to the criminal element.
At this point, 48 murders have already been recorded for the year, six of them in just one week.
Mr. Moncur said the issue of crime still sits front and centre in the minds of Bahamians.
"Bahamians are still trying to process what is happening. It is getting out of control," Mr. Moncur said.
He insists that The Bahamas cannot afford to celebrate its independence in this state.
"Pregnant women are now being shot for whatever reason. When is the government going to get it? There is a lot of fear in the society, particularly the fear of being killed. Every witness in a murder case is in peril. The reality is no one seems to be sounding the alarm that witnesses in The Bahamas are being assassinated," said Mr. Moncur.
It is for that reason Mr. Moncur is appealing to Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and other government officials to step up to the plate in the fight against crime.
He said the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) "cannot and should not tackle the problem alone."
Earlier this week, Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade said police officials have devised new policing strategies.
The police force plans to conduct more walkabouts throughout New Providence and the Family Islands to become more familiar with the residents.
However, Mr. Moncur insists that it should be the Members of Parliament conducting walkabouts in their constituencies.
"It is time for the government to step up. It is now time to issue a state of emergency. We now have to pull other military forces together, such as the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBPF) to intervene. Law enforcement should be dispatched at every corner. This has to happen before it is too late," said Mr. Moncur.
Mr. Moncur asserted that the solution to the problem is very simple.
"First, the prime minister needs to stop granting murderers bail. Secondly, he needs to hang all murderers. This is where the problem ends. If these two things are done there will be a drastic reduction in criminal activity," said Mr. Moncur.
He admitted it would not be easy, but believes it is highly possible to reduce the country’s crippling crime problem.
Mr. Moncur stressed the significance of hosting such a march during the country’s 37th birthday.
"This is the time when all patriotic Bahamians should come out in full force. Independence is the time for Bahamians to unite. Bahamians should take this time to send a strong message to the government that they are not safe," he said.
Mr. Moncur said he intends to continue to march until change comes.
He is calling on Bahamians from every fabric of society to join him at the R.M. Bailey High School at 9:00 a.m. this Saturday.
He wants participants to wear paraphernalia that would best represent The Bahamas.
July 8th, 2010
jonesbahamas
A political blog about Bahamian politics in The Bahamas, Bahamian Politicans - and the entire Bahamas political lot. Bahamian Blogger Dennis Dames keeps you updated on the political news and views throughout the islands of The Bahamas without fear or favor. Bahamian Politicians and the Bahamian Political Arena: Updates one Post at a time on Bahamas Politics and Bahamas Politicans; and their local, regional and international policies and perspectives.
