Turnquest: Govt has not failed on crime
By CANDIA DAMES
NG News Editor
candia@nasguard.com
In the lead-up to the 2007 general election, concerns about the high level of violent crime were high on the Free National Movement (FNM) party’s list of talking points.
At a rally on April 27, just days before the vote, then FNM leader Hubert Ingraham pointed out that Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) leader Perry Christie had declared a week before the 2002 election that “any government which couldn’t get crime under control had no right to brag about anything else.”
“Now he’s going all over the country bragging about the little record they do have,” Ingraham told rally-goers that night.
“They didn’t bring crime under control and they did very little else. The PLP, which offered so much on the issue of crime, couldn’t even buy police new vehicles on time.
“Now they tell us they have a new major four-point crime plan. Where was that plan in the last couple of years?”
During the campaign, Ingraham and the FNM vowed strong action against crime.
The FNM won the election four years ago yesterday. The PLP’s record was not enough to win it re-election.
Today, crime and the fear of crime remain high.
But Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest said yesterday that the high level of violent crime in the country does not mean the FNM has failed in its anti-crime efforts.
“We accept that crime is at an unacceptable level,” he said.
“We accept the fact that crime is a major issue in the country today, that as the government of The Bahamas it’s our responsibility to take the lead and to lead the way in the fight against crime.
“But our crime situation is multi-faceted. There are a lot of social problems that we have to deal with and that we continue to deal with.
“It’s not just a matter of providing additional resources to the police, which we have done. It’s also dealing with those social issues which we are addressing.
“It’s also dealing with the challenges within the judicial system which we are also dealing with. So it’s not the fact that we have failed in regard to it; I don’t think we have failed at all.
“I think we have to ensure that those hardened criminals who continue to beat our judicial system are put behind bars.”
In a statement slamming the FNM government on its fourth anniversary in office yesterday, the PLP pointed to the high murder rate, and added, “The FNM claims to have a plan for crime, but during the prime minister’s national address (last week) he promised to get back to the Bahamian people on his plan for crime.
“This is proof positive that the issues that are most important to the Bahamian people are not the priorities of the FNM government.
“Further, on their watch the fear of crime has increased so much so that people are afraid to leave their homes. Whatever measures the FNM government has taken were ineffective in arresting this scourge that threatens our national security and continued economic viability.”
Turnquest said of the 43 murders that have been recorded so far this year, 23 were as a result of conflicts and retaliation.
“When you look at those statistics you have to put this whole crime scenario in proper context,” he said.
Asked if the Ingraham administration has been aggressive enough in dealing with the crime problem, Turnquest said, “We have been extremely aggressive. While we haven’t been very talkative about it, we’ve been very steadfast in getting things done.
“That’s been our focus.”
He said the government has provided the necessary resources for law enforcement officers and the necessary infrastructure for the judiciary.
“We continue to be very focused,” Turnquest said. “Our strategy continues to be very resourceful, to be very focused.”
PLP’s 2007 CRIME PLAN
In its crime plan released right before the 2007 general election, the PLP promised to involve all stakeholders — the security forces, political organizations, central and local government and government agencies, civil society, and residents through island-wide consultations — on the appropriate elements needed for the implementation of its National Crime Prevention Programme.
The party pledged that within six months of a second term in office it would position the police force to be "more preemptive in the fight against crime in the 21st Century."
"We will make available the additional capital resources for effective police and defense forces," the party’s Action Agenda said.
"We will provide them with the necessary resources to ensure their modernization by the provision of cutting edge technology to assist with criminal investigation and communication tools."
The PLP also promised in its Action Agenda that the police force would receive an expanded fleet of patrol cars and officers along with the requisite resources to support 24-hour a day patrolling in the 25 districts of New Providence.
Additionally, it pledged to expand the number of police stations on Family Islands and in New Providence to ensure increased police presence.
"We will upgrade the system and response rate for calls to the police emergency numbers by ensuring that the ratio of cars to the mobile unit is appropriate and by providing the required amount of multi-purpose vehicles," the Action Agenda said.
The PLP also pledged to provide the necessary resources to continue the illegal drug fight.
The party further promised that if elected to a second term, it would: expand community-policing; encourage the establishment of additional community neighborhood watch programs; identify areas of potential conflict in communities and establish strategic alliances with the church; strengthen and promote the Witness Protection Program; and ensure a reduction in domestic violence.
The Action Agenda said the PLP would also introduce legislation to establish an Armed Forces Complaints Agency to monitor and investigate complaints against police, the defence force and the other uniformed agencies.
At the time of the document’s release, then Prime Minister Perry Christie said, "Ours is the only plan that offers innovative and viable strategies, and real hope, for conquering this menace (crime) once and for all."
5/3/2011
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