Police Alarm Over Bell Appointment
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
A NUMBER of senior police officers are alarmed at the appointment of newly sworn in State Minister for National Security Keith Bell and fear operational interference, Opposition Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday.
Dr Minnis made the remarks during his House of Assembly contribution.
The session not only rehashed the previous Ingraham administration's work while in office, but continued with proposals for the 2012/2013 budget.
Speaking of the reform brought to the Royal Bahamas Police Force by the FNM, Dr Minnis said his government had worked hard to revitalise the force from 2007 until the PLP won the general election on May 7.
"As I speak," he said, "a former officer who acted in an extraordinary and partisan political manner during the election campaign is now Minister of State in National Security. I hope we do not see one of the worst periods of politicisation of the police force in its history.
"I understand that a number of senior officers are alarmed at the appointment and fear operational interference."
Dr Minnis pointed out that when in opposition the PLP blamed every criminal incident on former National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest.
But, he said, this was unfair as crime is a societal problem and politicians on both sides are "in this together".
For this reason, Dr Minnis said, the FNM will not blame every criminal act on the new Minister of National Security, Dr Bernard Nottage.
However, he did warn that the Bahamian people will not forget the PLP's promise that Urban Renewal 2.0 will be the cure for all crime.
The public is watching the new government, he said.
"We in the FNM support any crime fighting initiatives that are constructive and curb the senseless bloodshed, but, Mr Speaker, we want accountability. We want to see the logic and tangibles that come with launching such a programme."
From the opposite end of the spectrum, Dr Minnis urged the government to return to the basics of crime fighting on the streets of New Providence.
"We can't talk about zero tolerance when individuals are breaking the traffic laws; when individuals in the west have problems sleeping because of noise pollution, because of licenses given to homes and business that have excessive noise.
"When we close an eye to that we close an eye to the criminals who feel that they have the right to proceed," Dr Minnis said.
June 13, 2012
