The United States State Department's international travel web site has detailed The Bahamas' grim crime problem

US documents Bahamas' crime problem on web site
By KRYSTEL ROLLE ~ Guardian Staff Reporter ~ krystel@nasguard.com:



The U.S. State Department's international travel web site has detailed The Bahamas' crime problem, painting an accurately grim picture of last year's criminal activities.

The report states, "The Bahamas has a high crime rate. New Providence island in particular has experienced a spike in crime that has adversely affected the traveling public. Pick-pocketing and theft remain the most common crimes perpetrated against tourists.

"However, there has been a spate of more violent criminal activity in 2009. Three separate groups of tourists were held at gunpoint and robbed at popular tourist sites in and near Nassau; each of these incidents occurred during daylight hours and involved groups of more than eight persons. Several other groups of tourists allegedly were victims of armed robbery at more remote locations."

Co-owner of the Grand Bahama Port Authority Sir Jack Hayward recently warned that the Government of The Bahamas must find solutions to the escalating crime problem in the country before countries such as the United States issue travel advisories warning their citizens not to come to this jurisdiction.

"Any moment now the American Embassy could be advising American citizens that this is an unsafe country to travel (to)," said Sir Jack last week during an interview with The Nassau Guardian.

Sir Jack said the disturbing crime trend in the country could threaten both tourism to, and investment in, the country.

The U.S. State Department said in its country overview that the U.S. Embassy has received reports of assaults, including sexual assaults, in diverse areas such as in casinos, outside hotels, or on cruise ships.

"In several incidents the victim had reportedly been drugged. The Bahamas has the highest incidence of rape in the Caribbean according to a 2007 United Nations report on crime, violence, and development trends. Much of the violent crime occurs outside of areas frequented by tourists, such as the 'Over-the-Hill' section of Nassau."

The report added that two American citizens were murdered in New Providence in 2009.

Anna Garrison, a 33-year-old West Palm Beach woman, was found killed in New Providence last year. Her body was found on July 4, wrapped in a plastic bag and bed sheet on the side of a road. Police said she had been killed months before her body was found.

The Guardian was unable to identify the alleged second American victim.

"The upsurge in criminal activity has also led to incidents which, while not directed at tourists, could place innocent bystanders at risk. An altercation at a major resort resulted in the shooting of two security officers, while several daytime robberies in Nassau led to exchanges of gunfire on busy streets," the report said.

The two security officers were shot in the Atlantis Marina Village in November 2009. Additionally, several shootings have occurred in the downtown area and on West Bay Street.

The report also noted the low prevalence of crime in the Family Islands. However, it added that the embassy has received reports of burglaries and thefts on Abaco and Bimini.

The Embassy has reportedly also received reports of "harassment of persons based on sexual orientation. In addition, women have reported incidents of verbal harassment and unwanted attention".

The crime report ended by advising visitors to report crime to the police force as quickly as possible.

It said, the "Royal Bahamian Police Force is responsive to reports of crime and takes the threat of crime against tourists very seriously. However, the police response is sometimes slowed by a lack of resources or by the physical constraints imposed by geography and infrastructure."

The high level of crime has been highlighted internationally on several occasions, most recently in The Washington Post, which quoted State Department's report in an article published in April.

The government has attempted, in terms of personnel changes and infrastructure investments, to address the crime problem, which has worsened in recent years.

Since the Free National Movement (FNM) came to office in 2007, there have been three commissioners of police; three attorneys general; two chief justices; and the second director of the Department of Public Prosecutions is soon to take office.

The government has bought the police a new fleet of vehicles and it is spending more than $20 million upgrading the court system.

The new Magistrates Court complex at Nassau Street is expected to be completed within the next few months.

July 8, 2010

thenassauguardian

Bahamas Blog International