Party By Party: Where The Candidates Stand On Crime
By LAMECH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas put the world on alert in early 2010 after a country which is noted for its sun, sand and sea racked up 87 murders the year before.
Crimewave is a word too easily used by politicians and the media, but statistics showed crime was on the up, and for a nation of just 350,000, dependent on tourism, it was a worrying trend.
By the end of 2010, the country surpassed the previous record with an extra seven murders.
Bahamians at every level in society were puzzled as to what was going on, what 2011's numbers would be and what the government was going to do about it. The murder figure reached 127 for 2011.
The most pressing issue in the Bahamas today is crime and the fear of crime, highlighted by the fact that the murder rate is going in the wrong direction - up.
Democratic National Alliance leader Branville McCartney couldn't have worded it better during his party's anti-crime and violence march in Bay Street last Wednesday. He said things would get worse if there was not an immediate intervention.
The sentiments from the man who wants to be the country's next Prime Minister are not new. His rivals, current Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and opposition leader Perry Christie, have already said the same thing.
Mr Ingraham and Mr Christie have blamed each other for the rise in crime levels. The DNA leader has blamed both of them - branding them "failures".
Behind the rhetoric, angry faces and gesticulations, claim, counter claim and overused insults like "abysmal failure", what is their answer to beating crime?
What has caused this spike in crime? Do the politicians even have an answer?
Crime exists in every part of the world where there is civilisation, the same way that certain weak drinks are present at almost every party adults go to. If those drinks get spiked, there's chaos.
At the rate the country is going and with the world watching through their TVs, computer screens and smart phones, it is only a matter of time before this rising crime leads to the wrong kind of tourist being held up during a nature tour, robbed on Cable Beach or attacked with a cutlass in their hotel room on a Family Island. A celebrity or a police chief from another country.
Crime is one of, if not the biggest, concern for the voters going into the May 7 elections and the three leaders and their respective teams know it.
In 14 days, more than 170,000 voters will go to the polls to select a new member of parliament for the 38 constituencies up for grabs.
Marking an X next to the name of an DNA, FNM, PLP or independent candidate will ultimately decide which party will be the next government for the next five years.
How will the three leaders and their parties, DNA, FNM and PLP, match up and overcome the Goliath that is crime?
The FNM and the DNA have revealed their manifestos for public viewing so far and looking at both documents, crime is the top priority. The PLP has been very vocal about their plans for fighting crime.
The FNM, hoping to regain the trust of Bahamians, has released its full manifesto and addresses crime as a part of its "National Security Strategic Plan", Tough on Crime and Tough on the Causes of Crime.
The FNM before outlining its plan, stated what it had done and what it thinks is the root cause of the crime surge: "Trade and abuse" of illegal narcotics over the past several decades.
The party, according to its manifesto said it had "modernized and better equipped the Royal Bahamas Police Force, passed and implemented tough anti-crime legislation and improved conditions in our legal, judicial and prison systems."
The party, in its document goes on: "To complement these efforts, we have also worked with educators, social workers and other citizens to implement new prevention programmes"
Going forward, the FNM's goal is to have a "modern, efficient crime fighting machine," through a "properly manned, trained and equipped" police force "to prevent crime where possible, detect crime when it occurs and bring those responsible to account before the courts."
The FNM proposes to hire an extra 250 officers; specifically train officers from remote Family Islands to serve their communities; combine technology with community policing to strengthen crime prevention; ensure continued funding for police; create more police patrols and increase presence in neighbourhoods.
The party proposes "continued and adequate funding" of the judiciary, to complete the construction of the judicial complex and Supreme Court, and the appointment of a resident magistrate in Andros.
They are also seeking to empower magistrates, "in appropriate cases", to use their power to implement "alternative sentencing and restorative programmes to reduce the amount of non-violent juveniles returning to prison."
The FNM plans to "accelerate prison reform initiatives" to rehabilitate non-violent offenders so they are able to be reintegrated into society.
Weekly drug testing will be introduced, and a remand centre will be constructed in Grand Bahama.
The Defence Force is also a part of the FNM's plan to fight crime. It wants to increase manpower on the force by 180 and introduce a reserves list similar to that of the police force.
The Defence Force is also expected to receive additional equipment in the form of sea and aircraft to help in the fight against illegal migration, poaching and drug smuggling.
While not as detailed at the governing party, the DNA's The Vision 2012 and Beyond manifesto lists crime as the first issue to be tackled after the election.
The party will focus on six areas:
■Enforce laws without political interference.
■Support the development and strengthening of a Bahamian criminal justice system that works.
■Develop a comprehensive and research-proven system to rehabilitate offenders, including academic programmes, and work readiness and skill building programmes.
■Commit necessary finance and people to the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force to ensure "they are in the best position to be effective in their roles".
■Ensure the enforcement of capital punishment and that bail is not granted for accused murderers.
There are some similarities between the FNM and the DNA's plans.
Both parties are looking to strengthen the capacity of the judiciary and the various law enforcement agencies. They also recognise the importance of reforming and educating prisoners to reduce the number of repeat offenders.
The similarities end there.
The DNA has publicly stated its intention to carry out the death penalty. There is no mention of capital punishment in the FNM's manifesto.
The FNM government removed the Magistrates Courts' discretion to grant bail for murder and other serious offences. However, persons eligible who can prove they should to be granted bail can be given a bond by the Supreme Court.
Is the DNA proposing to support this move? Regarding the death penalty, how will the DNA get past the ruling of the Privy Council, based in the UK?
Mr McCartney answered this question last Wednesday.
"We're making sure that if it goes to the Privy Council, we'll have the laws in place that will force their hands when there is a conviction on murder, that the death penalty will be enforced."
What is the PLP's stance on capital punishment?
The country will find out when the party releases its manifesto for the country's 170,000 voters to see.
People will then be better placed to cast their votes in the ongoing fight against this particular Goliath.
April 23, 2012
tribune242
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.
Showing posts with label Bahamas murder rate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bahamas murder rate. Show all posts
Monday, April 23, 2012
Sunday, August 7, 2011
The murder rate for a country the size of The Bahamas has reached a crisis point... It is unacceptable
Are we doing enough to fight crime?
thenassauguardian editorial
Last Saturday’s triple homicide off Carmichael Road has shocked many Bahamians and residents of New Providence already reeling from a rising murder count that is certain to far outpace last year’s record of 94.
In what marked the 83rd, 84th and 85th murders for the year, two women, one of whom was pregnant, and a man were gunned down in an apartment on Montgomery Avenue early Saturday morning.
Police are investigating the possibility that the murders are connected to a double homicide that took place several weeks ago, not far from the site of the triple murder.
Police believe that many of the recent murders are connected and that generally speaking random killings are rare. This is the line that has often been used by senior officials trying to calm the fears of New Providence residents.
The murder rate for a country the size of The Bahamas has reached a crisis point. It is unacceptable.
By the end of July last year the murder count was at 54. This year that number had jumped by 31 by the end of July. Last month a recorded-breaking 20 murders were recorded.
Our average so far for the year is 12 murders per month. On that pace we could surpass the 94 mark before this month is up. It could also mean that we could record more than 140 murders this year.
We know that this point is not lost on police and government officials who have invested efforts and resources in the crime fight. And who obviously want to see crime brought under control.
The Gun Court has been an important step in the right direction and has so far been productive in helping to deal with our significant case backlog. There has also been a significant investment to increase resources for our police officers. And steps have been taken to improve the physical infrastructure of the judiciary.
But have those efforts and resources been enough? Obviously not.
More needs to be done to bring down crime in the country.
We acknowledge that the onus is not just on the government or police to come up with solutions, the community must also do its part.
However, the commissioner of police and minister of national security have been given as a part of their mandate the management and prevention of crime to the highest extent possible.
It is a difficult task, but we must do better than we are doing now.
The crime phenomenon is not unique to The Bahamas, the Caribbean or anywhere else.
We need to look at how other developed countries are approaching their fight against the scourge of crime and violence.
Jamaica, which has had one of the highest murder rates in the world, has seen a significant drop in its murder count this year after a gang crackdown, according to officials.
Based on what is often said by our local police and government officials, it would seem that a similar approach could prove successful here.
It may also be time to look at how existing youth, community and rehabilitation programs can be improved.
Perhaps it is time to consider — as some cities in the U.S. have done — the appointment of a crime prevention coordinator who works closely with the commissioner of police and Ministry of National Security to help implement crime prevention programs, among other things.
We do not have the answers, nor do we pretend to have them.
But we must do something more, and quickly.
Aug 05, 2011
thenassauguardian editorial
thenassauguardian editorial
Last Saturday’s triple homicide off Carmichael Road has shocked many Bahamians and residents of New Providence already reeling from a rising murder count that is certain to far outpace last year’s record of 94.
In what marked the 83rd, 84th and 85th murders for the year, two women, one of whom was pregnant, and a man were gunned down in an apartment on Montgomery Avenue early Saturday morning.
Police are investigating the possibility that the murders are connected to a double homicide that took place several weeks ago, not far from the site of the triple murder.
Police believe that many of the recent murders are connected and that generally speaking random killings are rare. This is the line that has often been used by senior officials trying to calm the fears of New Providence residents.
The murder rate for a country the size of The Bahamas has reached a crisis point. It is unacceptable.
By the end of July last year the murder count was at 54. This year that number had jumped by 31 by the end of July. Last month a recorded-breaking 20 murders were recorded.
Our average so far for the year is 12 murders per month. On that pace we could surpass the 94 mark before this month is up. It could also mean that we could record more than 140 murders this year.
We know that this point is not lost on police and government officials who have invested efforts and resources in the crime fight. And who obviously want to see crime brought under control.
The Gun Court has been an important step in the right direction and has so far been productive in helping to deal with our significant case backlog. There has also been a significant investment to increase resources for our police officers. And steps have been taken to improve the physical infrastructure of the judiciary.
But have those efforts and resources been enough? Obviously not.
More needs to be done to bring down crime in the country.
We acknowledge that the onus is not just on the government or police to come up with solutions, the community must also do its part.
However, the commissioner of police and minister of national security have been given as a part of their mandate the management and prevention of crime to the highest extent possible.
It is a difficult task, but we must do better than we are doing now.
The crime phenomenon is not unique to The Bahamas, the Caribbean or anywhere else.
We need to look at how other developed countries are approaching their fight against the scourge of crime and violence.
Jamaica, which has had one of the highest murder rates in the world, has seen a significant drop in its murder count this year after a gang crackdown, according to officials.
Based on what is often said by our local police and government officials, it would seem that a similar approach could prove successful here.
It may also be time to look at how existing youth, community and rehabilitation programs can be improved.
Perhaps it is time to consider — as some cities in the U.S. have done — the appointment of a crime prevention coordinator who works closely with the commissioner of police and Ministry of National Security to help implement crime prevention programs, among other things.
We do not have the answers, nor do we pretend to have them.
But we must do something more, and quickly.
Aug 05, 2011
thenassauguardian editorial
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Suggestions for lowering crime in The Bahamas
Limiting the number of children a woman can have 'could fight crime'
tribune242
LIMITING the number of children a woman can have to two could be one way of fighting the growing crime problem, a panel hosted by the New Covenant Baptist Church suggested.
The proposal is one of more than a dozen that the group presented to those attending a community meeting at the East West Highway church last night. The meeting was held to get public input on ways to curb the escalating murder rate.
Bishop Simeon Hall, who did not come up with the suggestion, said such a policy could be instrumental in limiting the number of unwanted children in the country - who often end up as statistics or in penal institutions.
"The person who proffered that idea is suggesting that at the core of our social problems is the indiscriminate way Bahamian women have children - now obviously women can't have children by themselves so the blanket statement (should be) the indiscriminate way we have children," said Bishop Hall, pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church.
"Since the majority of our children are born to unwed parents, we need to look at the unwed parents who have the children and just lean on the rest of society to care for the children.
"What we are saying is in the long term, a child who is born to parents who didn't want them and is left to rear himself, he is likely to become a statistic so there is some merit to that (idea)," he told The Tribune.
The panel's other suggestions for lowering crime include:
* carry out capital punishment;
* give life sentences without the possibility of parole to more classes of convict;
* institute a national curfew for minors;
* bring foreign officers into the Royal Bahamas Police Force;
* remove the Privy Council as the highest court of appeal;
* charge parents in connection with the minor criminal offences committed by their children;
* radically restructure the country's educational system.
August 05, 2011
tribune242
tribune242
LIMITING the number of children a woman can have to two could be one way of fighting the growing crime problem, a panel hosted by the New Covenant Baptist Church suggested.
The proposal is one of more than a dozen that the group presented to those attending a community meeting at the East West Highway church last night. The meeting was held to get public input on ways to curb the escalating murder rate.
Bishop Simeon Hall, who did not come up with the suggestion, said such a policy could be instrumental in limiting the number of unwanted children in the country - who often end up as statistics or in penal institutions.
"The person who proffered that idea is suggesting that at the core of our social problems is the indiscriminate way Bahamian women have children - now obviously women can't have children by themselves so the blanket statement (should be) the indiscriminate way we have children," said Bishop Hall, pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church.
"Since the majority of our children are born to unwed parents, we need to look at the unwed parents who have the children and just lean on the rest of society to care for the children.
"What we are saying is in the long term, a child who is born to parents who didn't want them and is left to rear himself, he is likely to become a statistic so there is some merit to that (idea)," he told The Tribune.
The panel's other suggestions for lowering crime include:
* carry out capital punishment;
* give life sentences without the possibility of parole to more classes of convict;
* institute a national curfew for minors;
* bring foreign officers into the Royal Bahamas Police Force;
* remove the Privy Council as the highest court of appeal;
* charge parents in connection with the minor criminal offences committed by their children;
* radically restructure the country's educational system.
August 05, 2011
tribune242
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Bahamians want to know what more can be done legally and constitutionally to address the bail crisis
The bail crisis
thenassauguardian editorial
With the release of the recent murder statistics showing alarming increases, Bahamians are growing increasingly frightened for themselves, their loved ones, their property — and our way of life.
This must be a sobering moment for the Government. It should also be a sober moment for the Opposition, as they too, were unable to arrest the rise in serious crime.
This is not a moment for the Government to lose its nerve or for the Opposition to attempt to score political points on what is arguably the number one issue for most citizens.
One area which most Bahamians feel some headway can be made in the fight against crime is in regards to bail for serious criminals.
The government and Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest should be commended for implementing the electronic monitoring bracelet system, which it is hoped will go a long way in preventing suspects from re-offending.
But it is still hard for Bahamians to understand why so many dangerous criminals are out on bail, mocking our system of justice and terrorizing us in our homes and in our businesses.
Our murder rate would have been lower over the past several years if a number of the persons on bail were still in custody. We have had three record-breaking murder counts in four years. We are on pace to have another record breaking year when it comes to murders.
Rulings by the Privy Council on how long an individual can be held on remand before being released on bail were intended to protect the innocent and various civil liberties. The ruling has had unintended consequences, mostly arising from how unprepared our national leadership was to deal with such a momentous ruling.
Bahamians want to understand what is going on. And they want action.
So far, the political leadership of the country, FNM and PLP, has failed to adequately explain and effectively communicate the details of the Privy Council ruling, which inadvertently helped to fuel the current crisis.
More urgently, Bahamians want to know what more can be done legally and constitutionally to address the bail crisis.
The government has said that it will amend the Bail Act to limit the circumstances under which bail may be granted. From what we understand, there has been some concern surrounding the constitutionality of such a move.
Are there constitutional changes that can be made in this area? If there are, they should be explored, if that is not already being done. If not, it should be explained to the public.
Crime knows no boundaries or person, property or politics.
Bahamians do not want finger-pointing and the casting of blame. There is plenty of blame to go around, including of those citizens who tolerate or turn a blind eye to certain crimes when it is convenient.
Bahamians want and deserve a better explanation in terms of the various issues surrounding the matter of bail. But, more importantly, they are demanding action, arising out of fear for their very lives and livelihoods.
4/5/2011
thenassauguardian editorial
thenassauguardian editorial
With the release of the recent murder statistics showing alarming increases, Bahamians are growing increasingly frightened for themselves, their loved ones, their property — and our way of life.
This must be a sobering moment for the Government. It should also be a sober moment for the Opposition, as they too, were unable to arrest the rise in serious crime.
This is not a moment for the Government to lose its nerve or for the Opposition to attempt to score political points on what is arguably the number one issue for most citizens.
One area which most Bahamians feel some headway can be made in the fight against crime is in regards to bail for serious criminals.
The government and Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest should be commended for implementing the electronic monitoring bracelet system, which it is hoped will go a long way in preventing suspects from re-offending.
But it is still hard for Bahamians to understand why so many dangerous criminals are out on bail, mocking our system of justice and terrorizing us in our homes and in our businesses.
Our murder rate would have been lower over the past several years if a number of the persons on bail were still in custody. We have had three record-breaking murder counts in four years. We are on pace to have another record breaking year when it comes to murders.
Rulings by the Privy Council on how long an individual can be held on remand before being released on bail were intended to protect the innocent and various civil liberties. The ruling has had unintended consequences, mostly arising from how unprepared our national leadership was to deal with such a momentous ruling.
Bahamians want to understand what is going on. And they want action.
So far, the political leadership of the country, FNM and PLP, has failed to adequately explain and effectively communicate the details of the Privy Council ruling, which inadvertently helped to fuel the current crisis.
More urgently, Bahamians want to know what more can be done legally and constitutionally to address the bail crisis.
The government has said that it will amend the Bail Act to limit the circumstances under which bail may be granted. From what we understand, there has been some concern surrounding the constitutionality of such a move.
Are there constitutional changes that can be made in this area? If there are, they should be explored, if that is not already being done. If not, it should be explained to the public.
Crime knows no boundaries or person, property or politics.
Bahamians do not want finger-pointing and the casting of blame. There is plenty of blame to go around, including of those citizens who tolerate or turn a blind eye to certain crimes when it is convenient.
Bahamians want and deserve a better explanation in terms of the various issues surrounding the matter of bail. But, more importantly, they are demanding action, arising out of fear for their very lives and livelihoods.
4/5/2011
thenassauguardian editorial
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
The culture of the Attorney General’s office needs to change
Standing with the commissioner
thenassauguardian editorial
The Bahamas has a crime problem. No reasonable person would question this statement.
There have been three homicide records in four years. This month the killings have continued at the same record pace as in 2010. The Bahamas has one of the highest murder rates in the region.
Whenever there is a crime problem, Bahamians look to the commissioner of police. He is expected to bring things under control and stop the bad guys. This view is overly simplistic.
On the response side, there are four divisions of the state that are critical regarding the crime fight. Police, the Office of the Attorney General, the court and prison must all function well if a society is to have a functional response to crime. No one of these divisions can fix a crime problem alone.
Others must step forward as public faces in this fight along with the commissioner. Here we will address one of the other three agencies: the AG’s office.
Prosecutors are as important as police in ensuring that criminals are dealt with. Police arrest those responsible for committing violent crimes. Police then marshal evidence and prosecutors lead cases in the Supreme Court.
If the prosecutors are incompetent, then there is little consequence to committing violent crime. As we have said before, the AG’s office is too detached.
The police commissioner speaks regularly. He is also criticized regularly. Police release crime statistics regularly. The police commissioner is mandated to release a policing plan annually. The director of public prosecutions and the AG’s office, however, are not held to the same standard.
Where is the DPP’s prosecution plan for 2011? Has the office prepared one? Shouldn’t Vinette Graham-Allen have to present such a plan to the public and defend it in front of the media just as Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade has to?
Why do the AG’s office and its Department of Public Prosecutions not regularly release data about its work? They must keep records. Does the office think it is above scrutiny? Or is it that the performance of the office is so poor that it does not want the public to know the depths of the failure?
Recently, the AG’s office released its annual report for 2010. This is a good thing. Annual reporting is a part of the accountability process. The AG’s office now has a website. This is also a good development. However, the annual report had no data included in it regarding the work of the Department of Public Prosecutions.
If the level of violent crime is to be reduced in The Bahamas, citizens and the political ruling class must demand more from our prosecutors. The office must be subjected to greater public scrutiny. It should be mandated by law that the AG’s office and police release quarterly statistics. It should be mandated by law that an annual plan is released by the chief prosecutor just as such a standard is mandated of the police commissioner. And the politicians should mandate that the chief prosecutors hold regular news conference to inform the public of the work of the department.
If the prime minister can subject himself to questions from the media, then surely the DPP can do the same.
This commentary is not a criticism of Graham-Allen. The culture of the AG’s office needs to change. Greenslade subjects himself to scrutiny and take the blows that result. In the process the democracy is strengthened. The DPP must be made to do the same.
1/24/2011
thenassauguardian editorial
thenassauguardian editorial
The Bahamas has a crime problem. No reasonable person would question this statement.
There have been three homicide records in four years. This month the killings have continued at the same record pace as in 2010. The Bahamas has one of the highest murder rates in the region.
Whenever there is a crime problem, Bahamians look to the commissioner of police. He is expected to bring things under control and stop the bad guys. This view is overly simplistic.
On the response side, there are four divisions of the state that are critical regarding the crime fight. Police, the Office of the Attorney General, the court and prison must all function well if a society is to have a functional response to crime. No one of these divisions can fix a crime problem alone.
Others must step forward as public faces in this fight along with the commissioner. Here we will address one of the other three agencies: the AG’s office.
Prosecutors are as important as police in ensuring that criminals are dealt with. Police arrest those responsible for committing violent crimes. Police then marshal evidence and prosecutors lead cases in the Supreme Court.
If the prosecutors are incompetent, then there is little consequence to committing violent crime. As we have said before, the AG’s office is too detached.
The police commissioner speaks regularly. He is also criticized regularly. Police release crime statistics regularly. The police commissioner is mandated to release a policing plan annually. The director of public prosecutions and the AG’s office, however, are not held to the same standard.
Where is the DPP’s prosecution plan for 2011? Has the office prepared one? Shouldn’t Vinette Graham-Allen have to present such a plan to the public and defend it in front of the media just as Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade has to?
Why do the AG’s office and its Department of Public Prosecutions not regularly release data about its work? They must keep records. Does the office think it is above scrutiny? Or is it that the performance of the office is so poor that it does not want the public to know the depths of the failure?
Recently, the AG’s office released its annual report for 2010. This is a good thing. Annual reporting is a part of the accountability process. The AG’s office now has a website. This is also a good development. However, the annual report had no data included in it regarding the work of the Department of Public Prosecutions.
If the level of violent crime is to be reduced in The Bahamas, citizens and the political ruling class must demand more from our prosecutors. The office must be subjected to greater public scrutiny. It should be mandated by law that the AG’s office and police release quarterly statistics. It should be mandated by law that an annual plan is released by the chief prosecutor just as such a standard is mandated of the police commissioner. And the politicians should mandate that the chief prosecutors hold regular news conference to inform the public of the work of the department.
If the prime minister can subject himself to questions from the media, then surely the DPP can do the same.
This commentary is not a criticism of Graham-Allen. The culture of the AG’s office needs to change. Greenslade subjects himself to scrutiny and take the blows that result. In the process the democracy is strengthened. The DPP must be made to do the same.
1/24/2011
thenassauguardian editorial
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