PREVENTION OR PROSECUTION?: PM says priority must be tackling causes of crime not just catching criminals

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday. Photo: Austin Fernander

As of Thursday, August 11, 2022

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis has described as “alarming” this year’s current rise in cases of murder.

On Tuesday, Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander revealed homicides were up by 21 when compared with 2021. He also said there was a rise of 49 percent in armed robberies so far this year.

In response Mr Davis said his administration plans to tackle escalating violence by placing more focus on crime prevention rather than detection.

“We don’t embrace it and we will do all that we can to try to reverse that trend,” Mr Davis told reporters.

“And we start not from after the murders would have taken place, but we’re going to put more emphasis in prevention rather than detecting because we think that if we work to identify the root causes of the challenges our young people are having that lead them to do what they’re doing, we will be more successful.

“I think over the years, we have put too much emphasis on detecting crime rather than seeking to prevent crime and that’s going to be our emphasis moving forward.”

According to Commissioner Fernander, there have been 85 murders recorded in the country to date, equating to a 21 percent increase when compared to the same time in 2021.

He also revealed that 55 percent of the victims killed this year were out on bail.

Despite the increasing crime rates, Mr Fernander said he believes police will be “able to hold the line” when it comes to fighting crime.

“I still believe that we will be able to finish the year strong,” the police chief added. “still under 100. In 2018, before I went on leave, we had the count under 100 after two decades. We will do it again… and we intend to fix that and do just that and still under 100.”

“There’s still a few more months to go and I believe that we will be able to hold the line and finish strong.”

Mr Davis previously told reporters that one of things his administration has been looking at to tackle crime is the possibility of enacting an anti-gang bill.

He has told Attorney General Ryan Pinder to look at regional gang legislation to determine if a standalone new law should be enacted or if changes should be made to the Penal Code.

This comes amid heightened suspicions from police that many of recent homicides could be gang related.

When asked for an update on the issue yesterday, the Prime Minister said: “We are collaborating now with the Commissioner of Police and other stakeholders in this initiative as to what we come in with and when we come up with a plan, you will hear from me.”

Sickened 1 year, 8 months ago

So Brave will look in the camera and tell Bahamians to stop grinin' each other without protection? 'Cause that's what's leading to too many unwanted kids and ultimately this high crime rate. There are simply far too many people in this country. If 100k of us would instantly vanish then we would just about be at the population level we need to be at.

joeblow 1 year, 8 months ago

... the amount of single parent homes is one issue, but equally as important is illegal immigrants. One cannot expect people who break the law to enter your country to be law abiding citizens after they reach. There are escalating levels of criminality needed in order for them to get forged documents, squat on land etc.

killemwitdakno 1 year, 8 months ago

Same gang expansion. Turning the place into the neighbor ran by gangs.

Emilio26 1 year, 8 months ago

joeblow actually you don't really hear much about haitians being involved in gang violence as much as Bahamian young men.

Flyingfish 1 year, 8 months ago

Mr. Brave Davis the Guns have to be coming from somewhere and the ammo. Find the trail and snuff it out. Set the death penalty for smuggling of weapons and ammo. If you want to supply others the means to kill for wealth because you don't care, you need a reality check.

newcitizen 1 year, 8 months ago

85 murders so far and they are saying that they will keep it below 100 for the rest of the year? 15 murders for the rest of the year?

realfreethinker 1 year, 8 months ago

Pipe dreams

temptedbythefruitofanother 1 year, 8 months ago

This comes amid heightened suspicions from police that many of recent homicides could be gang related.

The insight and sophistication of the RBPF never ceases to amaze me

killemwitdakno 1 year, 8 months ago

Try actually flying the drones every now and then even without using them, just to show the streets you've got tools. I bet no crime would happen the first day it's seen like when choppers come close for a bust. Teens will get it in their head early enough.

The two things causing your crime is Broken Bonds and Fast Money Immature desire.

Also, car owners can help by installing trackers to prevent most crimes with stolen cars. Hide the smart tag. Use same-hour stolen vehicle alerts like amber alert where the public can scan the (still absent) updated qr code on the license plate (pitched almost 10 yrs ago now). A mismatch means it's a stolen vehicle. (Still telling even if the plates are switched the moment it's stolen bc then the qr won't scan or it won't match the car model.) The first thing the owner does for a stolen car is update their link. Though a tracker would've handled much of the problem. The cars are as bad as the guns.

Hear the targets, warn the targets, protect the targets, and relocate the targets. It should drop 50% by reducing murders out on bail which causes two criminals. Trap with false targets. The co-killer accident was great. Now they think twice about trusting each other.

Send these guys to Caricom missions. Send them to Ukraine.

Don't mix hard criminals, put them on a cay to manage the waste to energy, livestock and garden. Here's why the states has dog breeding programs in jail.

I've also recently discovered that there's practically on-call conflict counseling free in some places.

You will have most of the previous drug dealers from the decriminalized weed bars.

Stores got to have double door foyers to trap robbers on exit.

I don't know if wifi on parks is safe.

birdiestrachan 1 year, 8 months ago

crime begins in the hearts and minds of the criminal.. The ability to reason will help

IslandWarrior 1 year, 8 months ago

Therein is the 'catch22' for the Bahamas; many politicians, Brave included, turned away a proven solution that will adequately inspect the vehicle (VIN Numbers, registration and ownership) before secure documents are issued. But sad to say, (only The Bahamas) has not instituted this safety system out of 95% of the so-called Western developed countries.

Simple proven initiatives where others stop referring to the Bahamas as "not a normal country". One Minister under the previous 'failed FNM administration' said, "the government would not give a contract like that to 3 black men like you"; I am yet to stop hearing these words echo in my ears. "...3 black men like you," another said ", he was not minded" to support the vehicle safety effort. And the Minnis Cabinet took the entire matter as an occasion to have a good laugh. But here we are, complaining about the same situation both parties denied, and Brave knows well what I am referring to. Still, our friendships, greed and pettiness are more important than the thing that will keep Bahamians and our visitors safe.

According to the Bahamas Insurance Industry, there could be as many as 40% (or 80 Thousand ) vehicles on the streets of the Bahamas that are 'ghost cars - with no registered owner, no insurance coverage and involved in most of the serious crimes and the more frequent 'hit and run' which according to the police traffic division could be as high as 20,000 each month.

A simple proven solution where every police vehicle would know the ownership and registration status of a car he is pursuing even before what could turn out to be a deadly arm confrontation or an intervention that could be the difference if the strange vehicle in your neighbourhood is there legitimately or perpetrating a crime.

But we deny, we laugh now we complain.

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