Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe KC speaks to reporters during a ceremony where Safeboat vessels and other lifesaving equipment was donated to the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) by The US Embassy at the Police Training College on Friday. Photo: Dante Carrer
'We don't haphazardly determine to commit our citizens anywhere'
MINISTER of National Security Wayne Munroe also spoke about the possibility of The Bahamas sending troops to Haiti, saying “We don't haphazardly determine to commit our citizens anywhere.”
Speaking with reporters on Friday, Mr Munroe said: “The first thing is you have to get what they would be going there to do.
“We don't haphazardly determine to commit our citizens anywhere. Before, we committed police officers to Turks and Caicos, because this was in our security interest.
“The Commissioner of Police had to be satisfied that all the relevant agreements were in place, that there was a definition of the mission his men would be sent on. The same would have to happen before any deployment to Haiti.
“As so we have to define the things that will define what our personnel will do. It's to train, maybe, right here, because the Haitian national police, their coast guard, need training. Some of our assistance may take place right here on police college grounds, training members of the Haitian national police. And so when it defined we will certainly come to the pubic.”
Speaking about the recent spike in violent crime in the country, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said on Friday that members of the public have a personal responsibility to make criminals known to police.
“The greatest concern is whether or not the public is listening to the advice the police have been giving for the last two and a half years, and we’ve been echoing, which is that we all know that people who have this mindset are not in our national interests,” he said.
Mr Munroe was speaking with reporters at an event in which the US Embassy presented four vessels to the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
“The police, the Commissioner, Chief Supt Skippings have been saying for two and a half years they’re also not in your personal interests,” he said.
“And so as I said on a interview at the beginning of this year, we have to make a decision as to what type of country we want to live in. And we make that decision quite simply. It is clear now, if it wasn’t before, that these young men appear to have no regard for life at all, and no regard for anything.
“And so if they’re around you, they have no regard for anybody else’s life and you have a responsibility, you have a personal responsibility, to make them known to the police. You can’t just say it has nothing to do with you.”
Mr Munroe added that firearms only have one purpose.
“If you see something, say it to the police,” he said.
“A gun only has one purpose, a handgun has one purpose, and that is to kill. An assault weapon has one purpose and that is to kill. So don’t delude yourself into thinking that your son, your nephew, your neighbour has it for anything other than that.
“And so, quite clearly, the Commissioner, Chief Supt Skippings, we’ve been saying for two and a half years, the police are counting on all of us. Because after they do these things, (they) will be caught – I think it was under an hour so yesterday. But that’s after the damage is done.
“Somebody would have known these young people have the guns. Speak up, otherwise you are part of the conspiracy that’s causing these problems.”
On the subject of bail, Mr Munroe said a collaborative effort is needed.
“Well, the Commissioner, he speaks from the point of being a law enforcement official. And he speaks with the passion that brings to it. But the one thing he did say, that people need to focus on, is it has to be a collaborative effort. We all have to come to the table. He said that. The Attorney General said that yesterday. Khalil Parker, the president of the Bar, said that yesterday. The Chief Justice said that.
“I have indicated from last year, the Chief Justice has agreed to a task force and that is what it's going to be focussed on.
“What the Attorney General has said, which is an approach going forward, is that the Court of Appeal has said that bail can be denied for somebody's own safety or for the safety of the public. We have seen that when people come to kill these fellas, other people may be injured.
“So the Court of Appeal has said that's a basis, the Attorney General has said that the office of the DPP will be more aggressive when police provide the evidence that this is gang related, retaliation related, to object to bail.
“And, if the Supreme Court judge still grants it, to appeal it to the Court of Appeal. That is in effect what the Chief Justice said as well is the way to go.”
The minister added that the Office of The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is going to be more aggressive.
“So we're going to be more aggressive, the office of the DPP, our lawyers, in terms of prosecutions,” Mr Munroe said. “As a lawyer, I can tell you, you get to hold your lawyer to account. So just as the Commissioner produced those statistics, the police will be holding the office of the DPP to account, to make their objections to bail. That if the judges grant the bail then to appeal those grants of bail to the Court of Appeal.
And, as the Chief Justice says, the person remains in custody while that appeal moves forward.”
Comments
sheeprunner12 3 months, 2 weeks ago
What Wayne Munroe (a criminal lawyer) is not getting is this:
The skittish public does not trust the Police or Munroe with such sensitive information. They don't know whether the Police will use it against them, expose them during investigations, or for aiding & abetting criminal cronies/officers on the PF.
Secondly, if criminal family members help to take care of those who are harbouring them, either financially or physically, why would their dependents report them to the Police?
Thirdly, if a neighbor knows that a known notorious criminal is next door and he reports them, then he becomes literally the "walking dead". So, neighbors stay quiet out of fear or intimidation.
Nassau is about self preservation, no one cares to go and volunteer information about criminals that may get them killed. The 4000 Police officers need to be bold, savvy & more community oriented. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
Cobalt 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Agreed.
ThisIsOurs 3 months, 2 weeks ago
The public doesnt have a "responsibility" to do anything
Theyre not being paid. They dont have a job title and theyre not on any committee. Yes it would certainly be helpful and in society's best interest if the police got assistance, but theres no "responsibility"
If we want to talk about "responsibility", lets start with Nygard charges, FTX charges, Red light running, FOIA, Fiscal Reporting Council and the PAC. Show us what responsibility looks like
ThisIsOurs 3 months, 2 weeks ago
I forgot timely financial reporting by MPs and an explanation why Kinsley Smith didnt have a bank account. Responsibility.
TalRussell 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Can I make the argument that the answer is not so black or white ---- You're damned eiiher way. --- Do Significant Others have a responsibility to make criminals known to the policemans? --- What if the Significant Other learns about past/future crimes during the relationship and is making an effort to dissuade their Significant Other from committing future crimes. --- Yes?
Cobalt 3 months, 2 weeks ago
A criminal defense attorney as national security minister! Can you say “oxymoron”? Not to mention “a blatant conflict of interest”! I swear, you just can’t make this stuff up! This country is a joke, and a bad one at that! Our people have no code of conduct, ethics, or professional etiquette! How is our country going to get any better when our leaders are openly shameless?! And what does that say about our people who continue to vote for them?! Shit always attracts flies!
Cobalt 3 months, 2 weeks ago
“We don’t have any feasible solutions to crime, so let’s just blame the people. They’re stupid enough to vote for me, so they’re stupid enough to bear the weight of responsibility” Smh.
mandela 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Because the RBPF are filled with dummies who can't solve crimes without beating people, shooting people dogs, kicking down people doors and entering without a warrant they will never get help from the public, the same people they want help from is the very same people they bully and terrorize how do they expect that to work? You call the police to help solve a matter and end up being killed yourself. You wanted the job now get to it and stop worrying about promotions.
sheeprunner12 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Agreed. Police have shitloads of resources, well paid officers & friendly Govt.
Do your jobs and stop whining ........ Smh
Sickened 3 months, 1 week ago
Okay, let's work through Munroe's suggestion. Let's say I have a friend that I know is bad in the head and has a gun hidden somewhere. He has no particular beef with anyone at the moment, but it's only a matter of time. I tell the police about this and... 1) They assign 2 officers to follow my friend around for a couple days, weeks months? 2) They round up my friend and charge him for being 'bad in the head' and beat him for information about the gun that I said he had hidden somewhere, and then get sued for false arrest and battery? 3) They tell my friend about a social services lecture they have coming up about conflict resolution? Now times that above scenario by about 50 or 100. Will any of the above scenario's help our current crime situation?
rosiepi 3 months, 1 week ago
I do not doubt that Munroe knows all the ins and outs of police intrusiveness and aggression, as an attorney he makes hay on the denial of civil rights to defendants in court. And it’s all tosh obviously. The UN committee here recently spoke on this matter as well, that defendants, and those arrested and/or imprisoned are not given the chance to call a lawyer or a family member, nor is there a working phone for which to do so. They’re threatened and bullied. They are not told they have that right nor are they given names of lawyers to aid them. They’re forcibly questioned w/o their lawyer even after somehow contacting one.
In other words the moment a person comes under suspicion and/or is questioned/arrested all their rights disappear.
And Munroe says he’s going to increase, ensure these circumstances at the same time his government mouths about it’s seriousness in finishing building a prison and system that stands up to scrutiny, safeguards their health, lives and lawful processes? That doesn’t make sense does it?
hrysippus 3 months, 1 week ago
Was not her mother one of the race of colonizers, Beryl, was it not? OK, Let's move on from that, after all Pindling's father was born in Barbados so he was only half Bahamian, true true, aye?
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