Branville McCartney
By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
DNA Leader Branville McCartney said yesterday if his party is elected to office, its first course of action would be to “immediately hang anyone who is convicted of murder”.
He added that National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage should “stick to gynaecology” as opposed to national security because he “obviously has no solution to the country’s growing crime problem”.
At a press conference, Mr McCartney said it is obvious that Dr Nottage “lives in another universe” if he still thinks New Providence is a safe place.
His comments came after three men were killed in three separate shooting incidents in less than 12 hours – taking the country’s murder count to 106 for the year.
“I would start hanging people,” he said. “I would make it the law right away. You commit murder, you will meet your maker. You will talk to the Almighty. I will not have any criminal element in this country controlling our way of life. I call on the commissioner, the minister of national security, his junior minister and the prime minister to do their jobs. The good gynaecologist needs to do something, these criminals are winning the war.”
Mr McCartney also questioned several of the government’s crime fighting strategies, that he said are not yielding results.
“Is the minster of national security saying that it is safe in this country? I have a problem with the minister saying foolishness, he ought to stick to gynaecology as opposed to national security because he does not know his front from his back. This place is not safe,” he said.
“I do not feel safe. Where does he live? We had three murders in 12 hours, does he know this?”
Mr McCartney said international human rights groups need to “stay the hell out of our business” and the government needs to abandon the London-based Privy Council, our final court of appeal, and start “executing these criminals”.
“What happened to the death penalty? Let’s fix the law so it can be carried out. If we have to get rid of the Privy Council then do it. They don’t know what is going on in this country, they don’t feel it. And Amnesty International needs to stay the hell out of our business when it comes to the criminal element. They don’t know what is going on here when you go home at night and you are afraid for your life. Stay out of our business, man. Stay out,” he said.
Comments
afficianado 9 years, 5 months ago
That's probably where we're headed. At least instill some fear into the law breakers and repeat offenders.
Thinker 9 years, 5 months ago
They are not afraid of death. The problem goes very deep into the family unit and lack of education. Open all the jails and kill all the criminals you want, but the problems shall persist until the core issues are addressed.
afficianado 9 years, 5 months ago
I concur
B_I_D___ 9 years, 5 months ago
Bring it on!! Let 'em swing...could add a few politicians to that conga line!!
duppyVAT 9 years, 5 months ago
Good start .................... now get campaigning for 2017
asiseeit 9 years, 5 months ago
It is time for some real action. The criminals have no fear. The politicians have no respect for the people. The church is a business. Crime and corruption are the norm. Illegal immigrants believe they run the show. This country has been run into the ground through greed and incompetence. Anything is better than what we have now!
Thinker 9 years, 5 months ago
That is the most untrue statement "anything is better than what we have now", however I would love to see a new government, or less of one. Branville will add taxes up the arse to add more jails and keep the town on curfew lockdown. Really, listen to his words carefully when he speaks of crime fighting. Don't be desperate in agreeing because he is the only "other voice".
Arrow 9 years, 5 months ago
Really! Let em swing! Now you gat my vote.
TalRussell 9 years, 5 months ago
Bran you gotta learn pump it, for all it got's. There's no denying that whenever the PLP or FNM are grabbing the headlines, there pops mouth of the fledgling green party's leader, acting all jealous with his latest, let's just hang, jail and flog the backs of the citizens. Comrade Bran you need purpose and you had it in protesting higher BEC charges for electricity usage. But once again your ego couldn't resist adding a dose of unnecessary Bran style looking silly dramatics. WATCH: Detroit water shutoffs of poor Comrades this remind you of BEC cutting off lights struggling pay they light bills while big shot business owners and politically connected, don't pay but they light either never get cut off or are quickly reconnected, after they make that call private call phone number?
...........//http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieKeH_...">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieKeH_...
sansoucireader 9 years, 4 months ago
He needs to stop "talkin' fool" because as a lawyer he KNOWS nothing will happen as quickly as that. He's just another one telling the public what he thinks they want to hear.
Straight_Talk_Bahamas 9 years, 5 months ago
Just Lost Any Chance Of My Vote....
Remember Bahamians, Mouth Could Say Anything. The Devil is in the details.
Ask him to explain exactly how he's going to do it. Ask him what are the big obstacles and how is he going to get around them.
A politician can not overrule the law and if they tamper with laws arbitrarily they will impact international confidence in our country. which you do not want...
Politicians continue to take Bahamians for fools because we fall for anything.
Andrewharris 9 years, 5 months ago
Agreed. What will he do when the hangings don't stop crime either? Hanging hasn't stopped crime anywhere else..and Bran knows this. Criminals don't think they will get caught...some on't care. Hanging is not the solution but it is what the population wants to hear so he says it to muster his votes. he lost any chance of mine too
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 5 months ago
Agree a friend of mine asked Bran about the details of a plan that he'd proposed, to my friend's shock, Bran got angry. I suspect it was a cover for the fact that he didn't really know. Surface good looks, gender, brashness, intelligence, success, affability etc are not enough to select the next leader. That applies to all of the potentials, not just Bran. they MUST HAVE DEPTH or they will do a worse job than the current administration. They will be deep in a hole if we continue on our current track and they will make all the wrong moves to dig us deeper.
Thinker 9 years, 5 months ago
He will hike taxes and lock us in our homes after dark. His words...curfew coming if he is elected.
Publius 9 years, 5 months ago
I am convinced the media is in the sole business of publishing total BS without keeping these people accountable for what they utter. It is not possible for the Prime Minister to "immediately" hang ANYONE convicted of murder and Branville must certainly know that, but perhaps the stuff shirt he is also knows that you can say almost anything to Bahamians once it sounds good and you sound good saying it, and they will believe it.
Thinker 9 years, 5 months ago
Served with a delicious snack at a fun rally.
Sickened 9 years, 5 months ago
They need to put nooses in court rooms. Guilty? Put your head in here son... it will be over soon. And don't bother asking 'GOD' for forgiveness. It's too late. Die and go to hell!
EnoughIsEnough 9 years, 5 months ago
ditto!!!
Thinker 9 years, 5 months ago
But only you care. The criminal isn't scared of death. Then what?
TheMadHatter 9 years, 5 months ago
I must agree with PUBLIUS. However, maybe that would also be a great campaigning move for Mr. McCartney. He and some lawyer buddies can research the issue and come up with the specifics!!!!!
Let him issue an article in the Tribune in the next 3 weeks or so - which details (with copy of the text and which chapter and verse it came from) the specific laws which tie us to the Privy Council in the case of hanging murderers - what Treaty etc. and then give like 3 or 4 specific legal steps that might be taken in the order they would be taken to remove that shackle from our ankles.
Or, if there is no solution, his research could also be published and he can then inform Bahamians - by citing specific chapters and verses (so to speak) - which explain exactly why we are permanently tied to the Privy Council and that we have no way of ever escaping their control and that therefore in effect they are our new slave masters and that slavery therefore continues unabated in the Bahamas.
Either way it is a win for him and an education for the public.
My guess is that we cannot escape them as long as the first line of our Constitution says that Her Majesty the Queen is the Head of State. We would need a change to the Constitution to remove her, and perhaps RENAME our Governor General to be President and have him be elected. The Prime Minister would retain the most power as he does now under the Constitution - just change the phrase Governor General to President wherever it appears in the Constitution and have a part of the amendment say that all Laws currently on the books which reference the Governor General shall remain in effect the same as if they referenced the President.
We could do it if we wanted to. But we would have to turn our attention away from Junkanoo, chasing marijuana smokers, and bashing gays for a couple months in order to focus on the solution - and I just doubt we have the ability to give up those addictions.
Thoughts ?
TheMadHatter
Andrewharris 9 years, 5 months ago
Well said
Thinker 9 years, 5 months ago
We need more candidates and a Libertarian party.
Letsdoit 9 years, 5 months ago
No way could I support this man or his party if this is their mandate....I agree it is a childish soundbite aimed at stirring up support. If this is his solution to reducing crime he has no idea what the real cause is.
Andrewharris 9 years, 5 months ago
He needs to marinade a little more
ChristopherMerrett 9 years, 5 months ago
The capital punishment solution has always struck me as self-defeating: kill people in order to persuade people not to kill people? And there is no global evidence to show that it reduces violent crime. The most peaceful countries in the world do not have capital punishment. The solution is complex but must surely include education (especially of young men), greater social cohesion, economic development and elimination of dugs and excessive drinking. But of course it's much easier (and a sure-fire vote catcher) to hang people. No doubt Mr McCartney is on to a good thing.
Christopher Merrett Pietermaritzburg, South Africa (abolitionist state for 20 years)
Andrewharris 9 years, 5 months ago
well said
Sickened 9 years, 5 months ago
Hanging may not reduce crime per se but it is guaranteed to reduce the number of criminals; which is what we can all agree with. We don't want criminals in our society. By removing them from the system we make room to put the next murderer or rapist. If we don't hang then we need to build more prisons to keep the next set or criminals in, which does not make sense to me. Even those people who believe in reform have to agree that not all criminals can be reformed, very few can be in fact. Isn't it crueler to keep those criminals in prison for the rest of their lives or would you like us to take the chance and let them out back into society and 'see what they do'!
Thinker 9 years, 5 months ago
No it is not guaranteed to reduce criminals. It is guaranteed to kill at least a few innocents, which is a fact. As long as the education system and family unit are as broken down as they are, and we allow more and more uneducated people to enter the country and abuse the "system" the crime will continue to rise.
concernedcitizen 9 years, 5 months ago
Mr McCartney knows this can,t be done and also has no effect on violent crime , he is pandering to an under educated ,xenophopic , emotional public , if he really believes this that is even more frightening
Thinker 9 years, 5 months ago
Yes indeed!!!! Frightening is the word! He is a socialist cloaked in "change for the people".
bandit 9 years, 5 months ago
U.S. have the electric chair and It hasn't stop people from killing.
Thinker 9 years, 5 months ago
And the amount of potential and later proven innocents the State kills is staggering, but I guess for many people it's worth killing so many who land on the wrong side of the law. Strange human behavior, all the killing.
Honestman 9 years, 5 months ago
Disappointing nonsense from Bran. He knows fine well that the legal world does not work like that. I thought he was better than those politicians who aim to seduce the ignorant and gullible masses with their false promises. Guess I was wrong.
Regardless 9 years, 5 months ago
This man has more arrogance than those combined of the three prime ministers of this nation. That is a very scary prospect!
pablojay 9 years, 5 months ago
All Branville ever say is what he thinks will get him some votes, not what he believes.
Thinker 9 years, 4 months ago
Is there any other kind of politician?
SP 9 years, 5 months ago
The PLP, FNM, DNA and any new comers simply need to replicate Singapore's laws, and our crime problems would be behind us in no time.
See Singapore's crime stat's:
http://www.nationmaster.com/country-i...">http://www.nationmaster.com/country-i...
The biggest obstacle we face in following Singapore's model is the need to firstly eradicate gross systemic corruption with-in the government itself, which is so deeply engrained neither PLP or FNM could withstand the scrutiny of a Freedom Of Information Act...Thus we will never get one from the PLP or FNM.
Resolving the crime issue is simple. Cleaning up political corruption and sending guilty parties to jail is the hard part......Because SO MANY of them have been corrupt to the core for decades.
Thinker 9 years, 4 months ago
It is not the politician's fault for the breakdown in the family unit, which is the core problem here. However, the political employees we have hired are perpetuating a broken system indeed!
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