The Tribune

WE HOPE that Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade will remain his own man and not let politicians influence his decisions and sully his fine reputation.

Recently, he made what we would consider an uncharacteristic decision when it was discovered that he had withheld information on an increase in rapes in the community. Women were particularly disturbed to learn that police gave no early warning signals that danger could be stalking them. We can’t imagine Mr Greenslade withholding such information last year, so what would make him do so this year? The speculation is that the newly elected PLP, which had promised to conquer crime, could not face such bad news so early in its administration.

The only conclusion that can be drawn is that the politicians wanted to soft-pedal the news.

However, the Bahamian electorate would have to be particularly stupid if it believed that after only a few weeks in government, the PLP could have established its Urban Renewal 2.0 programme, and have it bear immediate fruit.

Mr Greenslade told the press on Tuesday that crime, including murder, is on the decline across the country due in part to the “significant work” being done by police officers — in other words the new duties they have been given under the PLP’s Urban Renewal programme. He said that significant work is being done by police officers in New Providence, Grand Bahama and the Family Islands, “simply because we were on the front lines.”

The question to be asked Mr Greenslade is: What is so different about the police being on the frontlines under the PLP, and when the public believed they were on the frontlines under the FNM? Obviously, it was the PLP’s Urban Renewal 2.0.

“We’ve always contended that if officers are immersed in communities when things happen, the response is quick and there’s a good chance we can wrap things up quickly and that is what you see happening,” said Mr Greenslade. He is reported to have said that Urban Renewal 2.0 was working. Really, it is too early for anyone to assess whether or not the PLP-styled Urban Renewal is working.

Commenting on the high crime levels at the beginning of the year, Commissioner Greenslade said that officers have recently seen a decline in serious crime.

Those of us who lived through the transition from one government to the other just a few short months ago would not have agreed. The country was shocked at the crime spree after May 7. Three days after the PLP victory, five persons were dead within 48 hours. It caused us all to sit up and take note as crime started to climb and criminals were suddenly turning their guns on police officers.

“I must tell you what is significant,” said the Commissioner, “we have arrested a number of prolific offenders and those persons are still incarcerated.” And so if crime is on the decline — this is the answer – the Bail Act, introduced under the FNM government last year, is now starting to bear fruit. If the judiciary had cooperated and denied bail more often the police’s fight against crime would have been even further ahead. Because, the courts seemingly failed to understand the problem, legislation was introduced to prevent magistrates from granting bail in serious cases.

And so it is too soon for anyone to assess Urban Renewal 2.0, but thanks to the Bail Act, progress is being made.

As we write this article, a report from Freeport has just flashed across our screen. Speaking at the Hilton Outten Convention Centre in Freeport earlier in the day, Prime Minister Christie made it clear who is directing the police force in the execution of Urban Renewal — it’s obviously not the Commissioner of Police.

“I admonished the Commissioner of Police,” Mr Christie told the press, “I told him ‘you have your views about policing but we are responsible for policy, and policy tells us this is how we want to implement the programme and you go out and do the programme for us and if it fails then we are responsible’."

So now we know. No wonder Commissioner Greenslade had such a pained look on his face at his own press conference this week.

Also Mr Christie declared that Urban Renewal 2.0 is bigger than politics and for it to work effectively it has to be “above politics.”

We hope he remembers these words and selects the best qualified, regardless of politics, to work in the programme.