The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Please print the attached open letter to the stated parties in one of the editions of your publication. For security reasons, I do not wish to give my name but trust you will publish the letter as I feel it represents the thoughts of many citizens, but in particular those who have experienced an armed robbery of the stated kind.

I was compelled to write this letter to convey my thoughts as I feel we as a people are complacent and sometimes allow lawlessness to prevail at all levels. If sufficient persons petition/bombard the Minister and Commissioner of Police, there has to be a positive change.

Thank you for your consideration.

Yours sincerely

A Concerned Citizen

September 12th, 2012.

OPEN LETTER TO:

The Hon Bernard Nottage, Minister of National Security; Mr Ellison Greenslade, Commissioner of Police Management; Nassau Motors (Honda Dealership) Management; Insurance Companies – Dear All:

I wish to express my thoughts/recommendations relating to the armed robbery of my 2009 Honda Accord and personal possessions at my doorstep recently. As a person with limited insight into the policing and control over, as I understand, the high instances of Honda theft, I have the following fundamental questions/comments:

1) In this 21 miles long and seven miles wide island, where are these cars and/or parts going? I understand this has been a vexing problem for many years. Is there no police intelligence to crack such a theft ring? If there is a manpower problem, Mr Minister, we need to recruit a team of expert policemen (local and overseas) to provide dynamic intelligence, systems, equipment (helicopters, etc) and independence i.e. uncompromised to stem this problem. The thieves cannot win such a battle as in the end there will be a petrified citizenry and lawlessness.

Mr Minister and Commissioner of Police, if there is a corruption problem, you have a responsibility to get to the bottom of the problem.

2) I know there is now a screening for licensing Honda cars at Road Traffic. Does this extend to the Family Islands as I understand stolen cars have turned up on Family Islands? The Government needs to invest in a central database system for registration/screening when cars are brought in by dealers and individuals, when insured, when sold, etc, with private/separate access for investigation by police. This will assist all, including the unsuspecting buyer of a stolen car.

3) As a longtime owner of Honda, I have decided to replace the stolen car with a different brand, although I have been so pleased with my Honda cars. The newer models of Honda cannot be stolen without the electronic key so the thieves are now holding you at gunpoint for the keys.

I suggest Nassau Motors and the related insurance companies partnership with the Government to seek ways and means to rectify this scourge as all are losing and in the end, the underground theft ring flourishes and the police department are rendered inept in this area.

4) I have been checking the CIA compound on Thompson Boulevard regularly; as I am told, stolen cars turn up and remain on the compound for a long time without advice to the related party. This tells me that there is little attention being paid to the car theft ring and its implications. I trust the above thoughts are considered in a positive light and lead to some form of rectification of the problem.

A CONCERNED CITIZEN

Nassau,

September 12, 2012.