By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
OPPOSITION Members of Parliament in New Providence have vowed to install CCTV systems in the crime ridden areas of their constituencies, announced FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday.
Dr Minnis said the monitoring equipment will be financed through constituency allowances.
The move comes in direct response to the crime situation that Dr Minnis said is alarming and evident with the armed robbery of acting Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and his family.
He was speaking during a press conference when the party made several suggestions to the government which they believe will assist in curbing the occurrences of crime.
“It is time for this government,” Dr Minnis said, “to go back to the drawing board. It is essential that as of today we do not demonstrate in any way—that life will be business as usual.
“(We must) immediately implement a Zero Tolerance approach to crime fighting. There is a pervasive view that across all aspects of our daily lives, we have permitted cultures of either criminality or acceptance of criminality to persist. We must not ignore the small things and address all crime, including blatant white collar criminals, many of whom steal from both state and citizen.”
The FNM leader urged the government to tell the truth about the severity of crime statistics which he believes have been “fudged”.
“Come clean with respect to crime statistics. Regaining public confidence starts with reestablishing trust, and right now the public does not trust the numbers and neither do we. Regrettably, there is a dominant view that the numbers are being under reported or frankly fudged in order to make some people look good. This type of practice erodes trust and works against the Commissioner and his team.”
Dr Minnis added that the FNM intends to table soon a bill to amend the constitution so that “the worst of the worst” is definable with a murderer labelled as such by a judge of the Supreme Court who will be able to make the convict liable for execution.
Comments
HarryBlack 10 years, 4 months ago
While paying for CCTV in their respective constituencies maybe a political stunt, it is nevertheless good. We all have an important role to play in restoring peace and love in our tiny country.
TalRussell 10 years, 4 months ago
Privacy Breach Alert! Hope the surveillance monitors want be located upstairs over on Mackey Street? Beam down on me, Reds! What an temptation to spy on the movement of PLP's and DNA's?
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 4 months ago
Now some sense, the first time this was proposed it was proposed for communities in western affluential districts. They are needed where the crime is occurring. Some thought should be put into regular maintenance and protecting the cameras from deliberate damage
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 4 months ago
Nah I don't speak that language, in the end I don't know what they will actually do, but I always advocate for getting the best person to do the job. "Best" is always an odd mix of qualities, for example, I wouldn't consider the most talented but an obviously unethical person as the best. If a foreign company costs more but they will provide better maintenance it will be better than a Bahamian paid less who allows equipment to fall into utter disrepair within 5years. Vendor selection takes some thought and some due diligence, this seems to be missing in awarding of govt contracts, it's typically a who you know.
I think CCTV is the way to go, if we can't behave then someone has to watch us. If the FNM is serious about fighting crime they will put lots of thought into vendor selection.
concernedcitizen 10 years, 4 months ago
Agreed , good post
positiveinput 10 years, 4 months ago
Better yet give them 2 million and its ok with me cause to give the contract to a Bahamian, all will happen is the equipment is not maintain or valuable footage missing when 'Auntie Tidda' son is captured on the camera doing some criminal act.
UserOne 10 years, 4 months ago
ThisIsOurs: "...where crime is occurring." Where is crime not occurring?
linnassau 10 years, 4 months ago
Agreed!!!
linnassau 10 years, 4 months ago
This authorities and the courts seem so impotent when it comes to weeding out the criminals from among us. If they could be weeded out I guess, just like the grass where weeds infest, there would be more criminals to replace what has been weeded out.
linnassau 10 years, 4 months ago
The authorities and the courts seem so impotent when it comes to weeding out the criminals from among us. If they could be weeded out I guess, just like the grass where weeds infest, there would be more criminals to replace what has been weeded out.
The_Oracle 10 years, 4 months ago
Cameras are good for reviewing an incident, unless someone is watching them 24/7, and can get very fast police response. A better idea is to build a prison for 20-30k perps, Minimum to Maximum, and invest in decent training for the Prison staff/officers. Let the courts know, Policy is lock 'em up, a moratorium on bail for obvious criminal behavior.! As it stands, the criminal element is only slightly inconvenienced by due process. make it a major pain, and they'll feel it. The prison facilities should include work programs so that every single inmate pays their own way, not just a few gangs. Also court facilities should be located on property! Get rid of the flying buses and traffic risks. get the politics out of the process of prosecution, enact strong laws for tampering by Criminal and politician alike! It'll take at least a decade to reverse 40 years of sloth and mismanagement, but it better be done!
Alex_Charles 10 years, 4 months ago
Despite the rampant stupidity of people who are against this, CCTV has been proven globally to reduce crime...when there are people to monitor the system and proper maintenance is done...but considering the state of the country I doubt it.
Alex_Charles 10 years, 4 months ago
I think it will play a good role in solving crime and convicting criminals. but that system is useless since the same people can get out on bail
TalRussell 10 years, 4 months ago
Comrades stop shouting can't you see 99% of posts agree this is accurate reporting. But it still don't mean the 99% are right.
pat242 10 years, 4 months ago
Hold on. CCTV camera are up. In fact more should be up and running. This is only politics talk.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 4 months ago
They are up in tourist areas, no idea if they're actually working. Dr Minnis is talking about putting them up where the crime is.
Liberty 10 years, 4 months ago
One may simply google, the effectiveness of CCTV on reducing crime. Criminals are being caught with or without CCTV but it is no use putting in thousands or millions of dollars into technology that when you catch these criminals they are back out on bail. I have to agree somewhat with Oracle is saying; we must fix the penal code to extend sentence years, reduce likelihood on bail to zero, and let criminals pay for the increase cost through labour in primarily some sort of manufacturing industry. Probably something like the textile industry; that of course if we don't have Human Rights Activists down our throats.
Bahamianpride 10 years, 4 months ago
Cameras only work to look up incidents after the fact unless they are manned 24-7.. And outsoucing there installation is rediculous they are pretty simple to install.. At issue should be the relationship between the Police and the Public.. We need to examine the RBPF and its professionalism. One of the greatest weapons against crime is the public and if they aint talking u pretty much screwed.. A cheaper solution would be to provide 25,000 cheap cell phones with direct link to police emergency in poor communities and a better response system in general..People will talk if there identity can be kept safe. This can only work if the RBPF Goan Squad stop beating people and operate like a professional organisation. Finally People have to consider that crime is institutionalized in the Government, including the Police Force so without radical changes in leadership and policy crime is not going to get better.. We need new blood period in politics, and leadership throughout...Electing the same people over and over again and expecting change is truly insane... Lastly, I believe John mentioned in one of his non religious post the idea of military service for some of our young men, that was a good idea.. Require 2 years of service in the RBDF for young men leaving high school or before there 22 birthday if they are not gainfully employed or enrolled in college or trade school.. Teach them discipline and a marketable skill while they are in there...
TalRussell 10 years, 4 months ago
Judges PR is if you bring them before us we will take them off the streets. The Commish says when we catch them the courts set them free, even if charged with murder, not once but some have recommitted murders whilst on bail. Some even while on their second or third bail release. Bahamalanders say first get the policeman's to answer their calls before you can expect them watch some CCTV system. We spend millions of tax dollars of tax payers money inviting travelers to come visit our tiny Nassau Town, yet Bahamalander's want to make their exit.
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