By DANA SMITH
Tribune Staff Reporter
dsmith@tribunemedia.net
PROMINENT politician Cynthia “Mother” Pratt voiced her support of the government’s efforts to fight crime, explaining that legislators “must do what they can do” to lower the country’s persistent crime rate.
Asked if she thought the government’s call for the closure of cash for gold stores and a temporary ban on copper exports would help in the fight against crime, she said: “Most certainly.”
The former Deputy Prime Minister was speaking prior to leading an Urban Renewal walkabout in the Nassau Village area.
In the House of Assembly this week, National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage called for the closure of the country’s cash for gold stores, as well as a ban on copper exports, in light of statistics showing that more than half of all armed robberies involve jewellery or copper.
When asked if she thought that decision would help in the fight against crime, Mrs Pratt, who also served as National Security Minister, said: “Most certainly. I believe the government must do what they can do, because we must get results in this country. We can’t just sit and talk, we must get results.”
Taking note of the criticism directed at the government over crime, Mrs Pratt said: “When the results come, they will be singing another tune, hey? If the government doesn’t do something, they’ll say, ‘What are they doing?’
“Now they are trying to do something, and (they’re saying) is that the right decision yet? Well, we don’t know yet, we want to see the results. We want to make sure that this country is a safe place for all of us.”
The latest crime statistics for the year to date showed a 14 per cent decrease in murder compared to last year, but increases in sex crimes, Dr Nottage revealed.
Figures show decreases in attempted murder and manslaughter, but reported incidents of rape, attempted rape, and unlawful sexual intercourse have all increased – with attempted rape rising by 1,200 per cent.
Incidents of armed robbery and attempted robbery have also risen.
Prime Minister Perry Christie, speaking in the House, said the government will have to take radical action to positively impact the nation’s crime problem.
Young men engaged in criminal activity are also victims, said Mr Christie, who pegged the Urban Renewal programme as a vital component in the anti-crime strategy.
Comments
John 10 years, 10 months ago
First off lets agree that here is no magical wand to wave, no miracle button to press or no Hollywood lie movie ending to the crime in the Bahamas And anyone who believe that there is a quick fix solution to the crime problem needs to think again.
Let's agree that:
Over the past 40-50 years the Bahamas, New Providence and Grand Bahama especially has gone through some serious transition and social and cultural changes that have left many Bahamians, young men especially, strangers in their own land. That is wen we discovered that Tourism was a very lucrative industry, at least it could b, and so we started developing the Bahamas for Tourists rather than Bahamas for Bahamians. So many the little sleepy fishing villages were transformed, overnight almost, into large bustling concrete jungles. Beaches and other rights taken away to cater to the Tourist who had long dollars to spend. So no longer could Bahamians go on beaches in New Providence and Paradise Island and Grand Bahama as they pleased, but even employment on these resorts were restricted an reserved to he selected few. If the average mal anted a job, he was required o cut his hair, in the bald head style that he was not accustomed to and he was not allowed to wear his trade mark Clark shoes or Dickies pants. So even at work he felt like an outcast and so it wasn't long before h decided to separate himself from an environment in which he was not comfortable. Rejection is a witch! part11
John 10 years, 10 months ago
Do you know that the great USA, America, the land of the free and the home of the brave, spent close to 100 years trying to subdue, eliminate, castigate or destroy the Black man? Do you also know that many of the weapons and tactics and traps to ensnare the Black race have made their way into the Bahamas? the vast pravelance of liquor stores, the availability of and punishment for illicit drugs, the promotion of vile, violent and anti-social music and movies. The promotion of single parent families and alternative lifestyles. An education system that is designed for the black student to fail. And the emasculation, feminizing, incarceration, persecution, and exclusion of the black male. The part of America that did not want the Black race to survive or advance in America realized that if they destroyed the Black man, the head of the household, then the rest of the black family would also die off. Check out our diet and our spiritual habits an our social behavior (sex) for the most part. It I all designed for sudden destruction or long term elimination. Bahamians glorified many of the things that were designed over a period of many years to destroy and wipe out Black Americans. Being gullible we bought into it hook line and sinker. (after Eve was beguiled by the serpent, she took the forbidden fruit to her husband, Adam, he did also eat of the forbidden fruit. Now that our eyes have been open we should not do like the first Adam. Do not wait until you hear the footsteps of God in the garden! Ask for forgiveness now. Get rid of every vile thing in our midst, turn from wickedness. Go and bring your sons and daughters back into the fold and stop making beds for strangers while your own children are sleeping out in the cold and among the demons and the wickedness. Among the snakes and the serpents. You bring your golden cows and plant on our beaches and tell us to our faces, our sons and daughters cannot work for you. ANd yet our leaders bow down and worship your golden calves, over and over again. But what should it profit a (country) to gain the whole world, but lose (its own sons and daughters)? FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON...
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