The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Small wonder that Prime Minister Christie does not trust to name Keith Bell as acting Minister of National Security in the absence of Senior Minister B.J. Nottage; each time the junior minister opens his mouth he puts his foot into it demonstrating both his and his government’s incompetence.

Bell recently accused the PSA of being a tool of the FNM. I do not know whether the Police Staff Association President (PSA) is a supporter of the FNM or whether he is in contact with that Party’s leadership. Of course if he is I would note that it is his right to support whichever political group he pleases much as Mr. Bell did when he served as a senior police officer. Indeed, it was public knowledge that Mr. Bell, while a high ranking police officer, met regularly with PLP Party leader Perry Christie at his home, presumably serving as informant and message carrier for that political party. When Bell resigned from the Police Force it was to take up employment with a major PLP financier Frankie Wilson, in preparation one might speculate, for his move into frontline politics. The proof of the pudding, it is said, is in its eating. Today Mr. Bell serves as a PLP Senator and Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security.

Now, both Mr. Bell and his senior Minister, B.J. Nottage, have accused the PSA of behaving like a labour union and publicly dismiss concerns expressed by the President of the PSA over the potential harmful impact of 12 hour shifts on the health and welfare of police officers. But both ministers know full well that the Association was formed to provide an orderly, professional means through which junior officers could raise legitimate concerns with the Force Command. It is only when the voice of the Association is ignored that its leadership takes the unusual step of airing their concerns in the media.

Bahamians with memories longer than the last news cycle recall that when the FNM Government instituted 12 hour shifts for police officers late in the 1990s, PLP Members of Parliament, including some present members of Cabinet, termed it old fashion policing. They claimed then the FNM Government was insensitive to the welfare of police offices. And they claimed that instituting 12 hour work shifts was proof that the FNM was ignorant of the modern policing techniques and strategies required to address our crime problems. Now, more than a decade later, a PLP administration has not only adopted what was a short-term FNM strategy in the 1990s, they now claim that the 12 hour shift will remain in place for “as long as it takes”. Are we to believe that this is to continue indefinitely? Is this the PLP state of the art Urban Renewal 2.0 in action?

One reason for the introduction of the 12 hour work shift now is a manpower shortage being experienced by the police force. And the manpower shortage is the direct result of the incompetence of the current government and specifically the Ministry of National Security to ensure continuous police recruitment and training as was the norm under the FNM Government.

Both Minister Nottage and his Junior Minister Bell owe the public an explanation for the break in recruitment and training of police officers. I am informed that three Police Squads (some 93 officers) passed out of the Police College in November 2012. These officers began their training in April 2012 under the last FNM Administration. The PLP came to office in May 2012 and the first recruitment of police recruits took place this month October, 2013! There was no recruitment of police officers for 11 months between November 2012 and October 2013!

This is especially shocking when we consider that in May of this year – just 5 months ago, the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance advised the House of Assembly in his Budget Communication that he was providing $8 million in the Budget to facilitate hiring an additional 450 police recruits over the two year budget period 2012/13 – 2013/14. The Leader of the Opposition asked the Prime Minister to identify the $8 million for recruiting police officers because he had been unable to find it in either the 20012/13 or the 2013/14 Budget. As is too often the case the Leader of the Opposition’s question remained unanswered.

Now, for the first time since its election in May 2012, this PLP Government has recruited some 64 persons who began their police training programme in Nassau two weeks ago. None is presently in training in Freeport. There is some speculation that this recruitment exercise was so hurriedly undertaken that new recruits were not required to undergo the usual drug and pregnancy tests – an essential requirement for all law enforcement applicants. Reportedly some of the new cadets are only now undergoing medicals.

I strongly recommend that Mr. Bell stop concentrating his attention on firing political firebombs at hardworking, dedicated policemen and instead concentrate his efforts on his primary responsibility – that is to ensure that rank and file police officers receive the support and attention they deserve from the Government.

KIRKLAND TURNER

Nassau,

October 27, 2013