The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

FAMILIES of murdered victims and residents of the Blair community joined psychiatrist Dr David Allen at his second anti-crime forum.

At that event, held at Queen’s College, those present declared that it is time to take back the country from criminals.

Dr Allen called for every citizen of the Bahamas to rise up and confront criminality head on.

He called for a collective approach to crime, stating that passing the blame from group to group will result in

a continuation of the problem.

“We come to remember that this is about us,” Dr Allen said Wednesday night. “It is our problem; therefore it is our solution. Today it is me, but don’t forget to remember that tomorrow it may be you.”

Speaking to The Tribune earlier this week, Dr Allen said many people are living in fear of crime.

“Home invasions are at a high and it is particularly scary for people,” he said.

“We have to come together as a people and do something about what is going on in our country.”

Residents of Blair have been on edge since the October 28 murder of Andre Cartwright.

According to reports, sometime around 1:40am the victim was at home with his elderly parents when three men kicked in the front door to his home.

There was an exchange of gunfire between Mr Cartwright, who had a licensed shot gun, and the assailants resulting in the homeowner being shot multiple times.

He died on the scene.

At the rally, Richard Lightbourn, member of Parliament for the area, praised the Blair community for its anti-crime initiatives.

Mr Lightbourn said: “People often look at the government and heap the blame there, but government and civic society have to come together and craft measures that fix the issue at the source.”

Resident Rudy Carroll, who heads Blair’s crime watch, said his community is fed up of living in fear of criminals.

Mr Carroll said: “My twelve-year-old daughter takes a knife to bed for protection; my ten-year-old son, who never complains about anything, wants to sleep with me because he is scared that someone will kick in our doors.”

Residents of the community claimed that many of them have been victims of violent crimes, including home invasions, rape, burglary and armed robbery.

Mr Carroll added: “Drastic measures have to be taken not just a band-aid approach.”

He suggested that the country look to bring in crime experts from other countries to help alleviate the strain on police.

Blair Estates resident and former MP for the area Senator Frank Smith endorsed the theme of the forum, stating that the approach to crime has to be one that is “collaborative and balanced between the government and civic groups”.

Mr Smith claimed that the feeling of fear is one he knows all too well.

“I was once a victim of a home invasion, in the case of Andre Cartwright it was guns, and in my matter it was (with) knives,” the senator said.

Mr Smith said that it is now for the communities of the Bahamas to step up. He added: “If you see something, say something.”

According to Dr Allen’s research there were five murders in 1963; 27 in 1971; 81 in 2009; and 119 in 2013.

Yesterday the country recorded its 100th murder for the year.