Roberts: PLP the only party with a plan to tackle crime

Bradley Roberts

As of Wednesday, September 2, 2015

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE this year’s murder count outpacing last year’s figure, Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts said yesterday the PLP is still the only party with a plan to tackle this nation’s crime problem.

His comments also came about a week after he admitted Minister of National Security Dr Bernard Nottage “should be more active in leading the fight against crime”.

Up to press time, the country’s murder count stood at 99 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.

Murders are up roughly 18 per cent compared to last year this time. At the end of August 2014, the country had recorded 84 homicides, according to police statistics.

The latest murder victim was 24-year-old Omar Barton, who was shot in the back of his head and killed early Monday morning at his home off Fire Trail Road.

Nevertheless, in a press statement yesterday, Mr Roberts insisted that Dr Nottage’s crime address last week was proof that the PLP is on the right path when it comes to solving criminal issues.

He said he was in full support of the crime fighting initiatives that have been put in place by the Christie administration.

“The policies enunciated though tough, are necessary because they are designed to address the root causes of crime and effect social re-engineering which is a significant and critical strategic component in the long term and permanent solution to crime,” Mr Roberts said.

“The collective opposition responded in a manner consistent with their limited skill set: unable to compete with the PLP on sensible and salient policy issues, the opposition simply created clutter, noise and obfuscation in the public domain.

“By doing so, the FNM and DNA have shown contempt for the Bahamian people and our way of life because the government’s anti-crime policies are intended to improve the quality of life for all Bahamians as we work together to build a stronger, more prosperous and safer Bahamas.

“Specifically, saturation patrols, Shock Treatment; school-based policing; prison reform, Urban Renewal 2.0 ... our strong and successful Trafficking in Persons (TIPS) initiative; Marco’s Law; the sex offender registry; the anti-gang initiative and supporting legislation; all amendments to the Penal Code; the Swift Justice initiative; the marine and canine units of the Customs Department; the rapid expansion of the uniform branches to put ‘more boots on the ground’ and the expansion of the physical infrastructure of the police and defence forces to better fight crime are all applauded by the PLP and must continue.”

The sexual offenders register mentioned by Mr Roberts has not yet been put into effect.

He said the FNM and others who chose to criticise these anti-crime initiatives must say why they are bad for The Bahamas and propose alternatives.

Emac 8 years, 8 months ago

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Emac 8 years, 8 months ago

I was wondering when I would get one of these. -:) I did say allegedly...

OMG 8 years, 8 months ago

Mr Roberts forgets his party's promise that when re-elected they would solve the crime problem. This problem is complex and involves lack of education, poverty, the high cost of living and broken promises. Lets face it the average person educated or not looks at the leaders of this country, living the high life travelling all over the world (first class) ,living in large houses and not worrying about an extra few dollars on the grocery bills and says why am I expected to pay for all the wasteful spending over the past years by leaders of this counry past and present..

MonkeeDoo 8 years, 8 months ago

Big Bad Brad - The party's over. Bismark is calling you.

MonkeeDoo 8 years, 8 months ago

Every child born in this country needs a mother and a father. Full stop. Till they are grown. Not just to make the child. The State must manage this because the people have long failed.

proudloudandfnm 8 years, 8 months ago

I don't know what kind of grass Brad smoking but I want some!!!

sheeprunner12 8 years, 8 months ago

Why does the Tribune continue to publish Roberts' political nonsense????????

SP 8 years, 8 months ago

Guatemala Congress Opens Door for Prosecution of President

http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-gu...">http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-gu...

MonkeeDoo 8 years, 8 months ago

I really thought that Gomez had seen the light and was going to bring the Cabinet criminals to justice starting with his boss. Someone clipped his damned wings though.

realfreethinker 8 years, 8 months ago

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Craig 8 years, 8 months ago

I thought they had a plan before being elected. If so, why haven't they implemented it yet? If they have implemented it they are failing miserably. This is typical big-bad-brad hot air nonsense. They don't have a plan. They just don't know what to do. Admit it!!! I agree stop put this guys foolishness in the news paper. There has to be other news worthy reports

Reality_Check 8 years, 8 months ago

Brad would be the first one put behind bars if the PLP were truly serious about crime!

countryfirst 8 years, 8 months ago

The only plan the PLP has is to cover their backsides while they plunder the treasury.

John 8 years, 8 months ago

This government is too full of corruption to do anything about crime. Go talk to the senators's daughter in the Department of Social Services and find out why she refused to activate the accounts of some of the stores in the back to school assistance program and customers cannot use their prepaid cards to shop at these stores.

BMW 8 years, 8 months ago

And when will big mouth brad register?

TruePeople 8 years, 8 months ago

'enunciated' and 'designed'... in other words it is and has always just been talk, and knowing how these bey dem lie... prob all that talk and 'design' is lie too.

Start with paying the police properly! that would be the most obvious first step!!!! and still the gov't act like they don't want to pay police, instead they want to criminally charge parents for bad parenting.... which will only result in increased administrative work in the justice system. And while we're trying to tackle an alarming unemployment rate, lets increase the barriers to work by criminally charging parents, leaving them and their disenfranchised children even more suppressed by this gov'ts stupidity.

This is the great plan?

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