Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade.
By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
POLICE Commissioner Ellison Greenslade said yesterday officers will continue to “pick dead bodies up off the streets” if those in authority do nothing to “keep criminals behind bars.”
During a walk-about in the Kemp Road community yesterday, Mr Greenslade begged for support as he once again expressed his frustration with accused criminals being released on bail, only to re-offend in a few months. He said the murder count will continue to climb if the Royal Bahamas Police Force does not get the support it needs.
“We are working like crazy to keep a lid on this terrible thing but as long as our young sons walk around with guns in their hands with the propensity to kill - they have done it before they will do it again - and we do nothing to keep them behind bars, we will continue to pick up dead bodies.
“That is going to offend a lot of people but something must be done to get those people out of communities and where they belong until they have their day in court,” Mr Greenslade said.
“It cannot be right for a man to walk around with an illegal firearm to be arrested and a few days later he is waving at the same officers that arrested him as if nothing has happened. There is something wrong with that equation. I do not want to get caught up in numbers or whether the murder count is going to be high or low, the reality is one dead body in the Bahamas is one dead body too many. I am begging for support and help.
“If we arrest people that have committed the most egregious crimes in this country and they have re-offended more than once but are still walking around, something is wrong with that. Something needs to be done because arresting them is not solving the problem. We cannot arrest ourselves out of this situation.”
Last week, National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage shifted blame to the judiciary for the country’s crime problem, as he blasted judges for failing to impose stiffer penalties and not properly enforcing laws that are on the books.
Speaking in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, Dr Nottage said that some magistrates give lighter sentences to criminals because the accused is someone in society’s “good son”. He said it is hard to believe that some judges live in the same country and still only give criminals “a slap on the wrist” when they appear before them.
His comments came a day after the country marked its 107th homicide for the year. Up to press time, the country’s murder count stood at 110 for the year.
Dr Nottage admitted that violent crime and murders are a problem, but he has vowed that the government is going to “beat” the issue.
He was also present at Monday’s walk-about.
Comments
PKMShack 8 years, 7 months ago
Greenslade and Nottage need to be fired. Then take PGC with them. No clue just excuses
proudloudandfnm 8 years, 7 months ago
Gang wars in Nassau are out of control. Greenslade is having zero impact. Time to replace him.....
tuger0069 8 years, 7 months ago
Is he crazy! arresting is one thing, but proving in the court of law is different. Is he suggesting allow him to be judge and jury. Do ya job COP! If you cant step down.
kaytaz 8 years, 7 months ago
This man is clueless ......should of been fired along time ago.he doesn't have any idea what to do.At the same time he brings nothing to the table
kaytaz 8 years, 7 months ago
Police have no respect for people in these over the hill areas ....now you want them to help you.at least respect the people and show them that you are there to protect them and they will help you.
UserOne 8 years, 7 months ago
He is right in that the legal system is not dealing with offenders fast enough, hence they have to be let out on bail. Then they reoffend.
sheeprunner12 8 years, 7 months ago
Who is the biggest gang in Nassau ???????????? ..........Answer: The Police
Sickened 8 years, 7 months ago
We need to keep criminals out of the House of Assembly. If we don't start there then all else if futile.
Tarzan 8 years, 7 months ago
We can all agree that our political system and sorry political leadership has a great deal to do with the epidemic of murder and mayhem on these islands, but there are steps that could be taken to get the small percentage of the population who are repeat offenders responsible for the vast majority of violent crime, off our streets, which would greatly impact the murder statistics.
The Bahamas needs to enact criminal conspiracy statutes, similar to the RICO statutes in the U.S. which would treat gangs as criminal enterprises, and permit immediate incarceration of all gang members on the occasion of any one being accused of a violent crime. This sounds draconian, but the reality is that these gangs are just that (criminal enterprises) and the violence they perpetrate on the community, is really a conspiratorial enterprise based on shared gang goals.
Bail laws need to be modernized to permit those accused of particularly violent offenses, including those accused as co-conspirators (read all gang members) to be held without bond. The police should be immediately reorganized to create a gang squad that tracks and identifies all criminal gangs and their membership, so it is widely understood on the street that violence by one, means jail for all. Immediate jail, jail before trial. That would have an immediate impact.
TalRussell 8 years, 7 months ago
Comrades, there's this anecdote from Pope Francis's young life when he was studying chemistry and science and his mother wanted him be a doctor and she found these theology and philosophy books and she said to him, son - you've lied to me and he said to her, mama, I'm studying medicine for souls.
And I can't help but think that our nation, desperately needs her own Pope Francis - to bring hope to the disadvantaged souls, the forgotten and those who have become frightened, or are ready to give up.
We do not need another Comrade murdered by a thug or jealously. One suicide of a Comrade, is one too many.
Comrade Commish, we want you to know, we the citizens and residents, are with you and your policeman's, as you go about protecting our nation.
Amen!
Bahamianpride 8 years, 7 months ago
It is the citizens that control crime in a community not the police. In many of these communities the people committing the crime are related to the people complaining about the crime. Random crime can happen anywhere but try committing crime in a productive community and see how quick the police gets called and action gets taken. I don't blame the Commissioner for any failures or the high crime, Crime is only the symptom of other dysfunction in society. The first 3 people I would blame are Pindling, HAI, and Perry because they where in the position to control economic policies that affected the nation. Politicians have screwed things up in this country for the last 40 years so as much as I am frustrated, there's a lot of blame to go around and the Commish and BJ Nottage are near the bottom of the blame list.
John 8 years, 7 months ago
Ephesians 6:12King James Version (KJV)
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Unfortunately Mr. Commissioner, sir, the problem is even bigger than collecting dead bodies of slain young men. They, many of them, and just victims or casualties, in a war that they, themselves do not understand how they become a part of it. But when almost everything is astacked against you, you retaliate and attack like every other animal on the planet would do: a dog, a cat a snake and even the big elephant.
The attack on young black men started in America in the 60's and 70's or maybe even eariler. and one of the weapons they decided to use was the 'turn him against his brother and let them kill each other.' Hence in every major black country and every major black populated city in the US, black men are killing each other.
They promote it in the movies, in the music and in the media where black men are almost always portrayed as violent and angry and out to kill someone. And drugs and alcohol and other substance abuse is entered into the equation and hence you get the murder, bloodshed and mayhem we are experiencing in every black community in the western hemisphere. Many of the video games teach (channel) young men how to kill and give points for killing policemen and innocent civilians. Young men spend hours upon hours playing these games and eventually their xbox or playstation character crosses over to their real personality. Add drugs or alcohol to the mix and they become unemotional, unflenching killing machines. And they kill not strangers, but persons known and well known to them. So how do we reverse this tragedy, stop the loss of so many young lives, so many families shattered. It is not easy. but not impossible and it will definitely involve more than collecting dead bodies after they have been gunned down. There has to be a serious debriefing of these young men, not unlike when a soldier comes from war and he has flashbacks of being on the battle field. There has to be a call on organizations like 100 Jamz and other radio stations to be more responsible and play less of the violent and anti-social promoting music. There has to be a call on parents to be more responsible and censoring when buying games for their children to play. There needs to be introduction of more positive events and positive avenues for young men to engage in. The high rate of unemployment must be addressed.
RIP 8 years, 7 months ago
While you are helping organize the removal of the alcohol, drugs, the videos and the anti-social music and you speak to the organizations and parents who will reengage these young men in positive avenues, here is what I think you should do. Go out on the streets late at night and disarm them; talk nice to them and ask them to give you their guns and offer them a ride home after they give you the keys to the vehicle they just stole. When you wake up dead in the morgue and wonder what actually happened, write us another missive. In the meantime, the Police will hopefully keep taking these guys out as fast as they legally can eradicate them, rather than waste my money on paying for prison lodgings for them. I would much prefer to pay for well armed Police Force to deal with this situation which is out of control and needs to be stopped whatever it takes.
John 8 years, 7 months ago
The staggering use of drugs and alcohol by young people must be addressed. The exceptionally high rate of single mothers must come down or some how be supplement. The absent father is a serious element in the path young men chose to go. And of course the detection, the prosecution and the detention of murderers must be priority number one. A serious gun culture has been established in our young men. Not having a gun for some of them is like not having a cell phone. And it must be smart and up to date. Back in the 1970's and 80's Dick Gregory, and activist in the US use to say how persons in black neighborhoods would go to bed at night and wake up the next morning and find railway cars filled with guns in their back yards. And of course the young men started toting them. Then they started shooting them and now, Mr. commissioner, they are killing each other with these guns. Who putting the guns on the streets, we must know by now. One hundred and ten dead with 3 1/2 months left in the year. A murder occurring every 2 1/2 days in this little country, this small 'use to be sleepy and tranquil Bahamas.' Fourty more murders expected by December 31, based to the trend of the past eight months to bring the total for the year to 150. Not strangers killing strangers, Bahamians killing each other. All hands on deck (ma, pa, brother, sister, aunt, police, politician, judge, jury, evey one, cause this ship must not sink!
John 8 years, 7 months ago
And of course the church must be in the forefront . "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."
Sickened 8 years, 7 months ago
As Christian's always say... "This is God's plan".
Don't fight or be afraid of what God is doing. Embrace it! Accept it with blind faith. For He knows best.
Unless of course you are saying that the Devil is more powerful than God?
John 8 years, 7 months ago
and who is prince of the air? The bible does warn us that perilous times may come. NOT because the devil is more powerful than the Creator but because of the hardening of man's heart and because of his straying away from the word. Yes if may seem that evil is winning but only because God has not yet returned for redemption.
Sickened 8 years, 7 months ago
As you say, God is allowing this to happen, so why fight it. And I really don't mind if bad people are killing bad people. It concerns me not. BUT, if they make the mistake of messing with my innocent family, then I will strike them ALL down and then you can call me God!
Emac 8 years, 7 months ago
Quoting biblical verses does very little to solve any issue really! The church has failed and is really a part of the problem. You will note that countries that have the most churches are the ones that have the highest crime rates per capita. That is because everyone who goes to church do not want to take responsibly for what's going on, they want God to handle it all. The typical approach by so called Christians when something goes wrong, "We need to have a week of fasting and praying". When it should be, " Let's go out in the community and reach out to our lost youth and ask God for strength to guide us through this mess." OR "Let's use our church as an outreach community centre to help distressed individuals. We will pray with them and help them get back on their feet. We will even donate some of that offering we collected last week if we have to"
John 8 years, 7 months ago
So we are awaiting your suggestions Emac! The church has not failed. Like everything else the church is under attack. There are five institutions that are under attack by the enemy: The Church (religion), Education (you get expelled for praying in school, but they will teach you evolution, Finances (do you know anyone that does not have a financial problem?), The Family (traditional family virtually disappearing and being replaced by single mother families and same sex families) Politics (can you trust any politician today, any?) and even the FOOD we eat is under attack: rather than strengthening and healing our bodies, a lot of it is poisoning us. giving us sickness and disease. Much of it has never touched the ground much less come out of the ground. A plan that was devised in 1970's. Now prescription drugs is a $270 billion industry.
Sickened 8 years, 7 months ago
My suggestion for you Christians is to do what you always do... sit back, lock your doors tight and wait for God to save you.
Your God is telling me... Son, it's time to pack up your shit and leave! For this country has been overrun by scumbags, slutty single mothers and dead beat absent dads who just wanted to have sex.
TruePeople 8 years, 7 months ago
Lots of philosophical waxing, But like all y'all forget that the Lucayan reach Nassau cus they was running from the Caribs. Colombus reach here, and den quick time all the lucayan dead, Then the next rest of the European come here, and lone pirates murder and mayhem.
Den Europe like it go crazy, WWI, WWII, everyone forget bout the Bahamas, and it was like a slow nowhere nuttin too bad don't happen. But that was just a moment and is back again like it always was jhed.
The US conspiracy to have blacks kill of blacks is a mute point 1) this is not the US, they couldn't care what Bahamian dem do. 2) Wasn't it Africans who captured and sold slaves to the Europeans? I don't recall any European hunting parties in ROOTS..... So long time Tribe been sell out and kill out tribe. Ein no US mind control BS conspiracy theory,
Problem is erryone like dey wan blame someone else. LIke kids. When time we stand up and take responsibility fa tings, even when it 'isn't our fault' den you see tings move toward the better.
Fingers is used either to squeeze trigger or point at the next guy round here
John 8 years, 7 months ago
Stop twisting the truth, else you be telling lies.. Where were the Lucayans running from? (2) Where are all the guns found in the Bahamas manfactured? How are they getting here in a matter of days after being made? Where are all the movies and video games and music that program the young man's mind and promote going to jail and killing each other and glorify drinking and drug use made? How is it that Cuba is right next door to us but they are not experiencing most of the problems we are? Now that they have opened back to the US wait and see what happens in a few years. Fingers may be used to squeeze trigger or point to the next guy, but hand is made to make gun and put in next man hand to pull trigger. Don't tell half the story else you be telling a lie.
John 8 years, 7 months ago
most of the slave movies were written by the slave masters and not by the slaves. So they will give a different account. How many slave ships were owned by Africans?
TalRussell 8 years, 7 months ago
Comrades try as you may to reinterpret the bibles teachings whether it be in Bible verses, one thing is is forever clear – that Jesus IS over all such earthly powers of whatever you may wish to illustrate. It is only by his strength and power the victory can be Bahamaland's as well.
Nation's, not governments, have overcome far greater problems that any we as a people are currently facing.
Don't be so quick to give up on a country that has given so many so much. Our younger citizens and residents are watching, how we adults will react.
Make the effort cuz when we react as our parents, grand and great grandparents did - I think we will do just fine. Do you know of any other way, we as a people, can and will remain a proud of our nation, people.
Amen!
Emac 8 years, 7 months ago
@John-Pray tell who is the enemy??? You get expelled for praying in school, but they will teach you evolution Religion is really being attacked by religion. You have many Jehovah Witnesses and other religions who don't want their child to be a part of any school based religious studies, let alone praying in school. You see, religion is divided, so don't bring that as the basis of your argument. Are you saying that it is wrong to teach finances in school??? If that's what you are saying, then that argument does not even need a respond. Family (traditional family virtually disappearing and being replaced by single mother families and same sex families) Traditional??? Since you are using the good book as the basis for your argument, single parents have been around before Jesus' birth:"Hagar, a favorite Bible character, was the first single mother in the Bible, the first woman 'put away' or abandoned by her man" So in theory, nothing has changed. As far as same sex marriage is concerned, no one can produce any studies where this type of arrangement is linked to the decay of society or even more far fetched, there is no proof where same sex marriage is related to crime issues.
But I must say, you are some conspiracist now. Go around blaming everyone else or throwing around all these bullshit theories while missing the point that WE as BAHAMIANS are responsible for the mess that we are in. What is my answer to the problem? First of all let's remove religion and politics out of the picture. Not everyone is religious and as you mentioned, politicians cannot be trusted, they will tell you want you want to hear.
Bahamians need to stop being hypocrites to begin with. They say that homosexually is an abomination to God, yet they elect homosexuals to lead the country. They can't stand illegals, yet they hire them for cheap labour while overlooking Bahamians who need work. They talk out publicly about crime, yet they harbor criminals in their homes and communities. Stop the blame game and be honest about what's going on. When you are honest, then at least you know that you are heading in the right direction.
John 8 years, 7 months ago
"Are you saying that it is wrong to teach finances in school???"
EMAC: You are a very deceptive individual!!! Show me anywhere in my post where I even came close to suggesting this? I refuse to even respond further to you twisting my post until you clarify this one. Obviously you twist other peoples posts to express your own opinion. The bible tells you why religion is divided, but many preachers never tell you that because they too, are blinded, and it is easier for them to attack another denomination rather than do two things Christ bid them to do: (1) LOVE ONE ANOTHER (2) FEED MY SHEEP (that is spiritual food in case you missed it). "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that preceded out of the mouth of God". We are spiritual beings living in a flesh body and when Christ comes again we shall again be changed back int a being that is uncorruptable. Politics and religion (and Family) has been around from the beginning of time..so how do we suggest we remove them? Also the banks and hotels and bigger companies have more illegals working for them than all the average Bahamians together. They come in as tourists, check into some of the most expensive properties on the island and many do their work from there.
Emac 8 years, 7 months ago
John, I am not deceptive. I didn't understand your comment. it seemed that you mentioned Finances along with evolution should not be taught in school. But now I realize that you are saying that Finances is one of the subjects under attack. My bad.
John 8 years, 7 months ago
please copy it for me and highlight it here.else stop misquoting and misleading people. That's called deception! Otherwise you are a blatant liar and the truth is not in you!
John 8 years, 7 months ago
neither did I say evolution should not be taught in schools.
Bahamianpride 8 years, 7 months ago
Agreed Emac.. But u will never get Bahamians to take responsibility. It's relatives of the people in communities committing crime, u see people come on Tv crying about what a good boy Johnny was after he's dead but when u look at his criminal record it's miles long. From the politicians down we all are responsible for this hell
John 8 years, 7 months ago
The biggest problem we face is the Bahamas is a prime piece of real estate desired by the world. Everyone wants to get their greedy claws on it, if only a piece, and that means either chasing Bahamians off and/or otherwise causing their demise. Until our leaders understand this and stop selling this country (at the expense of Bahamians) to a foreign bidder then the problems will continue to grow and fester. Bahamians are being too frequently displaced and shortchanged. There is no reason 'investors' have to be getting $1 billion plus in concessions, prime property included to invest in the Bahamas, when right next door in South Florida they have to pay a premium and all associated expenses to do similar projects.
Emac 8 years, 7 months ago
@John-Are you really following the teachings of Jesus Christ, the son of God???? Cause if you are, you are certainly not showing any signs of it. Jesus was the coolest man that walked the earth-He never got upset because people did not agree with his teachings. So please stop attacking everyone who does not agree with your theories. The problem with religious fanatics is that they are irrational most of the times. You said that Education was one of the things being attacked by the 'enemy'. (Satan I presume) "Education (you get expelled for praying in school, but they will teach you evolution)" Anyone who reads that sentence will deduce that you are saying that if evolution is taught in school, then prayers should be allowed also. So I don't know how you can call me deceitful or a blatant liar for pointing that out. Next you will be trying to cast out demons out of me ay? -:) Calm down my brother, we are all on the same page. I believe everyone who comments here are genuinely concerned about the direction our society is going, so no need to get your boxers in a twist
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