Government ‘missed the bus’ in tackling crime problem

As of Friday, September 25, 2015

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Against Crime Executive Director C B Moss has chastised the government saying the Christie administration “has missed the bus” when it comes to addressing crime challenges in this country.

Rev Moss said the government has failed regarding civil society and recognising that it is where the true source of crime exists.

He said the government has also been “extremely wanting” in providing the level of leadership needed to address The Bahamas’ problems.

However, Rev Moss insisted that he was not pessimistic when it comes to crime, but confident that the social ill could be arrested.

“The government can do a better job in terms of leadership,” Rev Moss told The Tribune.

“They might not be able to go out there and stop crime, but I feel that we have the capacity to arrest crime, but the leadership is not there. There is no cohesiveness.

“I am not as pessimistic about crime as the other guys are. I feel that while it is a major problem it will only remain if we don’t do something about it.

“A national crime plan must be prepared. This plan must include a plan for the criminal justice system, for the police, for national security and all others which must include the courts because there exists a problem there as well.”

He continued: “The national security minister needs to use all the resources available to him. If he doesn’t, he won’t be able to do the job that is needed.”

Up to press time, the country’s murder count stood at 110 for the year and is on target to surpass 2014’s murder count of 123.

The government’s ability to tackle crime has been a hot button topic for months with the latest spat over the issue happening between National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage and Bahamas Bar Association President Elsworth Johnson.

The war of words was sparked last week after Dr Nottage shifted blame to the judiciary for the country’s crime issues. He also blasted judges for failing to impose stiffer penalties and not properly enforcing laws that are on the books.

However, Mr Johnson shot back saying Dr Nottage should “stick to gynaecology” since he obviously lacks the “innovation and the intellectual aptitude” to solve the nation’s crippling crime problem.

DonAnthony 8 years, 6 months ago

The rot begins at the top, and this country is rotten to the bone. When you have a cabinet where half of the members should be in prison, from interfering with the judiciary, to Bamsi, to missing and misused funds, and not a single resignation, or firing, or criminal charge what do we expect? Then there is the leader of the opposition and his blatant conflict of interest, again he does not resign but simply offers up the flimsiest excuses that are an insult to an educated electorate. Corruption is endemic among the greedy elite in this country so I am glad poor people are getting away with so much crime. Why should the poor suffer when the rich and politically connected get away with it? Maybe what the Bahamas needs is to be blacklisted by the U.S., because that is what it will take for real change to occur. Usually one has to hit rock bottom before meaniful change. Slowly but surely the plp and the fnm are slowly destroying this beautiful country.

birdiestrachan 8 years, 6 months ago

Dr:CB Moss seems to have the answer to the crime problems.. He will do well to put is plan into action, in regard to crime the Bahamas needs all of the help it can get. But every one seems to be in the business of the blame game. and it does not help not at all.

DonAnthony 8 years, 6 months ago

On pace for 150 murders this year, by far the most ever. Dear birdie, have you forgotten the billboards? Your beloved PLP told us they had the answer to crime. Now that they have failed miserably you want no blame? Then you go to the mothers of all those poor, black Bahamians murdered like dogs in the street this year and tell them why their sons died. You made your bed politicizing crime, now lie in it.

DillyTree 8 years, 6 months ago

The PLP didn't miss the bus -- they are the reason for the whole crime problem -- which started a very long time ago in the Pindling administration. What we see now is years of corruption and criminals being allowed to run amok. We are only reaping what had been sown many years ago - in the late 1960s.

Cobalt 8 years, 6 months ago

This is the best post that I've seen all day. You are absolutely correct sir.

The seed that the Pindling regime sowed in the 70's and 80's, cultivated in the drug era, has now blossomed into what we see today!

You can't sow the seed of drug trafficking and expect to reap a successful nation. Illegal drugs have, and will always yield crime, rebellion, corruption and death. And this sums up the state of the Bahamas today.

paul_vincent_zecchino 8 years, 6 months ago

Agree. Best post read anywhere in quite a while, spot on. To understand the present, all one needs to do is go back twenty five, thirty, forty years and it can be seen clearly.

paul_vincent_zecchino 8 years, 6 months ago

Spot on. Saw the cancer forming during the late 60s, just as you say. Friends and family began to speak of troubles previously unseen.

Thank you for stating the truth.

John 8 years, 6 months ago

Basically the governmet represents what is going on in society and the community reflects the actions of government. So if your children could eat because dey is PLP and your neighbor cannot eat because he is FNM then therein lies a very serious problem. We all (Bahamians ) say we are Christians and Christ admonishers to "love one another just as Christ loved the church. Be Christ like and crime will disappear.

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