The Tribune

THE METHODIST Church has reiterated its call for a national youth service to be considered in the fight against crime in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands.

The 204th Annual Session of The Bahamas/Turks and Caicos Islands Conference of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and Americas (MCCA) urged that the concept be revisited.

A statement on Saturday from the officers said: “It is essential that we, as a people, devise an approach to national youth service suitable for the discipline, physical, educational, moral and spiritual development of our youth,” noting that the Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands had also called for the establishment of a national youth service.

“Many of the crimes committed by young people, especially our young men, are simply because they resort to violence in seeking to resolve their differences. This is most distressing. Surely the way ahead is to help them to resolve whatever conflicts they have without resorting to violence. Here we stand with other Christian bodies in expressing our willingness to provide counselling to our young people so that they may resolve their challenges in a non-violent way. It is abundantly clear that much more needs to be done to foster the moral and religious nurture of our youth so that they may act in a more disciplined manner.”

The conference pointed to the major role that family and Church have played a major role in the training of children and young people over the years. “The Church, through its Sunday Schools, mentorship programmes and youth organisations, including the Boys’ Brigade, Girls’ Brigade, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Pathfinders, have contributed significantly to the moral and spiritual growth of its young people. The Methodist Church is strong in its commitment to continue with these endeavours and is ready and willing to co-operate with all Christians, youth organisations and government agencies in ensuring that our young people are nurtured in the right way.”

The conference viewed “with grave concern” the increase in crime and violence in the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, saying it was particularly disturbing that violent crime - including rape, attempted murder and murder, especially against women and children - continues to increase to the extent “that no one is immune from its dangerous consequences”.

The church said as its responsibility that it pledged to participate in seeking to bring about a drastic reduction in the high rate of crime. “We are encouraged by the initiatives being taken in the Bahamas by the Royal Bahamas Police Force to deal with this challenge,” its statement said. “Also, we note the observation by the Chief Justice that there is a need for more courts and would urge that this concern receive the urgent attention of the relevant authorities. Meanwhile, in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the need for more police officers has been emphasised.”

The MCCA also repeated its call for caution to be exercised in granting bail, saying that persons who commit murder, while on bail, should be excluded from this privilege, and urged that stiffer penalties be imposed to prevent the entry of illegal firearms into the two nations.

“It is with regret that we recall the cases in which infants were killed while handling guns in our territories. Those persons who are licensed to use firearms are reminded that it is their grave responsibility to ensure that all such dangerous instruments are stored carefully when not in use.”

The MCCA pointed to an escalation of “white collar crime” and reminded those in financial and commercial institutions as well as the public service must place “high priority on honesty, integrity, and diligence in carrying out their many and varied responsibilities”.

The Rev Theophilus Rolle has been elected to serve as the next Bishop/President of Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands Conference of the MCCA.

The youthful Bahamian clergyman was born in James Cistern, Eleuthera, and after his acceptance as a candidate for the ministry in 1991, he studied at the United Theological College of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica. He has served in several circuits in the Leeward Islands District Conference and is presently Superintendent Minister of the Grand Bahama Circuit. He is expected to take up office as Bishop/President from September 1.

He is married to the former Evona Niles and the couple have two children, Ebony and Theus, both students of St Paul’s Methodist College.

The growing influence of women was in evdience in the election of officers during the annual session. Esther Joy Sargent, Circuit Steward of the Nassau Circuit, became Vice President while Rev Claire Robinson became the first female minister of the Gospel to be elected Secretary of the Conference and will be assisted by Rev Emily Demeritte of the Nassau Circuit.

Wilbur Caley, of the North Turks and Caicos Islands Circuit, and Rev Kenneth Lewis were re-elected as Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer respectively.