Minister of National Security Dr Bernard Nottage.
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
NATIONAL Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage said on Friday he is not satisfied by the decrease in the murder rate in 2016 compared to the last two years, vowing to work to ensure all Bahamians feel safe.
Davano Dacosta became the 48th murder victim of the year when he was shot multiple times on Thursday in the Centerville area.
According to Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) records, 63 people had been killed by the end of May last year and 60 people by the end of May, 2014.
Dr Nottage’s comments came during a walkabout in the Bain Town constituency, where an abandoned building was being destroyed as part of efforts to erase havens for criminals.
“One of the things we also encounter in buildings (like the now destroyed structure) is people hide weapons and drugs and then use those weapons to conduct criminal activity in the area,” Dr Nottage said about the structure on Meadow Street.
“We are reducing the opportunities for people to do those kinds of things.
“People can’t commit a crime and then come and run in these buildings to hide their guns or their drugs and whatever.
“This is an anti-crime initiative just as it is a healthcare initiative.”
As for violent crime, he said: “I’m not satisfied. Although there have been some improvement and results I’m not satisfied.
“As long as there
are people who feel unsafe in our country, as long as we still have these homicides, assaults and armed robberies, I cannot be satisfied.
“One is hopeful that this is a trend that we can keep doing.
“People who work in Urban Renewal deserve an extreme measure of thanks for what they are doing. I feel encouraged but I’m not satisfied.”
Comments
sheeprunner12 7 years, 11 months ago
........... WHY IS HE SPEAKING AT ALL?????????? ......... HE SHOULD RESIGN FROM THE CABINET FOR "DO-NOTHINGNESS"
proudloudandfnm 7 years, 11 months ago
OH MY GOD!!!
Who woke up BJ?!?!?
jackbnimble 7 years, 10 months ago
Its an election year So BJ has come up for air.
Honestman 7 years, 11 months ago
It is not just the murder rate that concerns Bahamians. It is also the armed robberies, house invasions, rapes and then the thieving by corrupt politicians. Urban renewal is a complete waste of time and a charter for even more corruption. The PLP is clueless as to how to combat crime in this country.
baldbeardedbahamian 7 years, 11 months ago
"One is hopeful that this is a trend we can keep doing......."
What trend? What did I miss?
The increasing lawlessness of the Bahamian people? or maybe the trend to elect people over seventy who really are not clued in to the modern way the world works?
Just saying.
John 7 years, 11 months ago
Unfortunately the trend has been that whenever Bernard Nottage or Keith Bell open their mouth on crime , it gets worse. And while there is a definite 8 - 10. % decrease in murders over the first five months of 2016, many have seen a significant increase in armed robberies, house and shop breaking a, car jacking a and thefts and other violent crimes. While there has been no specific reason for the reductions in murder except some believe there has been a reduction in gang activities (other believe "dey mussy getting tired 'a killin up one another" the increases in most other crimes are due to increase unemployment and more difficult economic times.
cmiller 7 years, 11 months ago
Wow........ he is in charge....isn't he? What I want to know is who is going to keep us safe from these unscrupulous politicians. We already got raped with VAT, going to get raped with NHI, all the VAT money is going to get stolen. WHO IS GOING TO PROTECT US FROM OUR OWN GOVERNMENT???????
sealice 7 years, 11 months ago
the murder rate went down over the past 2 years = me musse been smokin some good schit....
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 11 months ago
"Some improvement"? 3 people?
SP 7 years, 11 months ago
......... BJ Nottage had all the answers to crime when Tommy T. was Security Minister ........
No one could ever forget BJ constantly taunting Tommy T. about his lack of action in fighting crime!
Good for nothing, BS-ing, lying, deceitful, POS, politrikcians constantly reiterated to the electorate that they had all the solutions to crime, unemployment, immigration, dump, NIB, education, transportation, health, BEC, etc'.
After four years in office and now heading for the home stretch, the PLP haven't come remotely close to resolving any issue to date.
5 NO votes for the PLP!
proudloudandfnm 7 years, 11 months ago
BJ just needs to go back to sleep. Crawl up under Perry and lay ya old tired ass down...
Sickened 7 years, 11 months ago
Perry ain't got time for him. Perry moved on to much younger men.
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