Prime Minister Philip 'Brave' Davis speaks at Sunday's conclave.
By KHRISNA RUSSELL
Tribune Chief Reporter
krussell@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday convened an “urgent” conclave with key stakeholders to address the sharp increase of murders in the country.
For the first three months of this year there have been 35 murders, according to The Tribune’s records, with four of those murders occurring last week.
Mr Davis said while much of the killings were clearly gang related, it was obvious that a range of other factors were contributing to the spike.
“There are no easy quick fixes to the crime dilemma neither is there any one solution,” Mr Davis said in a statement released yesterday. “However, we were able to identify immediate measures that will help to reduce levels of crime.”
He said he would have more to say on the issue in the coming days.
Mr Davis said all sectors of society have a role to play in this partnership and going forward the government will invite the public to be involved.
Free National Movement Leader Michael Pintard also attended yesterday’s meeting – and the FNM released a statement with their recommendations on dealing with crime.
While he declined to reveal the specifics of the discussions, he said the opposition presented the government with his party’s recommendations to tackle the scourge of violence.
Some of the recommendations include the increased use of police mobile vans and the establishment of a crime commission that looks at how certain arms of government can improve collectively to fight crime.
Mr Pintard told The Tribune: “We presented the government with a list of recommendations of immediate, medium-term and long-term steps that we believe would be helpful in addressing the crime situation. Our focus was on violent crime in general and steps that ought to be taken to address violent crime. That’s whether it resulted in death or maiming, whether it was the result of conflict between gangs or individuals or domestic violence. We wanted to make some recommendations because no doubt we were there because the surge in crime is what forced the kind of discussion we would have had last week.
“Obviously, the public has been discussing it, but we raised it in particular last week and indicated we are prepared to sit with the government and other stakeholders with a view of arriving at some common solutions in terms of addressing violent crime.”
Another recommendation from the FNM is increasing police presence in hotspot areas.
Mr Pintard said this can be used “to either deter crime or just enable a quick response in the event that crime is committed.”
He said an increase in the police use of mobile vans would assist in this effort.
“I mean that is something that I have seen over the years that has been quite effective when the van is provided to particular areas.”
He added: “It is really a disincentive for persons to carry on with their usual activity and then the other thing is we believe that we should move very quickly to eliminate whatever the habitats are where criminality flourishes and this includes removal of dilapidated houses, some of the overgrown lots and derelict vehicles and gathering spots for known criminal enterprises.
“We live in a country where we for years would know particular areas are known for certain criminal activities and yet we don’t fundamentally reorder or transform that particular area. We also believe that there has to be a deployment of intelligence officers in communities where there are historical problems and the law enforcement then needs adequate information in order for them to formulate their strategy.”
Mr Pintard said there was also a need for a clear message to be sent to weapons smugglers.
“So, whether that means increased inspection of pleasure crafts. Making sure that they go through the correct protocols when they enter the jurisdiction or other vessels that are coming into The Bahamas transporting various types of goods, we have a surveillance system that allows us to detect whether or not somebody might be engaged in the trafficking of contraband of any type and in particular weapons.
“That was one of things we raised - increased border patrol and then, of course, we need to engage our regional partners for the involvement of undercover national security operatives to really help in terms of dismantling some of these organised gangs.”
He said while police had been making some progress in this regard, there was a need to tighten efforts in terms of the uptick in violent crimes.
The party also recommended the increased use of drones; enhanced monitoring of people on bail; and that authorities immediately convene meetings with feuding gangs and communities to interrupt the cycle of violence, among other suggestions.
Agencies and stakeholders represented at yesterday’s conclave included the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Department of Public Prosecutions, the Bahamas Crisis Centre, the Hope Centre, the official opposition, Bahamas Christian Council, members of the government and Cabinet.
Comments
moncurcool 2 years ago
How often will we form committees and commissions in this country to talk about the problem, and never see follow through in any productive actions?
tribanon 2 years ago
It seems the corrupt and incompetent Davis and Cooper led PLP administration is oblivious to the fact that most financially struggling, frustrated and angry Bahamians no longer enjoy political kabuki theatre.
Emilio26 2 years ago
Well I think the Davis administration should put more funding towards Dr. Carlos Reid's Shock Treatment Program so that way it can reach the troubled young men in our society.
SP 2 years ago
ABSOLUTELY NOT! Carlos Reid's so-called shock treatment program is a national disgrace! Where the hell does further mental and physical abusing already neglected and abused youth supposed to make sense? AND, where are the science and case studies to support this stupidity?
ThisIsOurs 2 years ago
Based on what? I have a personal opinion but Im not saying yes or no, what evidence do you have that more money will produce better results?
Emilio26 2 years ago
moncurcool it also puzzling that almost for 3 decades with all of these committees that we have to advocate against gang violence in this country and not one has been successful at curbing this growing gang war that is plaguing our nation. It's sad how some church leaders like Pastor Carlos Reid that has been advocating for years against the growing gang culture for 25 years has had little succcess in getting the full support of the wider community.
ThisIsOurs 2 years ago
I dont think it has to do with whether he got full support or not. I think we did that program like we do everything in this country. Its alot of activity and if you just doing something its good. Nobody looks at whether things worked. And not looking at 2 people who went off to school after and saying how well we did but saying before you start, "good" programs on average accomplish XYZ, If we accomplish XY we will judge the program a success. And that statrment comes before you start.
On a separate note I believe the reason crime persists in this country is because someone in some exclusive gated community wants it to. Someone who donates generously to churches and political candidates. I remember one wealthy church pastor standing up to defend one man everybody knew was a crook, said leave him alone, he's a good man, because the church was benefitting nicely from the criminal acts. Time after time Ive heard residents talk about how "good" certain drug kingpins were, how they would bought supplies for the schoolchildren and helped the community.
You gat a much bigger problem than people supporting Carlos Reid. You gat the root of all evil to contend with, the love of money.
gumbolimbo 2 years ago
Bahamian people don’t need outrage, they need opportunity. They don’t need slogans painted on the streets, they need to be able to walk down that street to the grocery store without fear of stray bullets. They need the people who operate that grocery store to see their community as safe enough and profitable enough to keep that store open. They need schools that teach the language skills their children need to prosper in the business world. Their children need the math and science skills the rest of us take for granted. They need for their best and brightest to be recognized and encouraged to reach their potential, not bullied into hiding it. They need the pride and dignity that comes from earning their own way, not more welfare. They need to see that owning a home and all that it affords is within their reach. An independent Bahamian does not need handouts and promises from the Government that keep them trapped in rotting, crime infested cities. This government needs to prove that this really is a "New Day" administration. Stop meeting and start doing!
SP 2 years ago
REALLY? Over the last 15/20 years, the PLP and FNM gave 10s of 1000s of low skilled blue-collar jobs to foreigners, allowed illegals from everywhere to run rampant in the country, totally failed to educate our people, failed to grow the economy commensurate with this huge false population growth which forced our people to turn to criminal activity for survival, and now they convene a conclave of well-known clowns trying bullshyt us into believing they're trying to figure out what to do about the crime wave THEY perpetuated?
The immigration policies of The PLP and FNM "lead" us to this situation by forcing people to fight for survival! Our people wouldn't need to join gangs for survival if they had jobs and opportunities that foreigners have taken!
What other country in the world allows foreigners to take over whole sectors of their economy to the detriment of its own citizens? Haitians & Jamaicans took construction, Filipinos took domestic, Indians took jewelry, Africans took used cars and tire repair, Chinese took food stores, and much, much more. WTF??
Now Davis conclave of well-known clowns is trying bullshyt us again! The proof is in the pudding. Our people are suffering, forced into cannibalism, and turning on each other for survival, and not one of these fat "high-level stakeholders" will stand up and truthfully acknowledge that our people simply need JOBS, OPPORTUNITIES, TRANING, AND HOPE!
Stop sitting around taking photo ops, talking horseshyt, and reverse the failed immigration policies that are rapidly destroying our people and country!!
Upvote0
Emilio26 2 years ago
SP well maybe Dr. Carlos Reid's Shock Treatment Program would be a useful tool reaching troubled young men in our society.
SP 2 years ago
ABSOLUTELY NOT! Carlos Reid's so-called shock treatment program is a national disgrace! How the hell does further mental and physical abusing already neglected, lost, and abused youth supposed to make any sense? AND, where are the science, case studies, and results to support this lunacy?
It would be interesting to know how many of these very same fat clowns were instrumental in Carlos Reid's shock treatment program!
ThisIsOurs 2 years ago
Again?? based on what?
KapunkleUp 2 years ago
As usual our politicians believe their salary is calculated by the number of words they speak. Unfortunately decades long of bad economic choices (tiefing, favoritism, etc.) and our all too inept police force is why we are where we are.
Sickened 2 years ago
I'm hearing that if the PLP reduce their share then the gangs wouldn't have to hustle so much.
Sickened 2 years ago
I'm confused... is that a picture of the heads of the various gangs or from the government conclave?
hrysippus 2 years ago
Fill up the primary grave... ... .Has Called for a crime concave......... ,,,Their report will come at a date... ... . ...Several years and too late. ... ...For hundreds of lives to save. .sigh.
SP 2 years ago
This conclave of fat clowns are to high faluten to understand these so called "gangs" are actually simply "networking" to survive using crime as the vehicle because it is the only avenue left available to them!
One 2 years ago
Yes, give the people reasonable opportunities for a good life and they would avoid crime
ThisIsOurs 2 years ago
That will work for some but not all.
One of the richest men in the country was just convicted of human smuggling. He said he only did it "one time" and got caught. That's his story. Normally human smuggling exists in the axis of smuggling evils, drugs, guns and sex trafficking. But not in that case, it only happened once. So with all the money and boats and cars and nice houses, he still went pursued a life of crime.
It may be environment some of the time, but its always the state of hearts and minds. Remember the verse "every imagination of their heart was evil"? thats what you have to fight
SP 2 years ago
I totally missed this story. Who was it and where can I find the story?
DDK 2 years ago
Surely the phenomenon of unwanted babies being scattered around the land like so much unattended rice plays a huge part in the crime problem. Let's see that issue addressed please.
moncurcool 2 years ago
What if our governments provide busies opportunities for our people to be their own bosses rather than these bottom feeder jobs? What if they provided a proper 21st education system that propels students to think and not just regurgitate information for exams? What if they provided a proper health system with access to quality healthcare? What if they allowed oil to be refined by the companies in GB and sold stations in the county to lower our gas prices?
If they just had sense to do some of these things, would we not be able to have some remedies against the scourge of crime?
I am just tired of brain dead politicians with worthless slogans every 5 years, clinging to commissions and committees and not having one creative or productive idea.
LastManStanding 2 years ago
None of these government tools understand the root of this issue. The smallest unit of society is the family, what we see today is the results of having the Bahamian family unit completely destroyed. The misguided gender advocates and asinine neo-liberals can kvetch all they want, but two parent homes produce much better life outcomes statistically speaking than the the absent single parent ones that plague our society today.
The only way to correct this in the long term is to massively shift our culture and model our society around the family unit again. Until then, enjoy triple digit murder counts every year.
carltonr61 2 years ago
Amen.
ThisIsOurs 2 years ago
More optics to appear to be doing something. Crime is hard. Fix traffic. Thats fixable tomorrow... or maybe two weeks... You might catch some criminals
carltonr61 2 years ago
These adults killing themselves were brought up mostly in single parent female only homes. These leaders need to have a conversation with the parents and grandparents or they are wasting hot air. Criminality begins when parents don't see to the overseeing of education, discipline distractions, loss and betrayal of moral identity, a sense of worthlessness as gov protects and rewards criminal political class.
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