PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis speaking yesterday. Photo: Dante Carrer
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Tribune Staff Reporter
lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said legacy human rights issues affecting the criminal justice system highlighted in a recent United Nations report concern him.
Mr Davis’ tone responding to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention’s (WAGD) critical report about the country’s detention systems differed from that of National Security Minister Wayne Munroe, who dismissed the Working Group’s criticism and defended local authorities.
The WAGD found numerous faults in how the criminal justice system treats people deprived of their liberty. The report criticised the Bahamas Department of Corrections and police practices, such as allegedly forcing criminal confessions from accused.
Mr Davis told reporters yesterday his administration worked towards rectifying some issues before the report.
“Well, I am always concerned about these issues, particularly as it relates to human rights, because we have for quite a long time, this is a legacy issue that has been plaguing our administration of justice, to the criminal side of it, for quite a long time and we need to address it,” he said at the British Colonial Hotel. “I’m concerned about it and I don’t need a UN report to tell me some issues we have and we are addressing these issues as best as we can.”
“The UN have to appreciate that we are a country of limited resources and we have a lot of competing interest to attract our attention for resources.”
“So, we are doing what we can within the limits of our resources and so we hear them and we understand what they’re saying, but we also have other responsibilities to discharge and that requires resources and we have to be able to share those resources effortlessly across the spectrum where the needs are most crucial and urgent.”
Many detainees the Working Group interviewed were reportedly never presented with a warrant, and the report characterises the powers of police to arrest without a warrant as too broad.
The Working Group interviewed many detainees who did not initially have legal representation because they lacked the financial means.
The group said in many cases, arrested people lack access to a lawyer, showing the need for greater access to state-funded attorneys.
In prison, detainees often cannot access medical care, and visits from relatives have been prohibited since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the preliminary report.
Comments
Sickened 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Just don't put criminal's rights above victim's rights. To me a criminal forgoes many of his rights once he chooses to do shiitt, and he leave's it to society to say how he should be dealt with. If you don't want to get tortured, don't break into my home.
bahamianson 4 months, 3 weeks ago
I don't know how to respond to this. What is " we have limited resources"? I see politicians partying all the time. They are the only ones enjoying the Bahamas. I have to pay bills and taxes. Bpl, wsc, and batelco do not waiver my bills because I am a politician. I have to wait in traffic not have police escort and outsiders. The Bahamian people and I have to deal with terrible roads leading to expensive car repairs, expensive gas prices, expensive groceries, expensive Healthcare, and expensive everything. How many common people were at the soft opening of the Hilton? How many politicians attended? They gey all the fun, wr get all the pain of living in the beautiful Bahamas.
One 4 months, 3 weeks ago
I am living while I am living to the Father I will pray,
Only him know how we get through everyday,
With all the hike in the price,
Arm and leg we haffi pay,
While our leaders play
Buju Banton - Untold Stories
sheeprunner12 4 months, 3 weeks ago
The PM is right about "limited resources".
But, as Minister of Finance, has this PM and the three PMs who were also Ministers of Finance been accountable and transparent to the Bahamian citizens about the Public Treasury revenue & expenditure???
The gap between the Budget debates & the reality of the usage of public funds (in the public interest) has been widening each year for at least two decades.
Simply put, Bahamians nor international agencies can believe our politicians when it comes to the PROPER USE of our public finances.
TalRussell 4 months, 3 weeks ago
The Premiership shouldn't be locking up Illegals. --- Yes?
bobby2 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Detention facilities in horrible condition? Don't do the crime & you won't have to do the time!
rosiepi 4 months, 3 weeks ago
The politicians in the Bahamas are like the goose with the golden egg. Except this goose isn’t protecting her egg.
ExposedU2C 4 months, 2 weeks ago
We would have plenty of resources if Davis and Mitchell did much less travelling with their large entourages, if Fernander had only 4 rather than 14 assistant police commissioners, if corruption on a massive scale was not nearly so pervasive throughout government, if, if, if, and many more ifs, if you catch my drift.
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