The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune

Thanks again in advance for space to address two issues sure to intersect in ways some of us cannot imagine or desire if we can: Economics and crime!

As we emphasized in our last letter, Economics is a social science. It focuses on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, and has ramifications on a wide range of areas, including people, politics, psychology, business and law.

We maintain that Wynne’s continued flirtation with Goodman’s Bay park and beach facilities, and their latest offer to “demolish the running track, rebuild it with a concrete path and a rubberized floor and there will be three lanes in the colours of the Bahamian flag,” should be taken with a box of salt! The admonition to “never look a gift horse in the mouth,” should be followed with an even stronger warning to “beware of Greeks bearing gifts!”

This continuing effort to inject more commercial activity into the Goodman’s Bay space should be a cause of concern for what it could portend for the ability of Bahamians to enjoy a beach experience without worrying that the lack of commercial success for some venture will remove that ability. Remember, that beach is one of the few remaining outlets for what is slowly becoming a landlocked population without access to the azure waters used to lure visitors to our shores.

We must be careful not to further build a coastal ocean-view luxury environment for foreigners to enjoy while creating worker camps of growing poverty and violence and hopeless people for these foreigners to employ.

If we still understand the principles that produce healthy communities, let us remind ourselves that we have real people with real ambitions, abilities, hopes and dreams who need space to live, to mix and mingle and socialize so that they too can realize their dreams. Open spaces of quality are a must for people to live together happily and positively; for them to become good and great citizens; to be productive to live lives of accomplishment and excellent! This is the only way to build a beautiful Bahamas.

We were not surprised to learn that Peter Knight, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Environment and Planning agency of Jamaica is fighting charges by local Jamaicans that the Government is denying access to public beaches, including the Bob Marley Beach in Bull Bay, St. Andrew and the beach at Little Dunn’s River in Ocho Rios, St. Ann. Jamaican citizens have also argued that their access points to some beaches have been barred by tourism interests or hoteliers.

Ahhh! Jamaica! Once the name that was top of mind to the international travel community when it came to planning a vacation to our region. That is until the early 1970’s when it became the killing fields of the Caribbean and its vaunted tourism industry disappeared. Are we looking to follow in Jamaica’s footsteps?

Now we move from Economics to Crime!

Before we go further, we must ask, “What, pray tell, has unleashed this torrent of bloodshed that has soiled the New Providence landscape, specifically in the last 40 days?”

We believe:

1 The police need to make all violence, including gang violence a top priority.

2 The government has to engage every child and young person in sound educational programmes. Good education and training are critical to healthy growth and development for the people and the country.

3 The government also needs to create just laws that promote fairness, protection, and encouragement of culture, commerce, and community and enforce them. Individual rights, growth, and development must be protected and encouraged at all costs.

4 The government needs to clearly define a balanced role in public and private economics and finances. It currently exercises too much control in these areas and consequently limits and even destroys the ability and potential of too many people.

So, an unprecedented level of brass verdicts continue to be dispensed on the streets of New Providence with twenty-five of them at this writing, one month and six days into a new year!

For number 25, we were privileged to have CBS News Miami on the scene!

We are as alarmed as any other citizen at what appears to be a breakdown of law and order, gang related or not! It has been reported that two Jamaican nationals (in possession of AK47’s) were arrested along with a Bahamian female in downtown Nassau.

So, these suggestions, which have been shared with others privately, we now offer publicly:

• The Prime Minister should convene a meeting immediately which should include the DPM, Min. of National Security, Attorney General, Leader of the Opposition and his Deputy, Min. of Education, President of the Christian Council and another representative, the Commissioner of Police and his Deputy, the Commodore of the Defence Force and his Deputy, President of the BUT, Heads of Umbrella Lodges (Prince Hall, Scottish and English Constitutions), Rotary, Kiwanis, Heads of Greek Organizations (Alpha, Kappa and Omega), and Heads of the major sports umbrella organizations (Softball, Baseball, Basketball and Soccer), to begin with. This is not an exhaustive list and can and maybe should be expanded.

• This meeting we suggest should include the following information: a breakdown of all the murders (who are they and are they all gang related?); the names of all the gangs, their leaders and the numbers in those gangs; and where the gangs live and operate. This information should be available to the police as it is to most street denizens.

It would not be out of order, we believe, to invite the Chief Justice as an observer. There should be specific action points agreed at the end of the meeting, included targeted action of known malcontents.

We believe the Bahamian public and now the international community need to see intent in action … in reality, the Leadership demanded at such a time as this!

To borrow from our late colleague, P Anthony White, “For What It’s Worth.”

ANTHONY “Ace” NEWBOLD

February, 2024.