The Bahamas Government reveals plans to tackle the rising murder rate
Criminal activity will not be tolerated in Bahamian communities.
This was the message from Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis, Police Commissioner Paul Rolle and Deputy Commissioner Clayton Fernancer as they announced plans to tackle the country’s spiralling murder surge.
Approximately 44 persons have been murdered since January 1, most of which have been gang-related.
Fernander said 22 murders were recorded in The Bahamas in March 2022, making it the deadliest month on record. Cops were able to solve 11 of those incidents.
Davis said police presence in crime hotspots would be beefed up to dissuade criminals from carrying out their illicit activities.
“Our communities need more manpower and resources,” the Prime Minister said as he called on young civic-minded Bahamians to join the police force.
The government is looking to enact an Anti-Gang Law, similar to legislation used in Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, where criminal gangs are also responsible for most of the violence taking place in communities.
A National Security Council will be activated to ensure protective agencies can share intelligence seamlessly with the specialised task force focused on decreasing gang-related crimes and apprehending those involved in firearms trafficking.
He called on Bahamians to see the crime taking place in the country serious matter since it can only take one unfortunate event for it to reach their doorsteps.
Davis also tasked the attorney general to look at laws where the punishment may be deemed insufficient in response to the public outcry about the four-year jail term given to a 40-year-old man after he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl.
“We should all agree on this one thing. Grown men should stay away from children and be punished to the fullest extent of our laws when they do not. The sentencing should punish the wrongdoing and be long enough to deter others from committing the same crimes,” Davis added.
Meanwhile, there is a growing trend where “courier services” registered in south Florida are assisting Bahamian criminals to smuggle guns into the country.
Rolle said Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) is working with US authorities to prevent guns from being exported to the islands.
“That is yielding positive results as we try to interdict a lot of the illegal firearms that were destined for The Bahamas,” the top cop stated.
For the first three months of 2022, 109 illegal firearms have been seized.
Rolle called on Bahamians to continue to work with the police and report relatives and community members who are hiding illegal firearms.
The commissioner welcomed the news that resources would be available to recruit more cops since the RBPF is short of 800 officers and requires about 4,000 servicemen and women.
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