Speaking out against murder rate increase

Time to put a stop to ineffective crime reduction measures

By: Alliyah Lewis

Following the tragic death of 14-year-old Indiana and her mother Anchinique Berry, who were killed execution style on November 6, the COB Gazette is launching the Peace on Our Streets campaign. It is time to tell the government enough is enough. They need to get serious and enforce effective solutions to bring the rate down. The Bahamas, with one of the smallest populations in the Caribbean at 354 829, has the fifth highest murder rate. Although the government has put measures in place to combat the issue, they are not getting promising results. Albert Einstein defines insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. And that is what the government continues to do. By changing the traditional approach, homicide can be controlled more successfully. The government changed the polices shift from eight to 12 hours to help in reducing the murder rate. This move sparked controversy and issues between the Minister of National Security, the Police Commissioner and the Police Staff Association. Yes, this act has reduced crime; but, the productivity of police will be negatively affected by fatigue due to long hours. The amount of criminals or the guilty ones caught will decrease, as officers ability to solve crimes will become less effective due to an overworked mind. More police presence is needed on the streets to combat the crime issue, but not in that way. The government should recruit young, intelligent, law abiding Bahamian citizens to join the force. Allowing detectives from other Caribbean territories to come to the Bahamas to offer assistance in the solving of the recovery of guns and other crimes can reduce the murder rate.

No criminal suddenly becomes a criminal; they were once a child. That means that the government has to attack the problem from the source; work with the boys from a young age. In the prison, 90% of the prisoners are Bahamian males and 25% of them have high school diplomas. This clearly shows who has to be targeted from a young age. The former Minister of National Security, Tommy Turnquest, said that the prison is required by law to ensure that all suitable inmates are taught a trade and that they are exposed to educational opportunities, particularly those inmates who are in need of remedial education. Why is this being offered after the crime has already been committed? They are already criminals who in some cases continue to commit crimes after their release. This opportunity should be given to young people before they reach Fox Hill. Every child should have access to free programs that will allow them to be the best that they can be. These programs should also monitor their progress and show some sort of alert if the child is going down the wrong path. The Minister of State for Legal Affairs, Damian Gomez, said that the anti-crime bill, which was discussed in the House of Assembly, will deliver a death blow to organized criminal activity. Apart o f this bill that was implemented is the Penal Code Amendment, which is specifically intended to target gang activity. According to the bill, anyone who is convicted of being in an unlawful gang or participates in or contributes to the activities would be liable to a fine of $500,000, and imprisonment for 20 years, minimum, 15. The governments main goal for this bill is to discourage gang members. Gangs are generally made up of persons 18-22. These are young persons looking for something to do to occupy their time; looking for someone to care for them and show them the attention that they need. Studies show that most gang members are a part of single parent homes. So instead of trying to discourage the youth, why not help them? This measure is not effective, because what will happen if the member is under 18 or after they are released from prison? The government is just masking the problem rather than solving it. Deal with the gang members before they become off age. Leisure centers, free of charge, is needed throughout communities in The Bahamas. These centers need to be advertised so youths and their parents can know about it. They need to have activities, trades and educators there for the youths.

If New York City, the crime capital, can decrease their homicide rate by 73%; The Bahamas can do it. Overall, the government has to greatly invest in education and our youths, because it starts with them, for some grow into criminals. Finding ways to deal with them, will surly bring peace on our streets. The COB Gazette calls for everyone who wants to see a peaceful and united Bahamas to stand up and speak out against the ineffective measures and truly decrease the murder rate.