NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – National Security Minister Wayne Munroe says that while he is pleased with a 30 per cent decline in murders in The Bahamas so far this year, he remains dissatisfied with the level of crime in Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries.
Munroe told the Nassau Guardian newspaper that as of December 29, the country had recorded 83 murders compared with 120 murders in 2024, attributing the decrease to measures aimed at reducing crime.
“I’m still not satisfied with the numbers,” he said, adding, “there’s still too much violent crime. Bearing in mind, I’m 57, and I remember what it was like when I was a child.
“To see it get to this over that period is what isn’t encouraging, even though the numbers are trending in the right direction. So I’ll never be happy with 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 Bahamians being murdered. I could never be satisfied with that.”
In 2023, the country recorded 110 murders, and 2020 was the year with the lowest number of murders in recent years, when 73 people were killed.
Observers say the low figure was due primarily to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, marked by months of strict lockdowns and curfew measures to curb its spread.
Munroe yesterday said the Phillip Davis government has been “steadfast” with its five-pillar crime plan, which outlined initiatives in prevention, policing, prosecution, punishment, and rehabilitation.
It included a focus on community policing, intervention programs, increasing the police workforce, improving police technology, measures to speed up the judicial process and reduce court backlogs, and expanding rehabilitation programs for offenders.
The National Security Minister also referred to continued investments in prevention, including in community centers and youth programmes, as well as legislative changes.
“We did some work with the courts in terms of the judge-alone trial, in terms of the Bail Amendment Bill that may be bearing some fruit. You would remember that a lot of the people who were murdered used to be people on bail. I think that number has fallen.”
Munroe said that anti-gang legislation had increased penalties for gang activity.
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