NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – Prime Minister Phillip Davis will on Sunday night deliver a “national statement” on crime in the Bahamas after the country has reported an increase in homicides since the start of the new year.
A statement from the Office of The Prime Minister said that the broadcast is scheduled for 8.00 pm (local time) and “will detail the administration’s comprehensive approach to tackling the root causes of crime.
“This strategy represents a coordinated effort across government agencies and integrates law enforcement, emphasizing a whole-society approach to crime prevention and community building,” the statement said.
It said that Prime Minister Davis will outline measures to address underlying factors contributing to crime, such as economic inequality, education gaps, and social welfare issues. “This approach is a key part of our commitment to creating a safer and more equitable society for all citizens,” the statement added.
Last week, Prime Minister Davis reiterated his government’s commitment to “hunting down any criminal element that seeks to disrupt the peace and harmony” of the country as he commented on the latest murder here.
“There will be zero safe havens in our country for those who choose a path of crime and violence. Every necessary resource will be mobilized, and every legal measure will be enforced to protect our citizens and uphold the rule of law,” Davis said.
Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander has reiterated a call for an amendment to the bail legislation as the country grapples with an uptick in murders.
“We continue to say, and the law says within two to three years if the matter doesn’t come up in a week within that period, then they should be entitled to be reviewed for bail, but two to three months? We have to look at that,” Fernander told a news conference, noting that some people charged with serious crimes last year had been released on bail “within two or three months.
Opposition Leader Michael Pintard has called on the government to meet with gang leaders, saying many parliamentarians know the “street leaders” and those who wield “influence over a number of the persons who are wreaking havoc.
“Call a conclave with the senior fellas who run the streets, who lead these gangs who members of parliament know to find out: What is the conflict? Are there irreconcilable differences? How do we get peace on the streets? Have that conversation. For those unwilling to heed, let the full weight of the system deal with them, but don’t carry on as though we don’t know who is who because we do.”
Last year, the country reported more than 110 murders, and earlier this week, Prime Minister Davis said that seven days into the new year, the government had already registered eight murders.
and then 