by Jerome Pinder
After paying a $300.00 fine, the Barefoot Bandit is gone! In today's Tribune the Minister of National Security defends the entire process regarding the minimal charge and fine, and the quick extradition back to the United States. I agree, the sooner we got rid of the Barefoot Bandit the better for the Bahamas. However, he should have had to pay a fine that would at minimum covered the court cost, not to mention the entire expense surrounding his capture.
The Commissioner of Police, the Attorney General's Office, and now the Minister of National Security have all stressed our cooperation with authorities in the United States as a major factor in not bringing additional charges against the Barefoot Bandit, which led to his quick extradition. As stated by the Minister of National Security and reported in the press, "I reiterate the comments of the Attorney General earlier this week regarding the reciprocity that law enforcement officials in the United States of America have often shown the Bahamas in terms of returning to this country for prosecution individuals who are alleged to have committed greater offences in the Bahamas."
So when it comes to the United States, we have shown that the Bahamas can rise to the occasion and ensure swift action and some form of swift justice. Now what about the Governments understanding and respect for the Bahamian people?
On a recent radio show, the Commissioner of Police said himself that the Island of New Providence is plagued by repeat offenders. A broken justice system has many charged with murder roaming the streets. So when is the Government going to have the political will to tackle this plague? At mid year, we are now at 51 murders.
Did the Government mean real reform in its Speech from the Throne? Was this just more hot air? I suppose we are wasting our time in reminding the Minister of his comments in August 2009, when he assured the Bahamian People that hangings would start again. In many other Countries, with the judicial system and national security in such shambles, the Minister of National Security and Attorney General would be forced to resign. But not the Bahamas!
It is time to get judges in place to hear the backlog of cases regarding murder charges and other serious offences, in order to get the repeat offenders off the streets for good. Innocent Bahamians have suffered in fear long enough. It is time for the Government to stop playing games on such a serious issue. There are vacant buildings all over town to set up a court. Money spent on ensuring justice would have been a better investment than having every road in Nassau dug up. Rent paid by the Government would have been pumped into the economy, so it could have been part of the stimulus. Why fix all these roads anyway, when we can't keep street lights working?
The Government seems to bend or break from external pressure, but could care less about the cries of their very own people. Perhaps we need the UN to step in and tell us to fix the system, but yet again, this left wing liberal body could care less if criminals are out on bail and we are behind bars in our own homes.
