by Jerome Pinder
At this point there is no need to elaborate on the level of crime in the country. The record speaks for itself. As Government attempts to justify the current murder rate by mouthing off on statistics that a majority of murders are related to drugs, gang violence, or domestic problems, the fact remains that one murder is one too many. And as time goes on more innocent people will be caught in the crossfire.
I was alarmed this week to read an article in the Tribune where are Minister of National Security works 16 hour days. One has to wonder what the Minister is doing. Based on National Security in the Country, he might as well not show up to work.
We all know that our crime problem was a seed planted a long time ago and now it is a dangerous vine that is killing everything in the garden. Yes crime stems from a culture of drugs, corruption, gang violence, teenage pregnancy, breakdown in the family, lack of education, lack of role models in the home, etc. However, like any uncontrollable vine in the garden, you have to relentlessly attack and weed it out. Successive Governments have not shown the political will to weed the vine out. And what we have today is justice on the streets, instead of the courtroom.
The Police and the General Public are fully aware that we have a minority group of thugs running wild on our streets. So the questions is; how far will we allow these individuals to go before we decide to take action? It is being rammed down our throats for us to have compassion for the criminals, respect their feelings, be humane, be concerned on the length of time that they are in prison awaiting trial, or how the police treat them!
So we have decided to be more concerned with the feelings of the criminal and why they choose to blow someone’s head off, rather than worrying about what affect they are having on the country as a whole. We are choosing to sit by and hold the criminals hand, while we sing Kumbaya, and watch the Country go to hell in a hand basket.
The Privy Council is preaching to us to have more compassion, respect the criminal, and to be more humane. What ever you do, don’t Hang! From their recent rulings, it is clear that no murder will ever be horrific enough to result in capital punishment. When is the last time you heard about one of the “Lords” having a gun put to their head, having a family member rapped, or being involved in an armed Robbery? But according to them, we should open up and have feelings for the criminal.
No matter what the cause, no matter what the circumstance, we cannot allow any one individual to bring this country to its knees. There are too many upstanding citizens that have come from challenging backgrounds and have not chosen a life of crime. Yes we need social reforms, yes we need educational reforms, yes we need to try and better educate our children. However, the Country cannot be held hostage by a group of thugs whose life experiences have caused them to have no regard for human life.
Now back to our Minister and His Government. In 2007 we were asked to join the Trust Agenda. We were told that the Trust Agenda was the better way. We were told that the Trust Agenda could be held to a hire standard. In 2007 crime was at an unacceptable level, not to mention what it is today. How long have we waited for the current administration to present changes in Parliament to the Criminal Procedure Code, the Penal Code, and the Bail Act? All we have gotten over the last four years is hot air!
I propose to the Minister that his Government is responsible for the level of crime. They are responsible for crime, as they have neglected the voice of the Bahamian People. More importantly, they have neglected the Word of God. This has led to a complete breakdown of law and order in this country.
They told us to expect better in 2007. However, now in 2011 with a murder count over 100, many committed by repeat offenders and persons on bail, they went on a summer break without bringing the necessary changes to Parliament. I suggest they bring the matter before the people via a Referendum.
Now the Minister is going to blame the courts. Perhaps when this administration was returned to power in 2007, they should have ensured that the laws were so tight and so severe that the court system would have been prevented from pushing the liberal agenda.
In some ways, you feel sorry for the Minister. He is caught in an administration that obviously does not believe in capital punishment, is happy with the liberal agenda in protecting the criminals, and has no respect for the voice of the people. But when you make your bed hard, you lie hard! This administration willingly came and offered better to the Bahamian people, and better has not been received. There is so much frustration in this town now that if you strike a match in the wrong place the whole thing will blow!
The Minister was right with one thing, if Judges had to stand for election they would be “chased out of town.” Many of our countries leaders need the same thing.
But we have heard all of this before. And time longer than rope, an election is coming. What have we accomplished with 16 hour work days? We may end up driving on nice roads, but we are as scared as hell when doing so!
