(Statement) Minister of State for National Security Senator Keith Bell recent comments seeking to justify his blaming the FNM for the current crime wave demonstrates the serious disconnect of the PLP government relative to the increasing crime problem in The Bahamas. Furthermore, it highlights the government’s continued inability to address crime effectively. As we swiftly approach the country’s new murder record, the public fully expects that Senator Bell would be organizing an 11th hour crime-fighting initiative or preparing his resignation rather than taking cheap personal shots at members of the Opposition despite the litany of personal unfortunate stories associated with him which we have chosen not to focus on lest they distract from the subject at hand.

In recent comments, Bell suggested that a proliferation of gangs during 2007-2012 is to blame for the current crime levels in The Bahamas. While it is not my intention to show the long historical relationship between criminal enterprises in the Bahamas and certain key members of the PLP, Mr. Bell would do well to read the 1984 Commission of Inquiry Report to appreciate the culture of criminality his Party fostered in the Bahamas. We remind Bell that his credibility would not allow him to successfully pass of his opinions as facts or to seek to rewrite Bahamian history. Truth be told, gang proliferation and rise to prominence occurred during the late 80’s and early 90’s when the PLP courted gang members. In fact leading up to the 1997 general elections the PLP sought to benefit from their public association with these criminal enterprises including at their national convention.

In order to make the case for the PLP’s programme “Swift Justice” Mr. Bell raised the high profile murder case, which involved the murder of a police officer and witnesses to the incident. Bell is no doubt oblivious to the pain of the affected families and the hundreds of families (who have lost love ones) whose matters have not been resolved; yet he beats his chest in victory and praises his team for a job well done notwithstanding the facts to the contrary.

1. We still await Mr. Bell’s explanation for the $15 million dollars allocated to Urban Renewal in 2012.

2. We await his explanation as to how the $20 million dollars obtained from the IDB has been spent.

3. We await his explanation as to why the CC TV system the FNM left in place has not been substantially implemented in crime hotspots.

4. We await his explanation as to why his colleague Members of Parliament in the crime hotspot areas have not yet introduced crime intervention initiatives to stop the bloodshed.

We must not forget that just a few short months ago in June, Minister Bell boasted that the PLP government was “having great successes” in the war against crime, and that the country was safer than it was when the Christie Administration came to office. He further stated, “Yes we are winning, winning because we have a comprehensive plan to address crime and criminality. We have implemented programs to attack crime and its causes.” On so many levels Mr. Bell is ill suited for the job of Minister of State in National Security. He lacks the moral authority, temperament, skill-set and motives to address the crime crisis we face. His only saving grace is that he works with a Prime Minister he worships hence his job for the short term appears secure although with each new utterance he demonstrates why he should be fired.