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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
 Recently, Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage while speaking in the House of Assembly appeared defensive and more than irritated as he spoke about the high levels of crime in the country. He claimed that the PLP government remains committed in the fight against crime in the wake of negative and seemingly unfair criticism. He suggested that the PLP government is never commended when no murders occur in the country. In other words, Dr. Nottage feels as if the PLP government is being thrown under the proverbial bus in the execution of its crime-fighting mandate. Ironically, however, in the same address, the Minister sought to throw the judiciary under the proverbial bus when he insinuated that they strike down anti-crime legislation, refuse to impose sentences on the books, and give criminals “a slap on the wrist.” From all indications, it appears that Dr. Nottage is attempting to place the lion’s share of blame for increased crime on the branch of government that interacts with criminals at the back end of the criminal justice continuum. While our judicial system is not perfect, a seasoned politician of Dr. Nottage’s stature blaming the judiciary for the continuing scourge of crime in The Bahamas is both disappointing and unbecoming.
The public may recall that in recent weeks he has also blamed single mothers for the escalating crime and joined the Prime Minister in castigating the police for not doing more to slow the rise in violent crimes.
During the general election campaign of 2012, it was the political maneuvering of Dr. Nottage and the PLP to lambaste the FNM government on the issue of crime. At that time, there was no mention of the judiciary as a responsible party to the crime problem. Likewise, it was Dr. Nottage and the PLP promising and proposing solutions to crime in The Bahamas, if only the FNM government was removed from
office. Again, there was no mention of the judiciary as a responsible party to the crime problem. However, three and a half years and a change of government later, the Minister is demanding a free pass for the PLP government on the troubling crime problem while deliberately selecting our judiciary as the fall guy. Nevertheless, the Bahamian people must not forget that Swift Justice, Project Safe Bahamas, Saturation Patrols, Urban Renewal 2.0 and other PLP initiatives were proudly touted by the then opposition PLP as the answers to the vexing crime problem. Today, however, the politically strategic answer appears to be to shift blame onto our courts and judges, single parents and the police.
We cannot forget the prideful and flowery boast of the Minister of State for National Security Keith Bell, during his contribution to the 2015/2016 budget debate. At that time, and just three short months ago, the junior Minister claimed 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.” In reality, this PLP government is anything but winning in the fight against crime as we are now on pace to set a new murder record in The Bahamas. If it were possible to statistically assess the fear of crime, we would be on pace to setting a record there as well. Scores of Bahamians are now fearful of being victims of crime and this fear is affecting our quality of life.
The Free National Movement leader and his team has release a comprehensive list of recommendations for the government and other stakeholders to review and utilize so that we may work collaboratively to address the scourge of crime.
In the meantime, Dr Nottage and the PLP should know that Bahamians cannot and will not give them a free pass.
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