FREEPORT, Grand Bahama -- Minister of National Security, the Hon. Dr. Bernard Nottage has called on all Bahamians to join “Team Bahamas” in the fight to make The Bahamas a safer place in which to live. Minister Nottage was in Grand Bahama on Thursday morning to officially open Reach Out Youth Organization’s Community Centre. The Youth Organization, headed up by Dudley Seide, has been in existence for over eight years and their main focus is to help steer boys and young men away from a life of crime, and onto the right path.

Minister Nottage, who was one of the main speakers at the opening ceremonies, noted that organizations like Reach Out are necessary to assisting the police, as well as assisting the government, make communities safer for Bahamians by cutting off at the path the potential life of crime by many boys and young men.

“This is a very special occasion for me because I am so accustomed to people who are ‘waiting for the government’ to do whatever needs to be done,” said Minister Nottage, during his address. “With all of the issues we have in the country, everyone is pulling on the government to get it done.

“But here is a man who is not waiting on the government to get it done, but who is using what he has to get things done.”

The National Security Minister said that he is convinced that the most of the challenges within the Bahamian society have roots within the home, in the family. And this, he said, is sucking the life out of the country’s young people.

He pointed to what he considers to be a blight in the country where families are not what they ought to be – in terms of there being a mother and father, who are married, living together and raising their kids properly, in spite of the challenges that may arise.

Seventy percent of the children born in the Princess Margaret Hospital, Minister Nottage said, are born to unwed mothers. Because of this, he said that the family structure within the Bahamian society has deteriorated significantly.

“Right now we are talking about the upcoming Referendum that deals with equality between men and women, but in our society whenever you go to a high school graduation ceremony, there are a whole lot of girls graduating, and a small number of boys. But when they started out in grade one together, there was probably an equal number of both boys and girls in the classroom. So, the question is ‘what happens to the boys?’

“After assuming the position of Minister for National Security and I made my first visit to Her Majesty’s Prison, I found myself in a place that had over 1, 500 inmates, where about fifty of them were women. That means there were 1,450 males in the prison – young males between the ages of 15 and 25. What is it that happens in our homes, in our neighborhoods and communities that causes that to happen?”

Minister Nottage said the difference in the outcome in life between men and women is in one’s attitude, one’s choices and in parenting.

“There is a need now for a new approach; one where the community takes charge of the society. We could do better, but we need to make a decision to do better.”

Minister Nottage noted that the Government recently got a $20 million loan from the IDB to fight crime in The Bahamas. This money, he said, could have been spent to build proper homes, schools, hospital, build roads or to educate children, but it has to be spent to try and reduce crime and create safe communities.

He revealed that he recently received a phone call from an expert on crime, who told him that it was his opinion that neither the Government nor the police force, in and of itself, can stop crime in the country. Minister Nottage pointed out that the crime fight has to start within the homes and it has to be extended to programs like Reach Out Organization.

The Minister said that this week coming, the Police Force will be holding a class for 33 police recruits, which will hopefully be expanded by the end of the year to three classes being held in New Providence and two in Grand Bahama and these recruits will have a specific mandate to help create safer communities.

“The work that Dudley Seide and his team is doing here in Grand Bahama is having positive results,” said Minister Nottage. “As a result, I promise Mr. Seide that Ms. Cartwright, who is in charge of the IDB project will be in touch with you and we will measure the success that you are having and the quality of work that you’re doing to see if we can adopt this program in Abaco, Eleuthera, Exuma and other Family Islands.

“Too many young people in this country do not get the chance to fulfill their purpose and may have no idea what their purpose in life may be.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m inviting you to be a part of our team – Team Bahamas – and together we can turn this thing around. It has to get to a point where what is happening in this country -- all of the crime and criminal behavior – begins to bother you, and once it begins to bother you, then you will get the same vision which Mr. Seide has and that is to do your part to help steer our children, especially our boys, in the right direction.”

The Community Centre is the first official home for Reach Out Youth Organization and will become like a home for many boys, where they will have a place to be mentored, instructed and fed on a daily basis. The Community Centre is equipped with a computer lab, where youngsters can complete afternoon school assignments, do research and projects. The building also has a kitchen and a meeting room, where it is expected that lectures and youth-centered events will be held.

The building was donated by the Grand Bahama Port Authority and is located on Banyan Lane.