Good Afternoon:
     
I am pleased to join the men and women of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and other Law Enforcement Officers from the Defence Force, Immigration, Customs and Road Traffic Departments, in this Annual Church Service in Grand Bahama as we give God thanks for the past year and seek His guidance for the future.   We have come together to pray for the peace, security and stability of our nation and to renew our commitment to the task of building a better Bahamas.
 
This special thanksgiving service serves as a steady reminder to all of us, and especially to you in the Police Force, whose daily work is fraught with danger, anxiety and uncertainty, that it is God who orders the steps of men and women.  This service also serves as an opportunity for us to remember those fallen colleagues who are no longer with us, but remain with us in spirit.

The foremost responsibility of the Government is to provide for a secure and safe environment conducive to the wellbeing of the citizens and the development of the country. The record of this Government clearly shows that no effort has been spared to provide the Police Force with the necessary tools and conditions of service required to effectively do their job in addressing crime. 

The listing of resources provided to the Police Force since 2007 is indeed long and impressive. The police have the capacity to respond rapidly and appropriately to incidents; it has the manpower, the technology and the required mobility. 
     

Photo: Derek Carroll

During 2011 alone, some $14 million was spent on assets for the Police, including patrol cars, two (2) high-tech mobile police vans, the acquisition of new equipment and crime fighting technologies, the upgrade of the Police Communication Control Room in Nassau and Freeport to improve the 919 system and a new automated locator system; and the successful implementation of the electronic monitoring system for accused persons on bail.  The Grand Bahama District and all Family Islands have benefitted from these resources. 
     
Since 2007 there has been the enlistment of some 435 new officers on the Force.  This included 2 squads exclusively for the Grand Bahama District in June 2008, and in September of last year.    
     
At the beginning of this year, the Commissioner of Police shared with the public the crime statistics for 2011. Those statistics reveal unacceptable levels of crime, particularly violent crimes and crimes against the person.  The crime statistics and police intelligence also reveal that a significant percentage of the crimes, particularly homicides, are associated with criminal enterprises, the illicit drug trade and the use of illegal firearms.  The issue of drugs will be comprehensively addressed as we continue in our relentless battle against the criminal elements in tackling this vexing problem.
  

Photo: Derek Carroll

  
Notwithstanding the crime statistics, and the challenges faced during the past year, I am pleased to note the many successes that the Police have had in Grand Bahama.  A total of sixty (60) firearms and 761 rounds of ammunition were removed from the streets.   The Drug Enforcement Unit has been successful in confiscating 341.24 pounds of cocaine (valued at $12.8 million); 1,322 pounds of marijuana (valued at $1.3 million), 20,775 marijuana plants, and $805,491.10 in cash. And many criminal enterprises have been disrupted.

I commend Assistant Commissioner Emrick Seymour and his team here in Grand Bahama for the innovative crime fighting initiatives that they continue to take and especially for their success rate in the apprehension of criminals, particularly as it relates to the illicit drug trade.  
     
I fully recognize that your good news stories oftentimes do not make the headlines in the media, nor are they sometimes even acknowledged within the national debate.  However, I want you to know that I am kept well abreast of your good work, and the many persons whose lives you touch, and I recognize and appreciate the contributions that you make. 
     

Photo: Derek Carroll

I know that much of the success is as a result of the leadership here “leading from the front”, and there is no substitute for engaged police visibility.  I commend Officers for their excellent work, and urge you to continue your work in crime prevention as you continue to engage the community in positive activities. 

In this regard, I highlight the outstanding contributions that you have made and continue to make in mentoring our youth in positive activities through programmes such as the Summer Youth Camp, the West End Fishing Camp and your music programmes in both the theory and practice of music.
     
The presence of the police in areas where drugs and crime are responsible for the breakdown of law and order and social cohesion in our communities and neighbourhoods is of critical importance.  The key to addressing crime and the fear of crime in our country continues to be the increased presence and visibility of police officers to expose and bring to justice those drug dealers and drug pushers who use their ill-gotten wealth, intimidation or fear tactics to exercise influence and control in their neighbourhoods and communities, in order to frustrate law enforcement efforts.  I am assured by the Commissioner and his senior officers that the proactive strategies put in place will achieve the desired results.

Photo: Derek Carroll

The problem of crime in The Bahamas is much like that elsewhere in the world.  The issues that lead to certain types of offences are very complex and no Police Force, regardless of its sophistication, can by itself effectively address crime in isolation.   During 2011, the Bahamian public provided the police with timely information that was useful in preventing and detecting criminal offences.  I again urge the public to assist the police in bringing criminals to justice.  We live in a small society where someone always knows the perpetrators.    We as a people must not allow the tyranny of a minority to upstage law and order.   We have to come forward and tell the Police what we know.

I know that all police officers are aware of the impending general promotional exercise for the Police Force. I will reiterate here what I told to your colleagues in Nassau last week. The Commissioner and his Executive Management Team will, following upon their interviews and assessment of officers, determine those officers who are most deserving of promotion to the various ranks at this time. The Commissioner has provided me with the rank organizational structure for the effective operation of the Force and I wish to underscore that the promotional exercise will be within the context of meeting the deployment requirements of a properly structured Police Force.   I assure you of fairness in the exercise; however, there may be some police officers who are deserving of promotion that may not be able to be accommodated at this time, due to positions not being available within their next rank.  I have advised the Commissioner that those officers who are deserving of promotions that cannot be accommodated at this time will be rewarded in some way.
     
To all Police Officers, and all Officers within our entire law enforcement Agencies, I commend you for all of your work in the past and call upon you to redouble your efforts in 2012.  I urge you to use this church service as an opportunity to recommit yourselves to the challenges ahead, as you continue to give exemplary public service to The Bahamas.  
     

Photo: Derek Carroll

On behalf of the Government and people of The Bahamas, and on my own behalf, I thank you the men and women of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, as well as officers of our other Law Enforcement Agencies, for giving your best to protect our nation.  I know that all right-thinking Bahamians are very appreciative of your work and are grateful and supportive of your efforts. We commend and thank you.  I encourage you to continue to serve with courage, loyalty and integrity.
      
I also thank your families, for their patience and sacrifices, and for the invaluable support they give to you. 
     
I wish each of you, and your families, a prosperous, constructive and Happy New Year.    May God continue to bless and protect you.