Nassau, Bahamas - The following are remarks at the Anti-Crime Rally, Queen’s College, November 5, 2014 on Violent Crime and Murder In The Bahamas by David F. Allen, M.D., M.P.H.:

The Bahamas, and Nassau in particular, has undergone a serious social fragmentation process due to: (a) the cocaine crisis of the eighties and its continuing sequelae; and (b) the international economic slowdown of the past few years.

This social fragmentation is associated with widespread drug trafficking with its evil executions and plentiful supply of powerful guns, leading to burgeoning violent crime and soaring murder rates (See Figure 1). This process results in the disintegration of the family and the community, to a culture of unemployed young men who are mobilized by youth gangs which wreak havoc and fear in society.

I offer ten recommendations for dealing with this serious epidemic of violent crime in our midst.

1. Define Violent Crime as a Public Health Problem

- It is like an infectious epidemic requiring multidisciplinary involvement.

- It is a chronic relapsing disorder with plateaus and spurts. The intervention methodology should be simple, persistent and long-term.

- The best prediction of violence is a preceding act of violence. Research of preceding acts of violence is necessary to develop evidence-based approaches to the prevention of future acts of violence.

- Focus must be on prevention and intervention while we continue the excellent work being accomplished in detection and investigation.

2. We Need Help.

Establish a mutual exchange program between the Bahamas’ law enforcement agencies with those of such countries as Israel, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean, would create cross-fertilization, increase efficiency, raise public morale and compliment the excellent work being done by our police force.

3. Place Defense Force officers on the streets

Use Defense Force to assist the Royal Bahamas Police Force in high violent crime areas in these critical times.

4. Mandatory Curfew in high crime areas

Drastic times call for drastic measures. With the recent spate of violent crime, the question arises, “Is there a need for some type of curfew in certain areas?” Obviously, if this is to be done, it has to be clearly defined and operated efficiently, for it to be effective.

5. Legal Reform

Many Bahamians are shocked and dismayed at the number of persons who are alleged to have committed serious violent crimes who are on bail. The result of this is a developing vigilante trend, which can have serious consequences for the future of law and order in the society. There is a need for some type of overt action in this regard.

Fig 1 – Incidence of Murders in the Bahamas (1963-2013)

6. Capital Punishment

If Capital Punishment is on the law books, then it should be utilized; however, the sentencing of such punishment should only be done once all other avenues have been exhausted and there is NO reasonable doubt.

7. Residential Program for Extremely At-Risk Youth

Establish a transparent program for at-risk youth based in a central location overseen by more than one organization to reduce the risk of abuse. It is imperative that participants in the

program are allowed to interact with their relatives and concerned persons on a daily or weekly basis to prevent them from feeling isolated. The program should be established for both young men and women.

8. Mandatory National Service Program

Establish a mandatory one year program for all Bahamian youth, a second year for those that are not pursuing academic achievements. As part of the program, all adult Bahamians should be required to donate time, knowledge or experience to assist in the betterment of the youth. The only way to bring the country together is if we stop believing it is someone else’s problem.

9. Psychological Support for Law Enforcement Officers

Those working on the front line against criminal activity must be able to come together, express their feelings, share concerns, debrief and work through some of the pain and grief related to their challenging duties. This can easily and economically be done by establishing The Family: People Helping People Project in the Police force. It would simply involve the use of a room where two (2) therapists would come and meet with officers, giving them the opportunity to share their stories, ask questions and work through issues of emotional fatigue. The Family project would be of no cost as it is currently funded by Templeton World Charity Foundation (TWCF) on the basis that the project has already provided quantitative results in resocialization. A similar service is provided for the EMS personnel.

10. Develop a National Awareness Campaign for Depression

It is proven that depression and other mental illnesses are a major factor in homicides, violent crimes and suicides. Thus a campaign to reduce the prevalence of depression is essential to any anti-crime strategy.

“Generally speaking, violence always arises out of impotence.

It is the hope of those who have no power.” - Hannah Arendt