Minister Marvin H. Dames
Press Conference on
Execution of Crime Fighting Initiatives of RBPF
The Hon. Marvin H. Dames, M.P.
Minister of National Security
The Commonwealth of The Bahamas
Good evening.
After getting the news of another murder this morning, I decided to convene a meeting with
Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade, along with his executive team and divisional
commanders to review their current strategy. After hearing from them and knowing what we are
up against, I requested of them to redouble their efforts.
As a result of our meeting, they have decided to execute a number of initiatives.
While efforts in tackling crime are static in many ways they are also fluid as our approach is
based on what is occurring. Towards this end, they are further enhancing senior command at a
divisional level on a 24-hour basis.
They will be taking a more aggressive approach to handling drug peddling and shutting down
drug houses in communities throughout New Providence, Grand Bahama and across the Family
Islands, as they are the source of many of the crime problems that exist.
They will be increasing their intelligence and operational efforts to identify and disrupt gang
activities. From an intelligence perspective, there will be an increased focus on firearm
traffickers with a view to bringing them to justice.
The police have informed me that they have conducted a review of persons on bail who are not
in complying with their bail conditions. Further, they have discovered that more than 50 persons
were not in compliance and they have already arrested a number of those persons and
subsequently their bail was revoked. At present, there are 268 persons currently being monitored
for various offences. Out of the 268 serious offences committed there are: 70 for homicides, 18
for attempted murders, 102 for armed robberies and 59 for firearm offenses.
Police intelligence has also revealed that the murders have occurred in what we call hot spots –
Pinewood, Kemp Road, Bain Town, Yellow Elder and Carmichael Road communities. Police
will increase vehicle and foot patrols and will be using all of the technology available to them
including increased monitoring of CCTV and their all of their resources to curtail these violent
crimes.
The efforts of police have yielded some results but as I have explained there is more that we
should be doing and there is also a need to improve technology and build capacity.
I will like to send a warning out to all those persons who continue to live a life of crime –
moving forward we intend to make your life very uncomfortable. We will use every resource at
our disposal to ensure that you are made to account for your wrongdoings. This is a promise.
As we have committed to in our Manifesto, we will immediately commence with the
establishment of the National Crime Prevention and Neighbourhood Watch Council to grow
community involvement in the fight against crime. We have identified Senior Assistant
Commissioner Stephen Dean to lead this council in the interim. This council will establish crime
watch groups in every community and these groups will endeavour to establish commonality and
examine community prevention measures. The council will study the feasibility of citizen
patrols working with police to improve relationships and prevent crime. Additionally, the
council will collaborate with multi government agencies and non governmental agencies.
The Government of The Bahamas will review the establishment of the Royal Bahamas Police
Force as we feel that this is one of those areas that if we get right, should go a long way in
reducing high levels of crime in our communities. This review will determine the requisite
number of officers at any Division which was never previously established. I suspect that
shortly we will run a pilot programme in terms of addressing this issue to determine its
effectiveness.
We will also move to decentralise once again, the central detective units. The purpose of
decentralisaion is to have detectives at stations to readily respond to serious matters on a timely
basis. The detective units were dismantled under the last administration.
I want to use this opportunity to personally and publicly thank the fine men and women of the
Royal Bahamas Police Force for their tireless efforts to keep the people of the country safe.
Yours is a job that is accountable to the Bahamian people but one that is often let without thanks.
It should be noted that the job of law enforcement officers is the prevention and detection of
crime and the apprehension of offenders. The government intends to produce very shortly its
legislative agenda which will have a number of Crime Prevention Bills, including the National
Anti-Corruption Agency and National Intelligence Agency among others.
We are more determined than ever and stronger in our resolve to keeping this Bahamas safe for
all citizens.
Thank you.
-End-