Amid a spate of murders on New Providence, Reverend Harry Bain, dean and rector of Christ Church Cathedral, yesterday urged policymakers to act hastily to deal with what he believes is a “crime crisis” on the island.
“Our lawmakers need to do some serious work for us with respect to crime and penalties,” Bain said during the Opening of the Legal Year.
“If the current laws and policies on our books are inadequate and antiquated, then it is the responsibility of our elected representatives to put in place legislation which addresses our present day challenges and for them to be enforced.
“A lot of laws are on the books but they are not being enforced.
“So, our politicians and policymakers have their work cut out for them and they ought not to be ducking and dilly dallying. They need to address these matters.
“I believe that we are in a crime crisis on this little island. That’s what I believe. Our policymakers have their work cut out for them. Our lawmakers need to listen to our commissioner of police and to act and act with haste.”
Earlier this week, as he addressed recent murders, Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander called for a revision of the Bail Act as he claimed that criminals “take the system for a joke”. He also said that matters need to move more quickly through the court system.
Bain said yesterday that lawmakers should ensure that their approaches to crime are well researched and data-driven.
“Conducting research and analysis to understand the root cause of gang violence can inform evidence-based policies,” he said.
“This can involve studying risk factors, gang dynamics, and the effectiveness of different intervention strategies. Using data to guide decision making can lead to more targeted and effective approaches.”
Bain made the comments as he called for a multifaceted approach to combat crime, noting that the police and the judiciary must also take steps to curb the levels of violent crime in The Bahamas.
He said it’s crucial that law enforcement efforts be strengthened to deal with gang activity.
“This can involve targeted investigations, intelligence gathering, and collaboration between local communities, especially in hotspot areas, and law enforcement agencies,” he said.
“Intentional and consistent community policing across New Providence and doubling down in hotspot areas, where officers build relationships with residents, can also help foster trust and cooperation.”
Bain noted that there should be a holistic approach to law enforcement, as he called for more attention to be paid to policing smaller issues as well.
“Law enforcement must be consistent beginning with the enforcement of the so-called small and seemingly minor infractions,” he said, as he noted frequent traffic violations by Nassau drivers.
Bain also called for a greater focus on community engagement and partnerships with law enforcement.
“Whistleblowers should be encouraged and protected,” he said.
“Community-led initiatives such as neighborhood watch programs or violence interruption programs can promote safety and provide support to individuals seeking to leave gang life.”
As it relates to the judiciary, Bain called for effective and swift justice for gang members.
“Ensuring that gang members are held accountable for their actions through effective prosecution is important,” he said.
“Implement a meaningful form of swift justice in the court system. This can involve specialized gang units within the Office of the Attorney General, hefty penalties for gang related offenses, hefty bail requirements and targeted prosecutions using the full brunt of the law on all criminals. Gang violence and involvement should be classified, in my view, as organized crime and prosecuted as such.”
Bain also called for investment in early prevention and intervention programs that would target “at-risk youth” starting in primary school and continuing through high school in an effort to stop them from joining gangs.
“These programs can include community-based initiatives, working with the church, mentorship programs and after school activities and enrichment programs aimed at providing positive alternatives and promoting personal development,” Bain said.
Bain also noted the need for rehabilitation and reentry programs for people who are involved in gang-related activities.
“This can include access to education, job training, mental health counseling, and substance abuse treatment,” he said.
“Reentry programs that help individuals successfully reintegrate into society can reduce the likelihood of reoffending.”
While many Bahamians have called for the use of capital punishment in curbing the murder rate, Bain said he does not support that.
“It is contrary to New Testament teachings,” he said.
“Life is a gift from God and must be cherished, respected and preserved.”
There have been 10 murders in The Bahamas so far in 2024 — nearly one per day. Though violent crime has been a pressing concern for years, this latest surge has raised alarm.
Many have expressed concern over what seems to be indiscriminate violence after a 16-year-old girl was murdered in her home over the weekend and a two-year-old boy was shot and critically injured yesterday.
Fernander, when asked about the spike in murders yesterday, said police have a handle on the incidents that occurred.
“It’s a concern if we were not solving these matters and didn’t know the motive and what was going on,” he told reporters.
“But we have a handle on the matters that occurred.”
Fernander also said that many of the ideas highlighted by Bain are already in his policing plan.
