With the murder count climbing almost daily, Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis gave a national address last night, assuring Bahamians that the government has a plan to deal with the network of gangs that are wreaking havoc on the streets of New Providence.
First, Davis said the immediate response will be a three-staged approach: clearing the gangs out of the communities; keeping the communities safe by having police maintain a “relentless presence” there; and investing in those communities.
“We’re going on the offensive,” he said.
“Put simply, our first phase is to clear out the gangs from our neighborhoods.
“Our police, armed with new resources and resolve, will strike hard against these gangs. We’re not just disrupting them, we’re dismantling them.
“We will show no mercy to those who have shown no mercy to their fellow citizens. If you choose crime, you will face the full weight and might of the law.
“After we clear these neighborhoods, we’re not just walking away. We will move to phase two which is the hold phase. Our police will hold these communities by maintaining an ongoing, relentless presence.
“This is an area which we think has not been addressed fully in the past.
“We’re sending a clear message to any criminal who thinks they can make a comeback: we’re here, we’re here to stay, and we’re not going anywhere. This phase is about constant vigilance and strength.
“Lastly, we build – not just buildings and roads, but building opportunities, building futures, building hope. This is about investing in our communities, creating opportunities that didn’t exist before, and ensuring that crime is never again seen as a desirable option. We’re not just reclaiming our streets; we’re revitalizing them.”
The address came after police reported that 11 people were murdered in the first 14 days of the new year. The uptick in killings started before the 2023 Christmas holiday season.
Davis said much of the “senseless carnage” occurring in New Providence can be attributed to people already on bail for serious crimes.
He said the clear, hold and build strategy has been used in other countries with “significant degrees of success”.
That strategy though, does not appear to be new for The Bahamas.
Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander has touted the force’s saturation patrol as a significant deterrent to criminals.
The commissioner also established a firearms unit and gang unit, which he said are reaping success.
Fernander has admitted that the force has to build more relationships in the community.
Intrusive policing
The prime minister warned residents to brace for more police presence.
“We are all likely to be affected by the more intrusive policing which is coming,” he said.
“We will not violate anyone’s civil liberties, but you are likely to be impacted by more roadblocks and unannounced police action.
“This may make you late for your appointments, or delay plans you have, but this is a small price to pay for the collective benefit of having our streets made safer, and our lives less blighted by murder and other violent crimes.”
In addition, he said there will be an increase in police presence in high-crime areas to deter criminal activities.
He said the government will install more state-of-the-art surveillance technology using facial recognition CCTV, to help with crime detection and prevention.
“We are creating dedicated teams to provide assistance and protection to witnesses in criminal cases,” he said.
“We are reviewing the operation of the confidential informant fund, with a view to increasing resources to enhance the effectiveness of information-gathering and covert operations.
“We are constructing a National Forensic Laboratory, in order to reduce our dependency on foreign jurisdictions.”
He also said the government will introduce the “toughest anti-gang legislation ever”.
“If you are associated with a gang, we are coming after you,” he said.
“If you have a lot of shiny things with no way to explain your wealth, we are going to seize what you have.
“But let’s be clear: this is not just about more police on the streets; it’s about smarter, strategic policing.
“We are targeting the hotspots, dismantling the networks, and choking off the lifelines of these criminal organizations.
“Our message to the gangs is unequivocal: you will find no safe haven in The Bahamas.
“We will find you, we will stop you, and we will bring you to justice.”
Davis also raised alarm that many families remain silent as loved ones spiral into a life of crime.
He encouraged residents to act, speak up and join in the government’s effort to tackle crime.
“I have instructed the attorney general and the minister of social services to review the laws with the view of bringing additional measures against parents and other family members who fail to live up to the sacred responsibility of protecting children,” he said.
“We will have a society and country where failure in parenthood, resulting in endangerment and negligence, will be met with accountability.
“For those who, despite everything, insist on engaging in criminality, understand that it boils down to two options. Either you accept our hands in partnership to a different way of life, or, you will face the blunt instrument of the law. The choice is yours.”
