NASSAU, Bahamas – Prime Minister Phillip Davis says he remains optimistic that law enforcement authorities will be able to “save this country” as he outlined new initiatives to deal with the rising crime, particularly murder, in the Bahamas.
Prime Minister Phillip DavisIn his national statement on Sunday night, Prime Minister Davis said fhe would have preferred to have taken this time to set out the plans his administration have in place to further the further socio-economic development of the chain of archipelago islands.
“Instead, with the country having witnessed 11 murders over the past 14 days, I want to speak to you about the things we are doing to reduce the incidence of crime, and the plans we are beginning to implement ultimately to prevent crime being committed in the first place,” hes aid.
Prime Minister Davis said over the past year, and in the past few weeks in particular, New Providence has been the scene of senseless carnage, much of it attributed to persons already on bail for serious offences.
He said most murderers and victims have also been connected to those associated in some way with gangs, noting that gang-related activity has plagued the country for far too long.
He said over the years a number of initiatives have been launched to try to deal with it and “we are now preparing the most comprehensive approach yet.
“Our frontline response to the present crisis is to bring forward a strategy which is already in the advanced stages of planning. Our approach lies in three stages: ‘Clear, Hold and Build’.
We’re going on the offensive.”
He said put simply, the first phase is to “clear out the gangs from our neighbourhoods” and that the 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.”
Prime Minister Davis said that after clearing the gangs from the neighbourhoods, the authorities will not just walking away and would be implementing the second phase of the initiative.
“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.”
Prime Minister Davis said this phase is about constant vigilance and strength and the authorities will not just be building roads and buildings bt providng opportunities for Bahamians.
“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”.
He said the “clear, hold, build” initiative is an approach which has been used in some form or another in other countries, with significant degrees of success.
“We are adapting it to suit the situation on the ground here in The Bahamas, and we are fully resolved to do what is necessary to succeed.”
He acknowledged that most of the killings are gun-related and that there are far too many firearms on the streets.
“In fact, we have already begun to take more aggressive actions against those found in possession to support our zero-tolerance approach. Our Anti-Gang and Firearm Task Force is in full swing.
“Last year the judiciary designated a magistrate specifically to deal with firearms offences.
We now have quicker prosecutions, with stiffer penalties being imposed. From the date of first appearance in court to conviction or acquittal, it now takes an average of two months rather than a number of years as was previously the case. The backlog is also being cleared.”
Prime Minister Davis told the nation that they would not believe where the authorities are finding these guns, saying they are “stashed in cereal boxes and tucked away in snack packets, buried in innocent-looking surroundings.
“Guns are also being hidden by girlfriends, parents and grandparents. Most worryingly, children and young people are being used to hide weapons near schools or even attempting to smuggle them in their underwear – and this is true of both girls and boys. It’s clear evidence of the lengths criminals will go to.
“But let me tell you, no matter how clever these gangs think they are, our task force is smarter, tougher, and more determined. We’re uncovering their tricks, and we’re putting an end to their game.”
He reiterated a call for the United States t help curb the illegal exportation of drugs to his and other Caribbean countries, saying “I’ve been straight with the US government about the need to step up their game, and they have, as a result, tightened their response.
“Our partnership with The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is strengthening.
We’re not just talking; we’re taking action. We’re tracking down Bahamians with dual citizenship who have been buying guns in the US and trafficking them here. ”
He said such a strategy is working noting “we’ve already busted some major operations.
“During the past two years, we have significantly increased the resources to help the police to be more effective. We have recruited over 200 more officers, brought more vehicles onto the streets, provided more technological support, more firearms and so on. We now need to go even further.”
He said trained police officers are already in every school and the government “will enhance their capacity to ensure safety at school, and build positive relationships with students.
“We will increase police presence in high-crime areas to deter criminal activities. We will install more state-of-the-art surveillance technology using Facial Recognition CCTV, to help with crime detection and prevention.
“We are encouraging officers to build stronger community ties in order to improve intelligence-gathering, We are creating dedicated teams to provide assistance and protection to witnesses in criminal cases.
“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.”
Prime Minister Davis said The Bahamas is moving to conduct its own forensic analyses, which will significantly speed up investigations and improve the quality of evidence used in trials.
“We are going to introduce the toughest Anti-Gang Legislation ever. If you are associated with a gang, we are coming after you. If you have a lot of shiny things 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.”
Davis said on of the hallmarks of his administration is that of compassion “but anyone who mistakes ‘compassion’ for weakness, is in for a very, very rude awakening.
“We are all likely to be affected by the more intrusive policing which is coming. We will not violate anyone’s civil liberties, but you are likely to be impacted by more roadblocks and unannounced police action.”.
He said that the fight against crime isn’t just about gangs and guns, noting that social and domestic violence is a cancer in the society, eating away at the fabric of communities.
“We seem to have lost the ability to deal with our conflicts in ways which don’t automatically lead to violence. That’s why we’ve set up a dedicated Domestic Violence Unit within the Royal Bahamas Police Force.”
But he said there is need to go further and “ so, I am asking Ministers to recommend a package of measures which may be adopted to help improve the ways in which we resolve our conflicts across the whole of society.
“Cussing, Fists, Knives and Guns have no place in how we resolve our differences. While the police move forward to ‘Clear, Hold and Build’ our communities, there is still much, much more that needs to be done to reduce crime in our country.”
Prime Minister Davis said crime is not just a legal issue and that he causes of crime are deeply rooted in a range of social, economic, and psychological factors.
He said the new strategy draws on contemporary research, successful models from around the world, and consultations with experts across various fields.
During his broadcast Prime Minister Davis said he wanted to make special mention of the issues surrounding the granting of bail.
“The issue of bail has been widely debated. This is understandable given the fact that so many of the murders being committed are done so by those who are out on bail, and that those on bail themselves in turn become victims of murder.
“I understand the frustration and the blame-shifting that have surfaced during these debates, but there are some realities which must be faced. A judge has the right to use his discretion when granting bail.
“Judges in The Bahamas live in The Bahamas, and they know the truth of the statistics: releasing these men on the streets is akin to a countdown to a death sentence. We all have a responsibility to address this issue: the Judiciary, lawyers, and central government.”
He said in this context, it is important to address a troubling situation where repeat serious offenders are being granted bail and either becoming victims of murder or perpetrating serious offenses while on bail.
“These, in my opinion, justify a more aggressive approach by the judiciary in denying bail in murder cases. In my view, the prosecutors must likewise be more aggressive in appealing instances where bail is granted and the elements I have just described exist,” he added.
