The Tribune

CRIME is the biggest problem facing the country today, PLP leader Perry Christie told Bahamians during a televised national address last night.

Mr Christie lamented the 500 murders in the last five years, and said: "Add to that the hundreds upon hundreds of rapes, the thousands of assaults and armed robberies, and the drugs and guns that are flooding across our borders and into our communities.

"Let's make no mistake about it: we are a nation and a people under siege."

Mr Christie said the top priority of the next government must be to acknowledge that the present levels of crime and violence represent a national security emergency.

"To address this problem, we need to bring the nation together. The police and the Defence Force and law enforcement experts are on the front lines, to be sure - and they must have the technology and the training and the support they need.

"But we also need to bring clergy and the private sector and teachers and community leaders and youth leaders together in common purpose," he said.

Mr Christie said fighting crime cannot be "mixed up" with politics.

He said: "When the FNM came to power, they ended successful award-winning anti-crime programmes simply because they were PLP programmes.

"Areas with Urban Renewal had shown a substantial drop in crime - it was working - but it was associated with the PLP, and so it was watered down and discarded.

"The same was true for School Policing, Tourism Policing, and Swift Justice. And the same was true for Witness Protection.

"At least 20 witnesses have been executed in cold blood since Witness Protection was ended."

He urged the public to support the PLP at the polls today, so it can bring back programmes which were working and starting to make a real difference.

"And since the problem has escalated so dramatically since we left office, we must initiate a new set of solutions, too," Mr Christie said.

"Last August, I introduced our innovative and comprehensive plan to fight crime, Project Safe Bahamas.

"It includes Operation Cease Fire - new Strike Force teams for rapid deployment, an intense focus on repeat offenders and the most violent criminals, and saturation patrols in crime hotspots.

"No one should have to live in a neighbourhood where fear and menace rule the streets. We are going to flood these areas with police, with resources and support."

The party leader added: "Beloved Bahamians - we are at a crossroads.

"Come with the party that believes in you. Come with the PLP.

"Let us decide together that we believe in the Bahamas."