By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
BISHOP Simeon Hall accused National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage of being vocal about crime while he was in opposition, but failing to deliver now that he is in office.
He made these comments as New Covenant Baptist Church placed the names of murder victims on a memorial wall in front of the church.
Bishop Hall said the recent attacks on officers and the 28 murders for the year are “frightening indicators” that crime is out of control.
“A political party, while in opposition seems to have more to say about crime than when that same party comes to government. Dr Bernard Nottage said more about murder while seeking office than he is saying now as Minister of National Security. All Bahamians remember those graphic signs around town by the PLP decrying the murder rate right before the last election,” he said.
“The promise to put a major dent in crime has not been delivered – regardless of what the statistics say. Today’s criminals have sunk to brutish savagery and are not afraid of the law, the police, the court, going to jail or anything anymore.”
Bishop Hall said since hanging is out of the question, the government must introduce a “Three strikes and you are out” system.
He said: “Persons with three convictions should be removed from civil society forever. Criminals out on bail are wearing expensive ankle bracelets, committing crime, killing innocent persons and maiming the police. The confusing legal system in this country is a major cause of criminals who are known to police being out – intimidating witnesses and shooting police. I have said numerous things before about crime and I suggest we say to criminals you will be taken from civil society for the rest of your life, three strikes and you are out.”
On Tuesday, Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade said serious crimes dropped by 13 per cent from January 1 to April 15 2013 compared to the same period last year.
Commissioner Greenslade said crimes against the person are down by one per cent and crimes against property have decreased by 19 per cent.
Comments
proudloudandfnm 11 years, 6 months ago
Yeah all BJ is doing is throwing out manipulated crime stats! PLEASE CAN WE GET AN EARLY ELECTION???? THIS PARTY IS GOING TO HURT OUR COUNTRY!!
Ironvelvet 11 years, 6 months ago
Yes, can someone please look into how to go about doing this. I would if I were home.
PKMShack 11 years, 6 months ago
I to would like to know how we the people can call an early election. Not one change since these same ole floks came back. Glad most of use saw thru the fake promises.
ayatollah 11 years, 6 months ago
three strikes sounds good to me please make it happend
TalRussell 11 years, 6 months ago
Comrades if the government were to introduce a three strikes and your out law, it could very well result in some of we rouge preacher man's, being ordered by the Judges to be parking their expensive fancy motor cars, while awaiting a free ride aboard one of them speeding siren escorted buses... except ... instead of the parting the waters, the policeman's sirens be parting the traffic, for one easy ride up to her Majesty's Fox Hill Prison?
Why aren't the church's preacherman leaders talk'in about the alarming number of churches who are becoming shelters for illegal immigrants? The talk'in on the streets is that they are like a home away from home to many here illegally? The highly respected Bishop must agree that this is not a good sign for maintaining law and order in our Bahamaland?
Our hats off to Minister Freddy for his determination to finally put a stop to the expectation that your work permit applications will be met with a rubber stamp approval. The minister has also been doing a great job of turning around on the seas before they can land. Now, he must also affirm what his government's policy is on conducting job sites and residences and yes, even conduct church raids, if they're suspected of harbouring the illegal? To arrest and speedily deport, all in Bahamaland illegally, regardless of nationality, skin colour, economic status or political connections?
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2013…
sansoucireader 11 years, 6 months ago
A three-strikes-you're-out system gives a person two more chances to commit further crimes. One-strike-and-that's-it is what we need. Anything else is playing games.
concernedcitizen 11 years, 6 months ago
man they busy now ,what with not closeing down the numbers ,sending Bethel to visit Nygard everytime he wants more seabed ,freddys opening consulates in all his favorite hotspots ,,,everyone including Nottage sayin numbers ain,t their thing ,Bernadette back in atlanta ,,geez who got time now to go on bout crime ,,hey commish lets change what we call dead now ,if by divine intervention a guy with his head chop off could recover ,lets not call that one murder ..lmao
rawbahamian 11 years, 3 months ago
Well you know Sheriff Nottage isn't gonna say anything because he knows he is useless as a Minister to deal with crime evidenced by the fact that as soon as he was appointed he acquired a gun to "protect" himself because he knew he would never be able to get the crime under control as promised by his party . It was his party that screamed and shouted all over the nation about murder records etc but it looks like his party is going to cut an album in murder rates. Then there is the disillusioned commissioner of police declaring dropping crime rates and here are his alleged "statistics" to prove it. I guess it won't be until a few law officers, lawyers and politicians are gunned down in the streets that something of significance or merit will be done as opposed to pontificating to the public about what "their plans are" because they love the sounds of their own voices ! We need to do what the criminals are doing and that is act instead are talking about acting. Even criminals have a code of ethics as in if they don't do what they are expected and supposed to do then they are shot by one of their own !!!
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