The Tribune

THE Democratic National Alliance said the Bahamas must move swiftly to adopt a national youth service programme as part of the fight against crime.

DNA leader Branville McCartney said violence and criminality have grown to the point where new strategies are urgently needed.

“The most pressing issue in the Bahamas today is crime and the fear of crime,” Mr McCartney said. “Crime has been the most pressing issue for many years and it will continue to be at the forefront in our mind unless our leaders decide to take a different approach to this vexing problem.

“We continue to do the same things over and over again and yet we expect a different result. It is high time that we realise that if we do the same things over and over again and expect a different result, that is, in the words of Albert Einstein, insanity.”

He said that in Prime Minister Perry Christie’s 2013/2014 Budget Communication, the nation saw “this same approach Albert Einstein referred to, in relation to crime”.

Mr McCartney noted that yet more money has been allocated to police vehicles this year.

“The reasoning, I assume, is for there to be more police presence on the streets. We have seen administration after administration purchase vehicles for the same reason and yet the end result was that the police presence was not sufficient. Crime continues to escalate.

“Now, I am not saying that the Police Force does not need vehicles and equipment. What I am saying is that now is the time for this administration to look at how best crime can be combated – purchasing vehicles alone will not work. It has not worked in the past.”

Mr McCartney said the DNA believes that in this budgetary cycle, provisions ought to have been made to start the implementation of a national youth service.

“This programme ought to be geared towards unemployed youth who are not engaged in formal education, employment or income generating activities, youth who are not furthering their education beyond high school and youth who are in conflict with the law.

“The essence of the programme would be to combine training in specific skills, work experience, discipline and to develop positive attitudes and values, self-esteem and love and respect for country.”