The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT – Elder Paul Joseph of Grand Bahama said that killings have become commonplace in Bahamian society, where citizens are being gunned down and murdered almost every week. He said that some 992 murders have taken place in the country since 2000.

“We have become a gun killing culture,” said Mr Joseph, who is determined to a make difference through his “Stop the Violence” poster campaign.

Every year, he releases a new poster. His 2013 poster contained the names and ages of the 119 victims, as well as the island on which they were murdered. The posters have been distributed in Grand Bahama and New Providence.

Mr Joseph noted that in 2013, there were no murders recorded for 11 weeks out of the year. “The remaining 41 weeks of 2013, 119 murders took place – that says a whole lot as to where we are,” he said.

“In the last three consecutive years, we have recorded over 100 murders: 127 in 2011; 111 in 2012; and 119 in 2013. It speaks volumes as to the social and spiritual decadence that is taking place in our Bahamas right now.”

Mr Joseph said that New Providence, Grand Bahama, and Abaco – which are the most populous islands in the Bahamas – are impacted by crime.

“It is not a government failure, it is a societal failure, and we have to try and make it better.

“We had persons from all walks of life murdered in the past 13 years from 2001. Archdeacon William Thompson, politician Chuck Virgil, Nurse Lunn, school teacher Denise Adderley and police officers have been killed in the line of duty.”

Mr Joseph said that the murders of four women – Nyosohi Adderley, 24; Leoniece Jones, 24, and Rebecca Ashe, 54, of Nassau, and Alexis Smith, 15, of Freeport, this year are tragic.

He also expressed concern for the visitors who have been killed. The murder of British citizen Edgar Dart in Grand Bahama was a very unfortunate incident, he said.

He is optimistic that things can change if more persons would get involved and make a difference.

“Society must put its support behind the Police Force,” Mr Joseph stressed. He then commended Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade and Emrick Seymour for doing an excellent job. He also praised Rev CB Moss and Dr David Allen for the work they are doing in the community.

He said it is time for more Bahamians to step forward and get involved in the fight against crime. Since launching his “Stop the Violence” poster initiative, Mr Joseph has received correspondence from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Security regarding his suggestions on crime.