BY DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
THE father of a murdered man is calling for “drastic measures” to be taken to reduce the crime rate and turn young men away from a life of crime and an early grave.
Greg Bullard says that crime has been out of control for a long time. He believes a national service scheme should be introduced in the Bahamas.
Bullard’s son was gunned down on October 12. The man accused of the murder was charged on December 27 in the Freeport Magistrates Court.
Joshua Bullard, 23, was shot multiple times at Fawcett Lane. His death was recorded as the fifth homicide for 2013.
Following the arraignment of the accused, Mr Bullard spoke with The Tribune, expressing his views about crime in the country and the extension of bail for persons accused of murder.
He stressed that crime is an issue that affects everyone.
“Crime has long been out of control; and we must all put our hands to the wheel and address it,” he said.
Mr Bullard says crime is threatening the country’s livelihood.
“When you have America issuing a warning to its citizens about visiting the Bahamas because of crime, that should be a matter of top priority for every Bahamian,” he said.
Every year, he said, the murder count surpasses 100 and most of the victims are young men.
“We are depleting our society of a pool of potentially productive young men,” he stressed.
“Because of the large amount of guns in the country, they are not even having a chance to turn their lives around anymore; by the time they reach age 30 when they start to think soberly, they are gone.
“In this stage of the country’s development, we may have to introduce a national service because drastic situations call for drastic measures,” he said.
Speaking on the issue of bail, Mr Bullard believes that persons accused of murder, though innocent until proven guilty, should not be given bail.
He called it “quite troubling” to know that the person accused of a murder, who is already on bail for other gun crimes, can apply for bail
“Something is dead wrong with the system,” he said.
Pastor Simeon Outten, whose brother was also murdered in 2013, expressed similar sentiments.
He said bail should be set at $1 million for persons charged with murder.
Comments
henny 10 years, 10 months ago
Mr. Bullard. Sorry for your loss. I totally agree with you I too cannot understand how anyone can be given bail for suspected murder and other crimes such as robbery, breaking and entering and are already out on bail for the same crimes. It is totally ridiculous. You have a bunch of criminals roaming the streets committing the same crime over and over until they get caught again only to be let out on bail again. Something truly is dead wrong with the system and until it is fixed the Bahamas will have the same problems in the future.
JohnDoes 10 years, 10 months ago
Funny thing is, If you are out on bail in the U.S. and get caught again doing some other shxt. You will be sent back to jail with no bail until you finish court/trial for the reason you on bail and the crime you got caught for. Here it seems as if, everytime you get caught/locked up for something, they treat you as if you have no history. So its like, new case, fxck your history, here is your bail.
positiveinput 10 years, 10 months ago
You are sure right with the music. I went to the Holiday Carnival which I would assume should be family friendly. However whiles walking around with my seven year old, passing one of the rides, the music blasting from its speakers was "tight pu$$y... big d!ck... fuk this and fuk that. Police are present on the premises and nothing is being done. Straying of point a bit, besides the officers at the gate of the Carnival, where is the security presence that should be patrolling the grounds if our country is known to be at a high crime level.
Government have became relax in every way so the level in which crime is now one could not expect better. Just look at how long the Junkanoo Parade was over. Still side streets are 'littered with unwanted costumes yet with regards to the large size of the pieces its so easy for the Junkanoo Committee to find the owner (group) it belongs too. Another is that of speed week being over and done with weeks ago, so street markings that was placed for the speed week events (big white solid line on the Western Esplanade) should have been moved long time to avoid confusing motorist (especially tourist) when driving that route. These simple problems that have simple solutions can't be solved yet we expect these relax persons in leadership to be able to solve, fix, or lower our crime situation.
John 10 years, 10 months ago
What government needs to do is read the death warrant on the TEN most notorious murderers in jail. Let the burden and pressure be on them to show why they should not be put to death for taking a life. Then the other killers on the island will be sweating COLD SWEAT wondering when their time coming. Too busy with worry and freat to think about crime
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