The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

REPEAT offenders out on bail continue to challenge anti-crime initiatives, according to Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade, who yesterday renewed his appeal for Bahamians to “draw a line in the sand” against criminals residing in their communities.

As he expressed his satisfaction for police performance for the year, Commissioner Greenslade said he was still very concerned over the trend of persons engaging in criminal behaviour as they await trial for other serious crimes.

“I am satisfied beyond a doubt,” said Commissioner Greenslade, “that we are doing significant good work. These officers are working very hard, but we’ve got some issues that we cannot solve ourselves.

“We have to draw a line in the sand with respect to these people. 

“It cannot be right,” he said, “in a vibrant democracy for us to just give up the ghost as if we don’t understand what is happening or how to fix it. These are our children. They’re from our homes, we know exactly who they are, and it is unfortunate some hold them up as heroes. They are running around the streets with illegal guns in their hands.”

Commissioner Greenslade said officers arrest repeat offenders, many of whom are still out on bail, on a daily basis.

In January, at a press conference following a cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Christie told reporters that “the government is fully prepared to legislatively intervene to impose additional restrictions on the ability of judges to grant bail in offences involving crimes of violence and the use of firearms.”

Following Mr Christie’s statement, a group of lawyers expressed the view that the courts should not be subject to improper influence from the other branches of government, or from private interests.

It was suggested that if the government were to carry out the legislative change, it would be ruled unconstitutional by the Court of Appeal.

In November 2011, parliament passed legislation removing the jurisdiction of Magistrates to consider bail for capital offences such as murder, attempted murder, rape, armed and attempted armed robbery, possession of dangerous drugs, among others.

While awaiting formal arraignment in the Supreme Court, an accused can exercise the legal right to apply for bail to this court.

If the Supreme Court agrees to consider the application, a date is set to hear arguments from the Crown and defence.

Bail may be approved or rejected depending on, but not limited to, the following considerations: nationality and ties to the country, antecedents or lack thereof, strength of the evidence, chance of re-offending if granted bail, witness intimidation/interference; and protection from possible retaliation by incarceration.

Commissioner Greenslade said: “They’ve (repeat offenders) murdered people before, many of these suspects that we are seeking, and if we don’t take them out of their communities and get up in their faces and say look you cannot continue to do that, we’re going to have some more problems. This is a very simple issue, and I don’t think we should complicate it.”