The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage yesterday called for Bahamians to be “community leaders” and to “move our country to the place in which we need to arrive” in the continuing war against crime.

His comments yesterday came at the end of a month that saw a spike in shootings and reported cases of sexual assault.

Speaking at the inaugural summit for the Centre for Leadership, Education and Training (C-LET) at Queen’s College yesterday, Dr Nottage said the war against crime can be won by people who “have a general concern for the communities in which they live” and who “yearn to be able to help fix those problems.”

“There are so many people in the community who live it, understand, realise there’s a need for change, but who are not willing to take that next step because they’re concerned about the controversy,” he said.

“Each of us has a responsibility to do what it is that we are suited to do or have the capacity to do for our communities to do those things. If you are prepared to take some time with some people who need some help or some hope, you can transform our communities.

“You don’t have to be the leader of any big corporation or big group, you can just be leading in your home. Be a leader in your street. Be the person who people see with integrity, honesty, and who paints a picture for young people in the community that would cause them to mirror your behaviour, the way you carry yourself, the way you speak and the concerns you share.”

There have been 30 shootings in October, nine of which were fatal, according to The Tribune’s most recent analysis of the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s crime reports. Of the six most recent shootings – three of which were fatal – four occurred within the span of 24 hours.

Yesterday’s fatal shooting of Andre Cartwright pushed the murder count for the year to 96, according to The Tribune’s records. One of his three assailants suffered a shot to the chest during the incident and is in critical condition in hospital.

Earlier this month, State Minister of National Security Keith Bell and officer in charge of the Central Detective Unit Paul Rolle both said law enforcement officials were “concerned” about the recent spike of reported cases of sexual assault.

Mr Bell’s and Mr Rolle’s “concern” came after four women were raped over a three-week period, two while walking and two while driving their vehicles.

However, last week Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade said that rape statistics are down, but did not provide any updated figures on reported rapes.

Dr Nottage, Member of Parliament for Bain and Grants Town, areas known to be crime “hot-spots” by police, yesterday said Bahamians “can’t be afraid” to step forward in helping people in various communities “who live sometimes with hopelessness and fear, to try and decrease their fear and help make their communities safer”.

“Are we going to go from year-to-year without seeking to transform this (Bahamian) community?” he said. “We have leaders in Bain and Grants Town – gang leaders – and they are able to get young men to do whatever they wish. Are we going to allow them to lead our young people?

“We can’t prevent that unless we’re prepared to get involved. We have a lot of challenges within our communities. Our task is to do that which we can do but more importantly to involve the entire community if we are able to do so.”

According to Dr Reg Eldon C-LET was started about “six or seven months” ago, and is headed by a panel of 17 individuals, one of whom is Andrea Gibson, the principal of Queen’s College.

He said the goal of C-LET is to “motivate, energise, and enlist ordinary Bahamians” to “help the people closest to them” in the various communities. Dr Eldon said C-LET plans to hold summits in Eleuthera, Abaco, Exuma and Grand Bahama in the near future.