Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
EMPHASISING that “crime is down” in many categories, Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade yesterday praised the government’s recent efforts to increase requirements for applicants seeking bail.
Although the murder rate in the country is outpacing that of last year, Mr Greenslade echoed National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage’s recent statements in the House of Assembly about the murder rate in New Providence being down compared to this time last year.
He added that across the country crime rates are down by double digits in almost every category.
A day after the government passed a Bill to amend the Bail Act with the hope of lessening the number of repeat offenders given bail, Mr Greenslade said he is excited about efforts to curb crime in the country.
“I’m hoping that any legislative changes that are made will be done to the benefit of the wider Bahamian society,” he said. “We deserve a break. We need relief and I’ve said since I’ve taken office, it’s a concern that people are arrested for very serious crimes – we refer to them as prolific and repeat offenders.
“We take them before a court of law and a few short weeks later we arrest those same people again in the wider community, offending in the same egregious way. I’ve continued to say that. I’ve said it much to the dismay of a lot of people. I’ve tried to say it respectfully, but there’s no other way to say it.
“My point is, any legislation, anything that is done, anything by an authority in the Bahamas or the wider community, to cause this haemorrhaging to stop, certainly is a benefit to our country.”
According to statistics tabled in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, between January 2013 and August 2014 592 people were granted bail, including 90 accused of murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, abetment, causing harm or other crimes against the person.
While Mr Greenslade declined to put a number on how many people out on bail are suspected to be re-offenders, he admitted: “We have a lot of bad people on bail.”
“I would normally on a daily basis when they re-offend send that information on to the Minister of National Security,” he said. “As recent as the shooting, the murder in Fox HIll which just occurred, I was able to send pictures and details to the minister. I’m not going to suggest any numbers to cross with what the minister would’ve said in the House of Assembly, I heard everything that was said. I don’t object to any of that, but I’ll tell you, we have lots of people, big, big numbers roaming about our country who are on bail.”
Comments
DonAnthony 10 years, 3 months ago
Sadly, because I believe he is an honest , talented man, Commissioner Greenslade has very little credibility left. He said after a high ranking police officer apparently leaked photos of a particularly gruesome murder over two years ago, that after an internal investigation he would "let the chips fall where they may" in punishment for the leaks. Since then he has not said a word about it. Who did it? What was the reprimand? We deserve to know! Then he told us he had a plan and a capability to enforce the law and shut down illegal webshops. In the 18 months since the gambling referendum not a single person has been arrested and brought before the courts. So why should I believe him when he says crime is down?.... I don't. These statistics are kept like a national secret, when they should be complied by an independent body and published regularly free from law enforcement and political interference. Crime is up, we all know it, and until we have a Commissioner who follows through on his word and enforces the law it will get no better.
CommonSense 10 years, 3 months ago
Whether crime is down or not doesn't change the fact that it's still TOO DAMN HIGH
John 10 years, 3 months ago
For crime to dissipate one of the things that must happen is we must stop rearing men who have the emotions of a woman and the spirit of Jezebel. Real men are brought up knowing how to stay cool when they get in a conflict walk away from it and then let it end. Many of our young men are raised by women so they act like women in a conflict. They become emotional and cause situations to escalate and run on for months or years. Even worse many young men are filled with the spirit of Jezebel. So when someone crosses their line they not feel just the need to get even, but overcome with the desire to destroy the person(s) who have offended them. Hence the high rate of murder where the victims are known to the killer. They no longer do it under the cover of darkness but in broad daylight because they now want their evil deed to be known. You must change the mindset of persons who pretend to be thugs but are actually little sissy boys. They kill for reputation.
EasternGate 10 years, 3 months ago
DonAnthony you forgot to mention the "jailhouse Wedding"
The_Messenger 10 years, 3 months ago
Oh look another person is dead and another is in the hospital.
http://www.tribune242.com/news/2014/sep…
asiseeit 10 years, 3 months ago
Does this man live in TEIFIN' town with the rest of us?
dehavmoss 10 years, 3 months ago
The commissioner can't take the full brunt for our continuing crime problem, but it is evident that he has lost the confidence of the Bahamian public.
A new mandate is needed all across this country starting from the AG's office, National Security, the courts, witness protection and the list goes on and on.
We need to start holding elected and appointed officials accountable. Where are their report cards? How are we measuring the success or failures of their terms of leadership?
DonAnthony 10 years, 3 months ago
Eastern gate, I did not forget the jailhouse wedding, just that the post was so long. There are other incidents and with each one less and less credibility. The commissioner seems to believe we forget but we don't. It is just so depressing and painful to hear him speak, you can tell he is conflicted and wants to do what is right but is constrained. If he did what was right and we had real transparency and accountability he would be gone the next day and I doubt his replacement would be any better. Really depressing I wish he would just avoid the press and save us and himself the embarrassment.
TalRussell 10 years, 3 months ago
Unlikely, Canada's government would have issued such a travel advisory without first notifying Bahamaland's officials? Casts doubt the Comrade Commish's statement must have came by coincidence it was released in same time-frame as Canada's.. Unfortunately, the more accurate report the citizens, residents, visitors and tourists can write is a far cry from the one the prime minister will get from his Commish come January 2015.
ChaosObserver 10 years, 3 months ago
He needs to pull his head out of his A** and get in touch with this community.....
Altalk 10 years, 3 months ago
Da C.O.P is just thankful of his extended stay at being commish.....if it still was only a 5 year gig..he would of been performing.....
Bahamianpride 10 years, 3 months ago
The Commish is just playing the game but the reality is this crime problem is not his fault. The police cannot stop crime, they can only shift it from one location to another. Citizens who care about their communities, have resources and aid the police are actually the true stoppers of crime in their communities. We cannot arrest our way out of this, there is just to great a social dysfunction that feeds the crime. Poor education, unemployment, absent fathers, irresponsible baby making, government corruption, poverty & ignorance are the main sources of our problems. I could see this disaster brewing in the early eighties. Most affluent Bahamians & many Politicians concerned themselves only with themselves, their family and cronies. Over the hill was of no real concern other than election time & the future of those living in poverty was of no serious issue. Development & empowerment of a people was not push through Education. Everyone took care of them and theirs. Fast forward today, criminals everywhere, Our own DPM getting robbed. Multiple murders with guns weekly. We really missed the boat in the eighties and with that a valuable opportunity to push education & resources into these poor communities. Every year because of this neglect we are breeding more criminals. Notice I did not say religion I said Education u cannot pray away your problems. Faith without works is useless..
Dan101 10 years, 3 months ago
I think we all can agree crime is not commissioner Greenslade's fault. But it is so embarrassing to say "Murder is up but crime is down". That don't make common sense. What the hell all the other crimes matter of murder is going to remain this high?
digimagination 10 years, 3 months ago
He's 101% correct! Crime IS down... in some other countries, but not here!
John 10 years, 3 months ago
If you read between the lines the commissioner may be saying that the honeymoon is over where he has been courting Keith Bell and Bernard Nottage. NOW (apparently) he is going to run the force as he sees fit which includes saturation patrols, if you saw them where 1,000 police are at a road block and do a full scrutiny of passing vehicles. I think he also said he will keep the heat on known criminals who the court keep allowing to go free, and not letting up until they are back behind bars where they belong
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