The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

BAINS and Grants Town MP Dr Bernard Nottage yesterday sought to clarify earlier comments he made in the House of Assembly over the country’s crime situation.

On Wednesday, while defending the government’s crime fighting strategy against criticism from Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn, Dr Nottage suggested that there were more murders in 2011, the Free National Movement’s last full year in office. He added that major crimes, except for murder, were down.

However, following media reports that he was wrong about the murder rate, Dr Nottage stood on a point of privilege to clear up the perception that his view of crime in the country was incorrect.

“Mr Speaker, I would like to indicate that yesterday when I said that there were more murders in 2011, I was speaking about the whole year of 2011 as compared with the annual figures under the present government,” the national security minister explained.

“Now I don’t know whether I didn’t express myself sufficiently for that to be understood, but that is what I meant. I did not mean that there are more murders in 2011 at this time of the year than there are now.

“So I would like to correct that perception. I am not sure that it was understood and I don’t attribute anything to anyone except that I would like to correct it to properly reflect what it is I said and what I meant.”

He continued: “I conceded that major crimes were down compared to last year and that is a fact and so I am not sure whether them people in the office get the understanding of what (I) said or whether I explained myself well enough.”

Mr Lightbourn on Wednesday said that the nation’s crime situation under this Christie administration is worse when compared to the Free National Movement’s last term in office. He said this creates grounds for Prime Minister Perry Christie to consider whether Dr Nottage would be best suited for another ministry.

Mr Lightbourn said on Wednesday: “They continue to throw out Urban Renewal 2.0 and more police cars as the answer. Clearly it is a far more complex issue but they are devoid of any other ideas to address the situation. I must ask the question, would it not make sense to find another post for the minister responsible?”

“Crime is worse now. The murder rate now is worse than it ever was under the previous administration and yet I don’t hear any cries for the minister responsible for national security to resign or be moved to another portfolio,” Mr Lightbourn added.

In response on Wednesday, Dr Nottage said: “The murder rate today is no worse; in fact, less than it was in 2011, their last year in office.

“That’s point number one. Point number two, serious crimes and not so serious crimes are all down, Mr Speaker, except for the number of murders.”

Up to press time, the country recorded 68 murders for the year, outpacing the number of homicides recorded for the same period last year.