The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE Democratic National Alliance has presented its plans to address crime should the party win the next election, noting in its Vision 2017 policy document the intent to legislatively define the “worst of the worst” as it looks carry out capital punishment.

Defining the nation’s ongoing issues with crime as a result of not enforcing laws, slowed prosecution and systematic economic issues, the DNA contended that agencies responsible for administering justice and punishment must be given the latitude to carry out their duties without interference and with the backing of policy that support their efforts.

The document was released on the DNA’s website, mydnaparty.org.

The party’s national security policies aim to find the “right balance” between infractions being committed and the national resources being invested to combat them.

The DNA’s document promotes bringing order back to the streets and empowering the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF).

Among points of note, the DNA said it will enforce capital punishment by defining the “worst of the worst” through new legislation. This refers to the parametres the Privy Council, this country’s highest court of appeal, has set out as criteria for the death penalty.

Moreover, the party said it will strengthen the regulations of the Civilian Complaint Board to ensure that its efforts are not infringed upon; ensure that there is no political interference with the police commissioner and the RBPF; increase the number of officers on foot patrol and by extension increase saturation patrols and build a state of the art DNA forensic laboratory.

Additionally, the DNA plans to build a new corrections facility for maximum security offenders on a Family Island; earmark money to go towards successful correctional programmes; increase witness protection programme efforts and enter into agreements with international partners on a mutual witness protection programme; review the programme for low risk offenders entered into the work-release schedule; implement a parole system and pass legislation that allows for a probationary system.

According to Vision 2017, the DNA will also increase cyber-security surveillance and partner with international policing agencies to remain on the cutting edge of cyber-threats and various forms of cyber-crime and cyber-fraud.

The DNA also plans to increase border protection in terms of manpower and equipment; increase the level of domestic surveillance through CCTV and employ the use of new technology, inclusive of drones and gunshot detection equipment; amend the Police Force Act so that all field officers, regardless of their branch, have the ability to keep their firearms with them at all times and ensure that police officers have full health and life insurance.

During a press conference Monday to launch the 70-page document, DNA Leader Branville McCartney said that he was of the view that reducing crime would take a multifaceted approach.

“We must enforce the law and focus police efforts on prosecuting dangerous criminals. We must also realise that crime is an economic problem - if people had more opportunities for work they would not be forced into petty crime.”

He continued: “That’s why we’re proposing a $500m economic stimulus and liberalising our energy sector which will create more direct jobs but will also encourage economic growth creating thousands of residual jobs. And for those Bahamians who have always dreamed of starting a business of their own, we will reduce the Central Bank’s lending rate by two basis points, making that dream a reality.”

The DNA has also outlined several initiatives to address immigration and the economy.

On the fiscal side, the party, in its document, asserted that successive administrations have created unsustainable debt, high unemployment, rising deficits and higher taxes.

The DNA, noting estimates by the Inter-American Development Bank, indicated that The Bahamas loses more than $250m due to inefficiency, corruption and leakage from the annual budget.

The party said this estimation should be viewed as a recipe for economic disaster, and in response proposed what it termed as a new way of thinking that raises the quality of the country’s economic offerings.

Outlining its macro-economic objectives, the party said it intends to reduce the Central Bank of The Bahamas discount rate by two basis points within one-year; reduce the public debt to 70 per cent of GDP within three years and 65 per cent in five years; increase investments by 30 per cent of GDP within three years; reduce unemployment to eight per cent within four years and increase foreign reserves by a “firm” 30 per cent within four years.

Additionally, the party has presented plans to increase the pool of professional certified persons in all sectors by 30 per cent within five years; work toward relaxing and liberalising the process of exchange control within five years and pass a Fiscal Accountability Act.

The party will also look to thoroughly review the VAT system in an effort to reduce its impact on the cost of living in The Bahamas; implement performance-based budgeting practices which would cut funding to under-performing wasteful and unnecessary projects as part of efforts to right-size the government portfolio; implement a flat-rate business license scheme; undertake an audit of the national debt and introduce a national lottery and use some of the revenue to finance new education, healthcare, sports and culture initiatives.