Minister of National Security Marvin Dames. Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
DESPITE a recent spate of murders over the holiday weekend, National Security Minister Marvin Dames said Bahamians have no reason to feel unsafe, insisting police have the crime situation under control.
Mr Dames spoke after five men were killed in separate incidents between Thursday and Monday, sparking renewed public concerns about violent crime.
Police suspect some of the crimes are linked and are the result of retaliation between “rival” groups.
Yesterday, Mr Dames said while overall crime continues to trend downward, the most recent incidents prove there is still work to be done.
He said many of the country’s crime problems stem from decades of neglect by Bahamian parents and adults.
“What we’re seeing again is a manifestation of decades of neglect,” said Mr Dames.
“You look at the age of the persons who are carrying out these heinous crimes. It speaks to our failures as parents and adults and we cannot expect that it would be the police’s job to kind of manage these young men, so it speaks to this continued concern that it is all of our responsibilities to address these problems.
“We’re seeking to do our role, certainly as a government. We’ve been looking at introducing a multi-agency, a multi-faceted approach at addressing these problems, looking at the work that we’re doing in the community (and) the work that we’re doing with all of our agencies to deal with conflict resolution, to find meaningful ways to keep our young men and women engaged.”
He said Bahamians have no need to harbour fears about gang wars happening in the country, insisting police have the situation in control.
“I don’t think that there should be public concern about a gang war happening as you could see, the police are very much on top of that but these things are going to happen and it just speaks to how important it is for all of us to be playing our respective roles,” Mr Dames said.
“We cannot sit back and rely entirely on police to resolve these issues. Usually when it ends up in the police hands it’s often too late, we all have a responsibility here and this is a constant reminder of that fact and until we come to realise that we have a role to play, this is something that we will continue to face.
“I mean if you look around the world, gun violence is the topic of discussion. If you look throughout the United States, it’s a concern throughout the US and other parts of the world. What is fuelling this? I’ll leave that for the researchers to tell us, but we’re going through a very difficult period here not only in The Bahamas, but globally.
“But after having said that, I’m confident that the path that we’re on is the right one as we continue to form up a lot of the policy initiatives and strategies that we promised.”
He said people should not be afraid to go out in public spaces. This comes after a man was killed after 10pm on Sunday at Arawak Cay, a popular hang out and dining spot.
Speaking specifically on the incident, Mr Dames continued “. . .You have violence in communities and so the thing is, I say that I have every confidence in our law enforcement officers and they are in fact in control... I’m not saying that incidents won’t happen, but we have issues within our households so should people be afraid to sleep in their own homes...
“The reality is in that (Arawak Cay) incident, the young man was taken into custody and a weapon was seized. Unfortunately, someone lost their life prior to it but it also speaks to the work that our law enforcement officers are doing and we just have to keep on pressing forward.”
On Monday night, Assistant Superintendent of Police Audley Peters acknowledged the recent rash in homicides was concerning.
“We are concerned about all of these incidents that are occurring,” he said “However, we are also encouraged by the information we’re receiving from the members of the public, and we are making good headway with respect to the previous incidents that occurred, and we look forward to giving some information to the media in due course.”
Asked if CCTV will be helpful in assisting police with the recent homicide investigations, he said police will look into this avenue, but added that some of the cameras are not in operation.
“It’s common knowledge that some of them are not operable due to whatever incidents with outage and so forth that maybe power may go down and so if they’re operable, we can look forward to getting information from them,” he told reporters.
Anyone with information on these incidents or any other crime is asked to call the Criminal Investigations Department at 502-9991/2, Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS (8477) or the nearest police station.
Comments
watcher 3 years, 4 months ago
Quote -'Yesterday, Mr Dames said while overall crime continues to trend downward, the most recent incidents prove there is still work to be done.'
How can he say this with a straight face? Crime is only trending downward because we have been under (at least) 8 hour curfews for over a year
TalRussell 3 years, 4 months ago
Mustn't the PopoulacesGenerals' Security Minister's reliance manifestation of decades neglect also have to include talkin' bout the Crownland aka Royal Domain as belongin' to Monarch Liz, who REDS continues to personifies the Crown now two decades, which must include, but not be limited to post-Hurricane Dorian's lawlessness endured by Abacoians?
And, what has the crown's security minister got to say in his government's defense about Abaco's Creole Land Assault on shantytowns steroids, including the takeover of that foreigner's privately obtained land at Elbow Cay, now forced endure lawlessness carried out under his, not a PLP's, watch,** yes?
John 3 years, 4 months ago
This man is having a meltdown! But he is right about one thing. CRIME, especially MURDER has worsened under his watch! This is despite his ministry receiving some of the most lucrative budgets in recent time. And the narrative about gangs: despite the laws on the books, how many persons have been brought before the courts for gang activity? This war on gangs ideology is just an extension of America’s FAKE ‘war on drugs’. Just another reason to bring young men under scrutiny and attack by authorities. Who is flaming the wars that do exist between young men and the dissent and the anti-social behavior? Even before Marvin Dames assumed his current office, the government of that day was advised that the murder and violent crime problem in this country are symptoms of other problems. Problems affecting young men especially. The school system has been dominated by women. And the church and most of the work place. Politicians and other leaders benefit because they find women become vulnerable and more easier to manipulate and control in the absence of the male. This is something the US studied and started doing to its Black population over four decades ago. Remove the Black man from the home. Send him to jail. Feminize those that remain and force them to walk on tippy toes (pins and needles.). Kill a few now and then to remind them who is in control. Better yet Teach them how to become violent criminals and kill up each other ( a play station sold for $1,200 during the Christmas and 90% of the games being played by kids as young as five are violent and/or criminally oriented). But maybe Marvin is not having a meltdown. Maybe he is coming into new wisdom and reality. A country divided amongst itself cannot survive. Whilst the young men bare being drawn into a FAKE gang war and killing up each other, some losing their lives only because they were related or squinted with s so called gang banger, the country is being stolen from right under our noses. Paradise for sale. Bahamians are losing their rights, their businesses, their homes. Who are the new owners of the Bahamas. A nation for sale.
tribanon 3 years, 4 months ago
Greenslade couldn't have put it any better when he said to me a few years back that Dames "is a lost cause."
proudloudandfnm 3 years, 4 months ago
Greenslade wasn't exactly good at his job. Lol. He need to sit small. Lol...
John 3 years, 4 months ago
In the main time the country needs to know what happened to Marvin who disappeared from Gambier. Who killed the marine on duty at government house? Who carried out the brazen, daylight massacre of six and injuring of two including a child? It is unfair to the hard workin majority of police and other law enforcement officers in this country when it appears the top brass doesn’t want to be accountable to the Bahamian people or that the police cannot solve some of the most heinous crimes or ones the draw the most public speculation. Haiti was able to make arrests within hours of its president being assassinated. And they were able to determine that security at the president’s home was breached because guards on duty were duped into believing the president was going to be arrested and not murdered.
stislez 3 years, 4 months ago
When you see people start the "whataboutism" thats them not taking responsibility. Why you worrying about the U.S an ting. You sound stupid doing that an comparing gun violence across the board. The U.S is make guns, Bahamas don't, two different problems jah man! Say what is fueling this! U is a real stupid man king! I don't know why dese man dem who call dey sef gangsters and killers don't come visit yall bey. I waiting on that like the sun in the morning.
John 3 years, 4 months ago
Why you mad so?
John 3 years, 4 months ago
Plenty fire-crackers’ get light off during Independence celebrations, yours and ours dutty!
John 3 years, 4 months ago
Behavior experts say for every 1 percent the misery index increases, crime and domestic violence increases 13 percent. Some states in the US have seen gun violence increase by 2,000 percent and the same experts contend crime is not always economically driven but because persons have a sense of helplessness, hopelessness and despair. Even as the US reopens and jobs become available, some paying bonuses and prime wages, some people are reluctant to return to work because they are in panic about the pandemic. And here after Bahamians were confined to their homes, curfewed and locked down, now they are being constantly beat across their heads to get vaccinated, even though it is supposed to be voluntarily done. On top of that they must now face soaring prices at the gas pumps, in the food stores, for building supplies and even to travel. And they decided to bring politics also into the mix, campaigning and taunting the electorate with an early election ‘that can happen anytime now.’ Minnis must be burnt out and ready to throw in the towel because there is no benefit in an early election for him. His handling of the vaccination process has brought the FNM’s popularity to its lowest level in five years. And if the FNM, for whatever reason, chooses to go to election without marijuana legislation that’ll be their undoing. For numerous reasons.
John 3 years, 4 months ago
And what message do you think Marvin Dames sent to the Bahamian populace the way he handled the firings, dismissals, retirement and terminations of some of his most senior police and defense force officers? So unceremoniously. Reducing some to tears even. After dedicating their entire lives to the force? Those officers were people’s parents and grandparents and uncles and cousins and some were even pastors. The chickens are coming home to roost.
TalRussell 3 years, 4 months ago
Just maybe the reason why the crown's security minister Marvin has only spoken once back in June of 2019, about how he's making out in his fight against abuse of Fentanyl is that wasn't even much-abused under Pindling and Perry Gladstone. It's widespread diversion and misuses only picked up under his watch security minister?
Certain drugs and crime often go hand in hand, yes?
John 3 years, 4 months ago
Fentanyl is a repayment to that part of America that declared their FAKE war on drugs against its Black and Brown citizens and every country in the Caribbean and South and Central America. It was the Americans ( many who sit high and mighty) that were (and still are) smuggling the drugs and the guns and the ammunition and the people.
John 3 years, 4 months ago
NINETY THREE THOUSAND people died in the US last year from drugs overdose. And most were related to opioids and more specifically Fentanyl! Houston you do have a problem!
TalRussell 3 years, 4 months ago
Obviously, some the how, the PopoulacesGenerals' is left to believe that since it's not being talked about by health officials - then means the Commonwealth of 1200 Out Islands, Cays, Inlets, and Rocks, has some the how managed escape misuse Fentanyl, yes?
John 3 years, 4 months ago
When fentanyl first started getting abused fingernails were being pointed at China ( we all like to blame Chinese food, but Chinese hardly ever get accused for sex crime), but as time dragged on ( slowly as it did during the pandemic ). It was discovered that reputable doctors and well established pharmacies were responsible for helping molest fentanyl. A few doctors got charged and a few ((US) pharmaceuticals got hefty fines. Small tokens to an epidemic that was killing thousands.(of a certain race and class). Sacrificial lambs of a sort. And yes, there have been attempts to lace marijuana with fentanyl and other opioids. Make it attractive to the (already) dry bones. Black folk. So far unsuccessful. So stuck to guns and gang warfare for them. So yes, after the Corona pandemic, there’s the opioids epidemic to deal with so. A number of states in the US legalized medical marijuana because it is the most effective treatment for patients hooked on fentanyl. So Black folks go to jay for half a joint and white folk go to a hospital. We serious!
Emac 3 years, 4 months ago
lol
carltonr61 3 years, 4 months ago
Marvin is bluntly honest as a human in his assessment that if the Police is involved it is too late. Every nation undeniably has an underworld. We in The Bahamas have ours. In Jesus days there were bushwackers as there is nothing new under the sun according to the Bible. The underworld of car thefts, gun smuggling and drugs money is universal and beyond the scope of any nation. Family failure probably got noted as a drastic shift occurred in the early days of hotel tourism when women with children were more less set upon as bread winners. Men lost their role and demand in society. Tradgedy occurred with the culture shocks of movies Shaft and soap, Dallas. We got to love guns and females hunted only flashy men. By 1990 we were a new nation morally. Cocaine money of the 80s totally transformed the means of success. Men sought a drugs shipment and females eyes the money. In 1994 a notorious person told me that honesty and honor among men is gone as thievery and murder had entered the pipeline. It continues. Nowadays many communities have car farms where school kids on summer break learn to break lost vehicles apart make some money, but then mummy is happy. There is food on the table. Boys learn that thousands could be made by being a car doctor. Once you have money the women will come. Success is as simple as a flashy ride. This pandemic as boys and girls are on the hustle, mummy and daddy broke there exists an underworld of survival no education needed. Survival will get done. And that lifestyle is here to stay. Jobs are not important. Just making it is.
John 3 years, 4 months ago
Your post is too scripted to be real. It is an excuse rather that a real picture. Because if it was real, then why is the rest of The Bahamas not experiencing what is happening in Nee Providence. To get a true snapshot you have to go back even further than Atlantis. Go back to when Pindling (though badly instructed) told Bahamians on the Family Islands to abandon the farms and the fishing boats and come to Nassau to work in the hotels. Gather everyone in one place to Bette control them them they say. At that time the head of the largest food distribution company in the country was a top dog in the CIA. The poisonings of the Flint water system was no accident. Not even close. It was purpose driven and intentional. And if they did that o their own people, IMO. No don’t imagine, it is too late scary. But the Bible does say these days shall come upon us, as a world population , as a nation and as communities and individuals. And the persons (son of perdition) shall be revealed. Many still looking for the devil (Satan) to come in a red suit with a pitch fork and horns. But the Bible teaches different. Some of the greatest battles between good and evil goes on within a person head
carltonr61 3 years, 4 months ago
Your head us full of my script. Thank me for giving you a life and a good shit.
John 3 years, 4 months ago
MAYBE MARVIN DAMES is concerned about his fate after elections in the event the FNM does not win. Marvin spent most of his time in office launching assaults and attacks on the Bahamian people following instructions of his Satanic masters and causing many Bahamians to lose their lives, even in police involved killings. He now becomes dispensable. No more valuable than a shell form a fired bullet EXCEPT for the secrets he holds from the Government House to the Spikenyard Graveyard,Amen
TalRussell 3 years, 4 months ago
A fair chunk of our extended family doesn't share my skepticism read on Comrade Marvin. They're seeing Marvin as the preferred leader if left choose from out the House-elected Reds to lead the red party to a victories majority seats government win, come the rungin' of the general election bell, yes?
Godson 3 years, 4 months ago
Dah..... It damn well could not be the failures of the future. You are a leader... LEAD!!!
The people of bondage are asking: "WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?'... Bartemus.
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