IT is now ten days since Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis held an “urgent” conclave to address the sharp increase in murders.
He said at the time of that March 27 meeting: “I will have more to say on this issue in the coming days.”
The most recent of those days have seen even more murders. Since Sunday, five people have been killed.
On Tuesday night, a man was sitting in a park watching a basketball game when another man approached him and shot him dead.
Two hours later, another man was found lying dead outside the front door of a house with gunshot wounds.
On Monday, two men were shot – one died and the other was taken to hospital. They were both found lying in the doorway of a home.
And on Sunday, a man was killed at a barber shop.
Then last night, at about 10pm, word came to The Tribune of yet another murder.
The tide of killings has not relented.
This morning, the Office of the Prime Minister will hold a press briefing and it will be interesting to see if the government will be more forthcoming on its plans following that conclave.
There have been positive actions to report since then – such as the forum at AF Adderley school where a convict spoke to pupils about avoiding actions they might regret. After the stabbing at that school last month, it was a timely moment to remind the next generation of the two sets of consequences of crime – those suffered by victims, and those experienced by the criminals who are sent to jail. In each case, two families are often shattered – those who experience violence and perhaps the loss of a family member to murder, and those whose relative is locked away.
But the Prime Minister’s promise of speaking must still be upheld – and we await the detail of his plan to deal with this current wave of gang violence.
Every day that passes at present seems to end with more blood on our streets. We cannot wait too long.
Well done, Jamaal
Jamaal Rolle is a familiar figure to readers of The Tribune. His daily cartoon has been a long-standing feature of this page – and has featured too on the front page, such as when an island-wide blackout led to him being summoned to create a full-page cartoon showing then Minister Leslie Miller in the dark.
Over the past years, he has blossomed as one of the most in-demand artists in The Bahamas. When the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited recently, it was Jamaal who presented them with a portrait.
He has deserved his success. He has combined hard work, talent and a modest attitude that has won him many plaudits, and many friends.
We are delighted to see such talent acknowledged, with his appointment as an ambassador-at-large for culture affairs. He is one of a number of appointments yesterday.
In celebrating his success, we also acknowledge that we regret he will no longer appear on this page as he moves to his new role. Today marks his final cartoon as he says farewell. He shall be missed. But we wish him all the best in his new post. We have no doubt his talent will continue to see him soar.
Comments
bahamianson 2 years, 7 months ago
Give them a sandwich , some water and cheer them on.We all need a little encouragement in our lives.
birdiestrachan 2 years, 7 months ago
Mr" Jamaal will do well. he has been blessed with a talent.
As far as crime goes. there must be a change of heart There are some who think nothing of taking another person's life.
Stop calling them GANS they are Idiots. controlled by Satan diabolic.
Sickened 2 years, 7 months ago
Controlled by Satan? And all this time the church has been teaching us that God was the all powerful one. Hmm... He either isn't 'all powerful' or He has no problem in allowing these youths to kill unabashedly. I guess we should all look for a more peaceful God to worship. Is Eirene still around - the greek God of Peace?
TalRussell 2 years, 7 months ago
If the premier of colony's capital of Nassau is to be taken seriously of wanting to reverse the blood tide flows from individuals murdered, he'll have to do a hell of a lot more than hold yet another crime conclave whose only solution is to hire even more individuals to dress in uniforms and arm even hundreds more to walk about town with loaded guns.... Nassau Town, unlike every Out Island, has no local government, ― Yes?
GodSpeed 2 years, 7 months ago
Put cameras on literally every pole. Won't stop the murders but at least it should help catch the killers.
sheeprunner12 2 years, 7 months ago
Listen to Rodney Moncur's advice ....... Charge them with murder, no bail, fast track cases, hang the murderers. But the politicians have to man up and stop playing games with the courts.
birdiestrachan 2 years, 7 months ago
No sheep runner executions should be abolished. Allow them to live the hell. some persons brought guilty were later found innocent. a lot depends on how good a lawyer one can afford.
Who will perform the task? those persons very often lose their minds. go crazy.
sheeprunner12 2 years, 7 months ago
I dont wish to pay the cost at HMP for any murderer ........ hang them
And I am sure that 90% of Bahamians feel the same way.
M0J0 2 years, 7 months ago
Problem is there is nothing to fear, fox hill is a free easy life, most times the sentencing is minor, back out in a few years, if you kill and would be hung most would think twice.
Sickened 2 years, 7 months ago
Correct! And at least the murders get the punishment they deserve.
John 2 years, 7 months ago
Y’ALL CRY OUT about a child molester getting four years prison time plus two years probation for having ‘non-forced’ sex with a 14 year girl, but what is the penalty for Murder in this country? Seriously not what is on the books but what is the average killer getting for murder? What about some who have committed two, three, countless murders even? The murder count as if yesterday was forty. How many people have been convicted for murder thus far this year? How many? The prime minister has promised new innovations to help combat this new murder pandemic, and most likely, these initiatives willl fail. UNLESS they involve getting into the heads of these young men and changing the mindset. Restoring them to their rightful positions in society and giving them a purpose for their lives. In ignorance ( maybe) the government went along with one of its ‘good neighbors’ and declared war on their own young people, males especially. They made it so difficult and sometimes so impossible for young men to survive in this country, a full sense of desperation, despair and hopeless set in. And now these (predators as Hillary Clinton calls them), believe they have nothing to lose by doing what they do. They were never taught that after death comes the judgment. So they do no fear death. They have not rejected God but many are rejecting the false teachings. And you better believe what the next stage of this warfare will be if there is no intervention. Divine or otherwise. They will come into knowledge and tge truth will come to them. And they will turn on those who turned them against their brothers. The contents of some of these diplomatic pouches will be revealed and the real purpose of some of these many agents operating in this country and other Caribbean countries will be exposed…and there will be no escape. Like you don’t know.
sheeprunner12 2 years, 7 months ago
Doesn't matter whether the murderer fear death or not ... If you commit first degree murder and are convicted, our law says that you should be hanged.
But our politicians are pussyfooting around, trying to satisfy Europe. USA still executing murderers. Let's just carry out our laws OR close the loopholes
quietone 2 years, 7 months ago
I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WE MUST TRY EXTREMELY HARD TO REMOVE ILLEGAL GUNS FROM THIS COUNTRY... IF NOT, WE WOULD ALWAYS BE PLAGUED WITH MURDERS, ROBBERIES, ETC,,, I AM IN MY LATE 80'S AND ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO I STRONGLY FELT LIKE TAKING SOMEONE'S LIFE, AND IF I HAD OWNED A GUN I WOULD HAVE DONE IT... LEFT FROM WORK THAT DAY, WENT HOME, SAT DOWN, AND CRIED ME SERIOUSLY FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS, WONDERING HOW ON EARTH I COULD HAVE THOUGHT OF DOING SOMETHING SO CRUEL, UNHOLY AND UNGODLY!!!
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