CARTWRIGHT SAYS GOVERNMENT FAILING THE BAHAMIAN PEOPLE ON CRIME CRISIS

As the Bahamian people continue to reel from a year that saw an eight percent increase in

murders — from 119 in 2021 to 128 in 2022 — with no comprehensive crime plan from the

government, 2023 has brought no assurances to the Bahamian people that solutions are on the

way. A crime crisis remains. Crime continues to shake our communities, threaten our way of life

and take Bahamian lives. Already for the year, police have recorded four homicides. Just as

regrettable is the government’s failure to address the issue of crime in a holistic and strategic

way. The government seems paralyzed to bring a coordinated strategy to stem it. As stated

before, the Bahamian people feel no more secure, despite the promises of this administration to

deal with crime.

The opposition has applauded the commissioner of police for stating the need for major

changes to our criminal justice system by calling for judges to limit bail to those who have been

repeatedly accused of crimes but not yet brought to trial. We’ve noted this as a judicial,

legislative and constitutional issue that the executive and Parliament must address. When will

the government act? The government is failing to address the need for institutional change that

the men and women of the Royal Bahamas Police Force have been asking for. The government

continues to talk but has fallen woefully short in the way of decisive action to deal with the

increase in armed robberies, assaults and gun crimes.

We remain adamant that our law enforcement professionals deserve the full support of the

executive and the legislature and changing laws to better facilitate the operation of the system

must be a part of the conversation. The opposition in March 2022 delivered to the government

14 anti-crime recommendations. We remain committed to assisting the government in

developing solutions to the issue of crime. The government is failing at its most sacred duty of

keeping the Bahamian people safe and secure. They must lead. They must act.