At a time when the entire country is focused on Golden Isles and the upcoming by-election, it is important not to lose sight of the far more pressing crisis unfolding around us every single day.
Elections will come and go. But the issues that determine whether Bahamians can live safely, raise their children, and move about their communities without fear remain unsolved. And no amount of political theatre will distract the public from the reality outside their doors.
Because while the by-election dominates headlines, the news on crime grows more disturbing by the hour. Just last night, three men were shot off Kemp Road. And in between, we read stories of young children becoming victims of sexual violence, families terrorised by armed robberies, and communities buckling under the weight of fear. This is the real state of the nation, a country struggling with violence while the government seems more preoccupied with press stunts and optics.
The PLP may enjoy the temporary distraction that a by-election provides, but the question Bahamians want answered has nothing to do with campaign rallies or candidate endorsements.
The question is this: Where is the government’s plan to tackle violent crime?
Crime is not a topic that can be managed through talking points. It requires political will, resources, and a commitment to long-term solutions that address both enforcement and prevention.
That is why the Free National Movement put forward a clear, measurable 10-point crime plan; one built on tough policing, effective justice, and real prevention.
To strengthen policing today, the FNM’s plan calls for recruiting 150 new frontline police officers each year, increasing police presence in high-crime areas, and deploying more mobile units to deter criminals. It includes genuine independent oversight to root out corruption, reforms to the police complaints process, and stronger support for community policing, including revitalising the Bahamas National Neighbourhood Watch Council, which the PLP has allowed to fall dormant. And it demands an expert-led overhaul of police recruitment and training to modernise the Force and restore public trust.
To fix the justice system so that criminals are held accountable, the plan pushes for clearing court backlogs, expanding virtual courts, establishing a permanent Gun Court with a dedicated magistrate, modernising the Firearms Act to confront ghost guns and 3D-printed weapons, and tightening bail procedures so high-risk offenders are not repeatedly placed back into communities where retaliatory violence often follows.
And because crime cannot be solved through enforcement alone, the plan invests in prevention for tomorrow, expanding rehabilitation programs in prisons, separating youth offenders from hardened criminals, partnering with private employers to reduce reoffending, and adopting a full public health approach to violence prevention. It also calls for immediate investment in youth-focused prevention programmes and coordinated efforts across policing, social services, education, and health sectors. Finally, it targets the physical signs of disorder, abandoned vehicles, overgrown lots, and deteriorating neighbourhoods, which research shows can fuel further crime when left untreated.
This is what a real crime strategy looks like: specific actions, accountable timelines, and policies that address the root causes of violence as well as its consequences.
The Bahamian people understand that while elections matter, the safety of their families matters just as much. They see the rising tide of violence. They see the fear in their own communities.
And they know that no government should ever treat a by-election as a welcome distraction from the daily crisis unfolding across this nation.
As the country watches Golden Isles, we cannot take our eyes off the deeper emergency confronting us. Crime is not a political talking point; it is the most urgent issue facing The Bahamas. And until the government produces a real plan, the FNM will continue to press for one.