- Bahamas Prime Minister warns criminals, “we are coming for you”
The Bahamas’ Prime Minister, Phillip Davis, has warned criminals that the authorities “are coming for you,” stating he is “greatly saddened and deeply shocked by the recent spate of murders” in the country.
Davis also stated that the country had already recorded eight killings seven days into the new year.
Davis said at the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) Annual Service of Thanksgiving on Sunday evening that while the country should have been celebrating the Twelfth Day of Christmas, “instead, sadly, rather than celebrate, like all right-thinking people amongst us, I am greatly saddened and deeply shocked by the recent spate of murders in our country.”
Phillips stated that the “victim appears to have been specifically targeted for one reason or another” in each of the eight murders committed this year.
“This is not the gift of peace,” the Twelfth Day of Christmas was supposed to represent.
more specifically”Yes, crime has long been a problem in our country, but recently, the crime of murder, in particular, has reached a horrifyingly new level of brutality and barbarity.” Something has gone horribly wrong in our society.”
According to Davis, the country is now looking to the RBPF “in these trying times.”
“We ask you to go to the crime scenes, to witness the physical horrors inflicted on people, to do so amid the shock and grief of families and communities, and then to find the perpetrators and potentially put your own lives in danger in apprehending them.”
crimes”We thank you for this, as well as all other aspects of policing.” We thank you for upholding public order and safety and enforcing the law. In the public’s mind, you are most associated with your attempts to discover and apprehend individuals responsible for crimes, put them before the courts, and hopefully have them incarcerated away from society.”
However, Davis noted that this is only one part of a much larger goal, noting, “As a society, it is not our goal to fill our prisons with criminals.”
“Instead, our real goal must be to deter or prevent crimes from being committed in the first place,” easily added. This is especially true in murder instances. The fundamental goal must be to prevent the loss of life, rather than to fill our prisons after those lives have been ruthlessly ended,” adding, “We recognise that this is much easier’said’ than done.”
He described crime prevention as a difficult topic because there must be some indicator that a crime is about to be committed before any intervention can be made.
“However, it is extremely difficult to intervene ahead of time if someone is specifically targeted to be killed, if there is a conscious, deliberate, planned effort, especially by someone acting alone.”
men—we”Our focus, therefore, must be to intervene early enough in the lives of young men—because it is almost always young men – we must intervene in their lives sufficiently early so that they do not form an intention to kill in the first place.”
As is true for the vast majority of individuals in the country, there is a need to place the concept of murdering beyond the moral compass.
“So, what can we do?” And, more particularly, what do we expect of you?
“Well, we know that most murders and other crimes that cause significant harm in The Bahamas are linked to gang-related activities.” Crime statistics show tit-for-tat homicides, the targeting of those on bail for murder, and cycles of vengeance in which those associated with one victim seek vengeance on the supposed culprits.
“I completely disagree with people who say, “Let them shoot each other.” That is not the kind of society I want to live in, and our Christian faith’s commandment could not be clearer: “Thou shalt not kill”!”
Traditional policing, according to Prime Minister Davis, continues to play a fundamental and vital part in crime-fighting operations, saying that “we have significantly increased the resources to help you be more effective” during the last two years.
He stated that more officers were hired, more vehicles were put on the streets, more technology support was provided, more weaponry were purchased, and so on.
“We have strengthened border control, in collaboration with the United States and others in the region, to reduce the flow of illegal people and firearms trafficking.”
“Additionally, in recent months, we have begun a strategic initiative to implement a ‘Whole Government Response’ to tackling gang crime,” he added, adding that “you will hear more about this in the coming weeks.”
“And so what we need from you is for you to become more engaged with our plans to prevent gang recruitment and youth involvement in crime.”
Prime Minister Davis stated that it is also critical for the police to create confidence with the communities in which they work. We want you to be cognizant of such neighbourhoods and deliver a constructive policing response in order to keep them safe from crime.
“With a higher level of trust, people are more likely to confide in you with information, which can aid in the prevention of crime.” Our plan also includes the government’s pledge to bring offenders to justice as soon as possible, to demonstrate that convicted offenders will be punished and that committing a crime has genuine repercussions.”
Davis stated that the government is offering opportunities and avenues to rehabilitation in order for offenders to be successfully reintegrated into communities after serving their sentences.
“This is a deeply personal issue for me, not just a matter of good governance.” I grew raised in the Bahamas as a young man. My kids, and now my grandsons, are growing up in the Bahamas as young men.
“Would I have been able to resist gangs when I was in my early teens if they had been as pernicious as they are now?” Will my grandsons be able to finish school without being hounded and terrorised into getting involved in gang-related activities?
Officers, we must do everything in our power to encourage our young guys.”
According to Prime Minister Davis, research undertaken throughout the world and in the Bahamas shows that there are numerous variables that lead a young generation to be drawn to a gang lifestyle.
He cited a lack of opportunity, truancy, parent-child separation, neglect, poverty, and community disorganisation as examples.
“But what is heartbreaking is learning that so many of these young people, so many of these young men, are simply looking for the fundamentals in life.” They are not searching for large sums of money.
“They’re looking for food, water, and a place to stay.” They are yearning for a sense of stability, closeness, belonging, and camaraderie. So that’s what I’m asking of you today.”
“We can continue to recruit more officers, buy more cars, and deploy the most advanced technology,” he says, “but we cannot personally and individually engage with the hearts and minds of the young men at risk.”
“We need each and every one of you to do your part. We can take a ‘whole-government’ approach, but we also need a ‘whole-society’ response. Do whatever you can to provide guidance and companionship to these young people. Demonstrate to them that there is another path—a better way.
“Yes, you must not neglect your policing responsibilities, but you must find time and space within those responsibilities to express more of your humanity.” When you encounter or interact with a vulnerable child or young person, take a moment to consider how you may assist.”
Davis stated that police are aware of gangs actively recruiting as early as primary school, and he asked the RBPF, “What can you do to offer support?” What can you do to help?
“The fact that you are a law enforcement officer implies that you have already accomplished enough in life to be able to offer them your life example.” Please also encourage the families and friends of at-risk youth to join you in your efforts.
“Often, even if they don’t know the details, they are aware that something bad or dangerous is happening in their home.” They are aware that their loved ones are not living as they should,” he stated, adding, “Help these parents and family members understand that they are not being snitches to confide their worries or fears in a cop, a teacher, a pastor, or another trusted official.”
“Rather, they are likely to save that young person’s life.” They are even more likely to be assisting in the preservation of that young person’s future.
“After all of the losses, all of the waste of life, all of the misery, fear, and pain that is part of the criminal life in gangs, those who still choose to pursue the path of crime should understand that we are at maximum resolve,” Prime Minister Davis said, adding that “while our arms are open for those who seek a better path, our stance against crime is resolute.”
“We’re on our way to get you. You are unable to win. We shall take back our streets, neighbourhoods, and homes. Every crime weighs heavily on me. I can hear every tear that is shed. Every call for a safer country rings true to me. “I am deeply moved, not only as your Prime Minister, but also as a Bahamian, a parent, a neighbour, and a friend,” he continued.
Last week, opposition leader Michael Pintard urged the government to meet with gang leaders, claiming that many legislators are familiar with “street leaders” and individuals who have “influence over a number of the persons who are wreaking havoc.”
Last year, there were more than 110 homicides in the Bahamas.
