Prime Minister Philip Davis delivering remarks during the Royal Bahamas Police Force church service on Sunday.
NASSAU, The Bahamas--Expressing shock and sadness over the number of murders recorded so far for the new year, Prime Minister (PM) Philip Brave Davis on Sunday sent a warning to those in a life of crime that they cannot win.
“...I am greatly saddened and deeply shocked by the recent spate of murders in our country,” said Davis during the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s 2024 church service at New Destiny Baptist Church.
“Only seven days into the new year, and already the country has recorded eight murders, each victim appearing to have been specifically targeted for one reason or another. This is not the gift of peace which yesterday [Saturday, January 6, 2024 – Ed.] was meant to symbolise.”
Saturday, January 6, is regarded as the 12th day of Christmas and in Christianity, it is the day the wise men visited baby Jesus and prayed for peace
Davis continued, “Yes, crime has been a long-standing issue in our country, but recently, the crime of murder especially, has taken on a horrifyingly new level of brutality and barbarity. Something has indeed gone very, very wrong in our society.”
There have been eight murders in the year so far, four within the first three days of the year and another four between Friday and Saturday.
In the latest incident, police said a 16-year-old girl was inside her home in Nassau Village when someone shot into the home, killing her.
“After all the losses, all the waste of life, all the misery and fear and pain that is part of the criminal life in gangs, those who still choose to pursue the path of crime: understand that we are at maximum resolve,” he said.
“While our arms are open for those who seek a better path, our stance against crime is resolute. We are coming for you. You cannot win. We will reclaim our streets, our neighbourhoods and our homes.”
He said traditional policing will play a critical role in reducing violence crime.
“...During the past two years, we have significantly increased the resources to help you to be more effective,” he said.
“More officers recruited, more vehicles brought onto the streets, more technological support, more firearms and so on. We have strengthened control of our borders, along with our partnership with the United States and others in the region, to reduce the flow of illegal trafficking of people and firearms.
“Additionally, in recent months, we have begun a strategic initiative to implement a whole government response to tackling gang crime. You will hear more about this in the coming weeks.”
Davis said he feels the weight of every crime and hears the cries of every tear shed.
“I hear the echoes of every plea for a safer nation,” he said.
“I am deeply moved, not just as your prime minister but as a Bahamian, a parent, a neighbour, and a friend. Safeguarding our nation’s peace remains at the forefront of my mind. In this spirit, I invite the Christian Council to consider holding a National Day of Prayer to help bring healing and comfort.”
Davis said preventing crime is a vexing issue because there needs to be some indication that a crime is about to happen.
“But if someone is being specifically targeted to be killed, if there is a conscious, deliberate, prepared effort, especially by someone acting alone, it is extremely difficult to intervene ahead of time,” he said.
“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 with the overwhelming majority of people in our country, we must put the idea of killing outside their moral compass.”
He called on officers to become more engaged with the government’s plan to prevent gang recruitment and youth involvement in crime.
“As it is also vitally important that you build trust with the communities you work in, we want you to be mindful to provide a positive policing response to those communities, in order to protect them from crime,” he said.
He added, “And so, this is what I ask of you today. The government can continue to recruit more officers, buy more cars, and deploy the fanciest technology, but we cannot personally and individually engage with the hearts and minds of the young men at risk.
“We need each of you – all of you – to play your part. We can bring a whole government approach, but we also need a ‘whole society’ response. Do what you can, do all that you can, to provide mentorship and friendship to these young people. Show them that there is another way, a better way.” ~ The Nassau Guardian ~
