I happened to be on the road yesterday during Love 97’s Issues of The Day radio programme and they were discussing crime and what we should do about it.
There were numerous callers suggesting that the death penalty was the answer to the crime. I beg to differ.
I would suggest that we are all responsible for the crime.
Before you get angry, hear me out.
Quite a while ago we caught an employee stealing red handed and proceeded to press charges. Before we could get to court we received calls from the parents, the church reverend and their parliamentary representative to drop the charges.
Of course we disagreed and proceeded to court.
When we arrived at the court the attorney for the employee asked if we were sure we wanted to proceed for such a small amount of money.
The fact is we proceeded on the basis that a theft occurred. The amount of money was irrelevant!
If the response of parents, preachers and politicians is that we should not press charges against the criminals it makes no difference how much money and other resources are provided the Courts and the Police, crime will not cease…neither petty theft or murder.
As Bahamians we need to do some serious soul searching when one of our family members are charged with wrong doing.
To put it colloquially…we must stop cloaking the criminals among us.
It starts much earlier on.
We can all relate stories of kids being disciplined in one of the schools, public and private, and the parents show up wanting to either “beat up” the teacher or ask that they be suspended for having the audacity to discipline their little darling.
So the kids get the message early on that they can get away with anything.
We recently had a case in Eleuthera where the principal suspended a child and because of the outcry from the parents he was forced to take him back.
That is a very interesting point Sidney…it starts from when the child is young….however, these nowadays parents need to be kicked into some sort of parenting class to learn to be parents. There should be a law against such persons having children because the burden shifts to us (the society) when they can’t control their horrible children.
Rick..question: How long does it take to get justice? I am just thinking that on my island the jungle justice may have been the preferred method: quick, swift and just. Our system sucks.
By the way…was in Nassau 2 weeks ago..LOVED IT!!
I think we should hang & hang high. I have no problem with how its done, as long as it is done & done fast! Why should I pay for a cold blooded killer to eat? Why? Hell no I should not pay a dime . Petty theft is out of hand, but so is violent crime, there seems to be NO consequence to their crimes. If they have a problem finding some one to “Pull the Switch”, I will, but I think right now in this country, I would have to wait in line. Hang them high, hang them fast!
Hi Jamaican Girl:
Thanks for stopping by.
Justice seems to take forever here.
The courts are so back logged it’s scary.
You were here and did not introduce yourself? That’s too bad, but glad you enjoyed it here.
Kind regards.
Crime is so out of control that I am afraid to leave my home. I am afraid to walk to the car park when I leave work. I am even afraid when leave my car and try and enter the mall. My fear is not in being robbed but in being hurt during the robbery. Violence and cruelty seems to be the order of the day.
If Human Rights Group prevent the Bahamas from hanging, why can’t we use lethal injections? We need to do something and we need to do it now!
Just inject one criminal and kiss the Casinos goodbye. By the time the IHRC is finished with the Bahamas you won’t have one friend left in the core country. Don’t you know that they are the only ones allowed to carry out such deeds…NOT YOU!
Look, in one hand put the 100 people who will not come here because we hang, in the other hand put the whole world that is not going to come here at all because the crime is so bad. Now you tell me which hand would you choose? It is time for the talk to stop & the punishments to begin.I think if we cut the hands off of people for stealing, we would be a handless nation! Why is it that we can build all of these national Insurance buildings & give crown land away left & right & can’t build a decent courthouse/jail? I think its because the Lawyers are making too much money with the system the way it is, postpone, postpone, postpone! Who runs the country? Lawyers! This is our problem in my humble opinion. The courts are dropping in pieces.
Very interesting debate! Crime is definitely out of control………..and we as a nation much come up with a solution swiftly, or live a a ruthless society teeming with cold-bloodied criminals.
Crime crime crime….
The matter is so simple, yet so complex. I say that, because it seems as if all we have to do is pick up these people, and put them in jail. But no. This seems to be too difficult and now, we have lost confidence in all forms of our government when it comes to controlling crime.
To me, it is an economic problem. Crime allways is. Even before we get to home training, which has a direct correlation to crime.
If people can’t afford to take care of their kids, they simply won’t take care of them.
Bill.
If having kids was not a badge of honour to Bahamian males and they took their responsibilities seriously the situation might change.
But I don’t think we will see a turn around in the near term.
The problem isn’t kids, teens.
a) Parents/guardians, teachers, adults don’t give enough quality time and training to kids so these kids go astray.
b) There aren’t enough constructive and financially rewarding jobs for teens.
c) Negative/violent movies (and songs) marketed by ADULTS (often from America).
Now fix the adults, and you’ll fix the problem.
Rick Lowe sounds like he’s totally out of touch, and probably needs to hang in a poor community for a bit for a reality check.
I think the reality check is, right is right & wrong is wrong. There is no gray area with crime.Far too many people harbor & protect these criminals, it is as simple as that!
Dear Mr. Stein:
You obviously misread my post and comment.
Unless we take responsibility for our young ones and for ourselves the situation will never improve.
Of course the longer we keep blaming others for our unacceptable behaviour, as you do, the longer it will take us to find a solution.