by Jerome Pinder.
Unfortunately, a Judge of our Supreme Court was robbed on Saturday past in the ScotiaBank parking lot on East Bay.
Let me say that I don't wish such an attack on anybody and I certainly don't want anybody to be harmed. I have experienced an armed robbery myself and know what an ordeal this can be. Despite this, I have said a long time ago that the Politicians who write the laws and the Judges that interpret the laws must be living on a different planet. On November 7th I wrote a blog on the twisted justice that is administered in the Bahamas. And this was only one example amongst many.
Perhaps if the high rate of armed robberies hits the politicians and judges at the same level experienced by everyday citizens, they may finally wake up and do something. Surely this judge will share the experience with her colleagues and they may realize who they are dealing with when these thugs stand before them daily.
This is just another segment of our society now affected by Crime. We will see if this is the right segment for the Government to take drastic measures. I am sure the judge has a direct line to the PM to share her ordeal.
Don't get me wrong, I am relieved she was not injured.
I do agree Jerome. I don’t think it makes much of a difference though.When Mr.Virgill(His wife is a Judge) was killed, I thought then that maybe, just maybe they might try & do something about the justice system.They did not. I personally feel that they do not want to do anything.I am not saying they can stop the crime, but they can surely try, at least try, or show some concern about the problem. So far all we have is is hot air, & not much of that either.Every MP we have should be shouting from the mountain tops, this has to stop !
To me – its amazing that the current police chief is not in hot water .. or on the vergr of being fired … it isonly when a standard is established wherein the cornerstone to the understanding of any who wish to hold the seat of chief of Police = ought to be ready to implement ideas to curtail the relationship with police and civilians, and furthermore, strategic planning on measures to curtail the escalating crime wave.
There appear to be absent – measures or variables for review with regard to the performance of a respective executive level employee – such as the commissioner of police …. how can one continously be paid when the purpose and mission of the organization has failed to uphold the right to safety and security within the borders of the nation.
If a landlord fails to uphold his end of a lease contract – the tenant has a right to move – without penalty, becuase the contract has been breeched by the landlord … as such , in consequence – the deals/agreement is off and ceases to exist.
Well – our contract with this Chief has expired due to his inability to find ways to deter and or curtail violent and non-violent crimes against persons.
The Minister responsible for law enforcement – ought to be replaced and such a ministry ought to be ommitted from the cabinet – and replaced with an agency falling under the purview of the AT office.
What has happened to the slained Judge is a tragedy and misfortune …..
Unfortunately, I am at the point of wondering if enough Bahamians even care about this problem, or are we all suffering from the ostrich syndrome ? I can’t tell you how disappointed I am in our government for, from my view,not seeming to care. I have spoken to a couple of them & all they seem to say is, sorry,what can I do, that’s the way it is.There doesn’t even seem to be a concern on their part, not even a concern.That my friends is very scary. What are they worried about ? Its almost like they are going to loose something big if they even showed concern.Could somebody please tell me, is something wrong with me, or has the Bahamas just gone upside down ?What has happened to right & wrong ? Why do we seem to be in one big grey area ?If I did not have to educate my children, I think an island all alone with the most artillery I could get would be good, but then again, the government would find a way to tax me to death.
I can’t believe it, minister Turnquest in this mornings Tribune is saying that the Tribune is focusing to much on crime, can you believe what he is saying ?, I can’t, I can’t believe it. What does he want them to report, lies ? They are reporting the crimes.Does he not realize how bad it is, or maybe he is up to high in his Ivory tower to see it.Talk about out of touch.
The reason why crime in the Bahamas is so high in the order of priority.
1 Lack of education and knowledge
2 Lack of opportunity
3 Family planning
4 High unemployment
5 Anti deversification
6 Unfair / Immoral practices
7 Wrongful arrest & imprisonment / malicious prosecution
8 A break down in communication
9 Police inefficiency
10 Clog judical system
11 Corruption of public official
12 Addictions
13 Violent movies/music & international personality
14 lack of hanging and corporal punishment
15 Politician / government official medaling
The quickest way for the crime problems to be solve, all of the 15 reasons has to be dealt with simultaneously. I will be writing a report breaking down each one of the reasons and how we are effected by every one of them.
Your wasting your time with that report – so many have been written already includng books, UN white papers.. etc …
I hope you are not establishing a premise that efforts to deal with the items you isted will some how irradicate crime! the end you seek may not justify the means you put forth- in my opinion, crime will exist regardless …
What I and all other writers on this thread seem to be suggesting, in various ways – is for real attention and effort to be made on the part of the Police, government executives, politicians and the court system in the advocation of curtailing the level of waywardness we are experiencing.
They all have the power to do something – its time they become proactive and stop reactionary practices that creates a back log in the court system of jargon reports and cases that lacks prosecutorial evidence.
I think the new Commisioner of Police, although Acting at this point, stands a good chance of making a difference based on my knowledge of him but:
His biggest battle will be fighting political directive/pressure/interference.
Of course, he can lock them all up and send them to the courts…………
This Government, although not feeling any personal pressure as they seem to live in some other world, had better let him alone to act as a commisioner under the Constitution, and get the AG’s office sorted out in order to support his efforts.
Get some foreign Judges and not a paltry one or two dumped into the derelict Buildings they call the courts.
Build a prison with the Chinese “Loans”, a Stadium can wait.
Better yet, build the stadium and convert it into a prison.
The fly in the ointment is the political will to cease and desist the meddlingwhich doesn’t yet exist.
They must all be in another world, PLP, FNM, who ever.
They are not living in reality, they can’t be.If they really had our country at heart, they would be making moves to correct the problem & quickly.As I said before, stop the cheap talk & get on with it, please !
You start to wonder if they are in cahoots with the criminals, it must be something, it just is not right.Think about it, why would they not want to fix something so bad, why ? Screw political correctness, screw amnesty international, our country is in the crapper.