by Jerome Pinder

Mr Dwayne Cartwright, an employee of the Department of Environmental Health has been murdered by senseless thugs that are running wild on our streets.  Just think a direct attack on the Government and one of its civil servants.  The senseless murder of an employee tending to the People’s business!  Three children left without a Father, as the system collapses. 

So I ask the Minister of National Security and the Current Administration:  Was this drug related?  Was it gang related?  Was it domestic violence?  The Government has been quick to shrug off our escalating crime rate by blaming one of the above factors, always promising to present a detailed plan to fight crime sometime in the near future.

Yes we are suffering from a breakdown in the family, a complete breakdown of our society!  Yes we are suffering from the drug and gun trade!  Yes we lack fathers in the home!  But the time in which we find ourselves, does not allow for a long term solution in and of itself.  A long term plan will not address the current monsters on the streets that have no regard for human life.  There is only one solution and that is for the State to enforce Capital Punishment.

No the Government cannot prevent or stop Crime.  I agree!  So please don’t push this old line down our throat.  Only Jesus himself can change the heart of a man who will gun another human down other the almighty dollar!  However, the Government of the Bahamas, our elected leaders and those that serve in Cabinet, have the responsibility to carry out whatever is necessary to deal with a minority of criminals that have placed the majority of citizens in fear.  We change laws around this town at the drop of a hat.  The Privy Council certainly isn’t hiding behind bars and living under the constant threat of crime.  Yet they want to speak down to us about being inhumane.  Give me a break!   

Recently, we have had several murder cases thrown out by the Courts.  So the question must be asked, do we need outside assistance?  Too much pride is killing the Bahamas.  Countries all over the world except outside assistance when they experience a crisis.  And the current manner in which innocent people are being slaughtered on our streets is a crisis indeed!  What is so wrong with seeking outside help to assist the CDU or the Prosecutor’s Office?  All throughout this Country we allow foreign professionals to come in and provide their expertise.  Why we even have outside help to build roads and construct our airport.  We deemed it necessary to seek outside help to run our telecommunications system, but don’t feel that perhaps help is needed to manage some of these murder cases.  Can you imagine we import foreign help to construct a roadway, but refuse to seek help to solve the murder of innocent people!  Don’t forget, there are unresolved cases where innocent people have been murdered.  Will our pride cause us to fall?

It is common knowledge that criminals have no fear of the Justice System or the consequences for their actions.  Most are just moving through a revolving door. 

We have clearly failed, when the only justice being administered is Justice on the streets!  How far will the blood flow?