Crime and the fear of crime is once again palpable and almost everyone you meet talks about it.
The central question is what can be done?
Do we arm ourselves like militia?
Do we lock ourselves in after daylight?
We live like prisoners while the "bad guys" enjoy our streets.
What's wrong with this picture?
Mr. Francisco Flores, former president of El Salvador provided some ideas back in June 2006 when he was the keynote speaker at an event for The Nassau Institute and the Atlas Network.
Here's an excerpt from his presentation "El Salvador – Responsibility, Vision, a new Political Ethic & Patriotism":
The first step is simple. We stopped blaming others…
This serious and in depth work is the antithesis of populism. The restructuring that underdeveloped nations need, are never pleasing or popular. They demand courage and a willingness to accept political costs.
In 2001 we were faced with an astonishing rise in crime. As all of you know there are a thousand ways to justify this: from the violence inherited by a 13 year war to the gangs organized in Los Angeles. But all of you leaders that have had this experience know that in all probability an unexplained rise in crime are the result of growing corruption within the police force.
The solution is a tough one. Admit it publicly, pursue the policemen involved, and create an effective system to inspect their behaviour.
In our case we fired one fifth of the police force. Did we create a crisis? You bet. But a few months later crime was at an all time low and we survived the political storm.
Governing is not an applause contest. It has ethical imperatives that demand honesty when facing problems..
Realising there must be lots of bad blood between the governing PLP and now opposition FNM as a result of the cheap shots about crime by the PLP during the last general election cycle, it's time to lay down the swords and come together on the issue of crime alone.
Our country is more important than political points on this. With some statesmanship and bi-partisanship from all, or most, elected Members of Parliament and the appointed Senators, and the will to conquer this scourge that besets us, we just might be able to be proud of our nation once again.
My fingers are crossed.
Fingers,legs,arms & eyes all crossed while trying to duck the bullets
Have we become a culture of corruption?? It is easy to point the finger at our police force but the reality is a much broader problem in scope.. Take a careful look at our elected officials for a moment.. When they finally leave office most have become very wealthy as the result of reasons that are only known to themselves..
When they enter office after their election they are given a salary, expenses, car and many rewarding, self-serving perks.. Many of our elected officials and bureaucrats become “broker of influence” which adds greatly to their personal wealth.. Whether this is self-interest or outright corruption, you be the judge, but we cannot hide from the fact that government has become a corrupting influence.. We find this corruptive influence in our public corporations such as BEC and Bahamasair where the paying public subsidize the political freeloaders.. We could go on and on, example after example, but the reality is clear, we have become a society subjected to the influences of political corruption.. Today government is the problem and not the answer to the pressing political, social and economic issues confronting our country..