Category Archives: Bahamas

NASSAU, The Bahamas, Wednesday February 15, 2017 Against the backdrop of seven murders last weekend that pushed the number of homicides in the Bahamas to 27 so far this year, Prime Minister Perry Christie says the crime spree reminds him of the Wild West and hes calling for a national effort to arrest the problem.

However, Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade remains adamant that the country is not in crisis, rubbishing calls for a curfew or the lockdown of crime hotspots.

It is a falsehood to tell the Bahamian public and the world at large that the Bahamas is in crisis; that is nonsense, he said at a news conference.

This country is not at a stage where the average decent citizen has to be concerned about being attacked, Commissioner Greenslade insisted.

But in a separate encounter with the media, Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday described the situation as shocking and called for the country to put all necessary resources in place to reduce the crime scourge.

It is insane. It is reminiscent of the Wild West and it something we must get control of as quickly as possible. We will be required to do much more to have a greater capacity to meet the challenge that is now posed to us, to fully try to understand this senseless set of killings/retaliation and to have our system respond to it as quickly as possible in a meaningful way, he said.

Christie is blaming the problem on gangs engaged in retaliation, and suggested that the response must entail a stronger police presence on the streets.

This madness has to do with gangs and retaliationThere must be a continuous response to it and it has to be on flooding the streets with officers and equipment to be able to intercept and interdict.

Commissioner Greenslade agreed that the young people were at the heart of the recent incidents of crime, both as victims and perpetrators.

These are people that have fallen through the cracks of our society and they did not remain in school. The ones who did, when they got out of school, chose to associate with the wrong type of company and this is tit for tat, you touch my boy I touch your boy type of thing.

He however went one step further and appeared to be pointing fingers at the judicial system, suggesting that the only solution was to keep prolific offenders behind bars.

We have a problem, lets not kid ourselves, and that problem is prolific offenders that are in and out of the system who are not prepared to not live a life of crime, the police chief said.

We have to ensure that people that walk around with assault weapons and other variations of weapons, that have raped people, that have attempted to rape people, that have killed people, that have attempted to murder people, they should remainincarcerated and have their day in court. If we continue the way we are going we will continue to chase our tails, Commissioner Greenslade insisted.

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PM Says Crime in Bahamas Like the Wild West, But Police Chief ... - Caribbean360.com (subscription)

Search underway for cruise ship passenger

Tim Darnell , WXIA 2:08 PM. EST February 15, 2017

The Carnival Elation (Photo: WXIA)

MIAMI, Fla. -- The U.S. Coast Guard has called off their search for a Georgia man who reportedly went overboard Monday from a Carnival cruise ship.

The search was suspended on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m.

Kevin Wellons, 24, of Warner Robins went overboard from the Carnival Elation cruise ship about 15 miles southwest of Abaco, Bahamas.

A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew deployed to Great Inagua and HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crews from Air Station Miami covered more than 1,381 square miles over nine hours searching for Robins.

Watch standers with the Coast Guard Seventh District Command Center received notification at approximately 11 a.m. Monday from the Carnival Elation cruise ship that Wellons was reportedly seen going overboard from the 11th deck on the ship's closed circuit television.

The cruise ship was transiting from Jacksonville to their first port of call in Nassau, Bahamas.

Wellons and his wife were taking part of a five-day Bahamas cruise that docked on Saturday.

His wife didn't report him missing until they arrived in Nassau, Bahamas around 8:30 a.m., saying he was last seen six hours earlier (around 2:30 a.m.)

After looking at surveillance video, authorities believe Wellons went overboard around 2:45 a.m.

( 2017 WXIA)

WXIA

Coast Guard searching for Georgia man who went overboard on cruise ship

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Search called off for Georgia man who went overboard in Bahamas - 11alive.com

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH just five months to go, Commonwealth Games Federation Director Matthew Curtain said hes satisfied that the Local Organising Committee is where they need to be to host the sixth edition of the Bahamas Commonwealth Youth Games.

And BCYGs managing director Rommel Knowles promised Curtain and the visiting delegates that the Bahamas will put on the best ever games commonly referred to as the Friendly Games - when its held July 19-23.

The youth games for boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 18 will mark the first time in 50 years that the Caribbean will host a Commonwealth Games event, coming off the Empire Games that was staged in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1966.

This is also the first multiple games that the Bahamas has hosted.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson said the games come when the Bahamas will welcome the world to the greatest sporting year ever held in the Bahamas with the games being just one of the many major international events that will take place.

The purpose of these games is for us to demonstrate that although we are a small group of islands, that we can be the number one sporting tourist destination on the planet, Johnson said.

This is to demonstrate to our young people all around the Commonwealth that there is a better way and this is that better way. We look forward to athletes from over 70 countries to come here and to give their best.

On Monday, the visiting delegates wrapped up a five-day trip to the Bahamas to conduct a site inspection and provide any further instructions for the LOC in their preparation for the games that will feature more than 1,000 athletes from over 70 countries in nine disciplines.

We are pleased so far with the progress by the Local Organising Committee, Curtain said. Its not a criticism, but the nature of the event, but at this point and time, you are right where you need to be at this time.

Curtain, who hails from Australia where hes served in a number of capacities as a sports administrator, praised the level of cooperation that they have received from Minister Johnson, Bahamas Olympic Committee president Wellington Miller and secretary general Knowles, who serves as the managing director.

Curtain said they are here to ensure that everything is in place as they forged towards July when the athletes will compete inAthletics, Aquatics (Swimming), Beach Soccer, Boxing, Cycling (Road), Judo, Rugby Sevens, Tennis and Beach Volleyball. It will be the first time Judo, Beach Soccer and Beach Volleyball will be included in the Commonwealth Youth Games.

Knowles said when they decided to take up the mantel after Saint Lucia, who was awarded the original bid, was unable to carry out its commitment, they have proven so far that the games are in the right place at the right time.

He recalled how they begin the process of getting their team together once they got the approval of the Bahamas Government through Minister Johnson and Prime Minister Perry Christie.

Weve had our ups and weve had our downs, but this is the first time that the Bahamas will be hosting a multi-sporting event and I can assure you that these will be the best Commonwealth Games ever held, Knowles said.

He publicly thanked Grafton Ifill Jr, who played an integral role in the organizing of the games from the day they put their tender to bid and he has continued to ensure that the work is getting done.

Likewise, he also commended Drumeco Archer, the secretary general of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations and Cora Hepburn, a vice president of the BOC, who have both assisted in the operation of the LOC.

Keith Joseph, known as the voice of Carifta from St Vincent & The Grenadines, said the Bahamas has always had great organizations and leaders, who have stepped up to the plate from former BOC president Arlington Butler to former BAAAs president Dr Bernard Nottage.

And coupled with the success of the Bahamian athletes from the Golden Girls womens 4 x 100m relay team to the Golden Knights mens 4 x 400m team, Joseph said the Bahamas has held its own in the region and indeed around the world in terms of sports.

With just about a year and a half ago when many people threw their hands up in the air after St Lucia pulled out of hosting the games, Joseph said they were quite relieved when the Bahamas put in a bid with Glasgow and Sri Lanka and was eventually granted permission.

I believe it was because of your courage and your commitment to sports that you were awarded the bid to host the Bahamas, Joseph said. In everything you have done in sports, you have always aspired to excellence and we are proud of your tradition.

Joseph said although they have been here from time to time, they are leaving this time with more confidence that the Bahamas will live up to that commitment to hosting a successful games.

The young athletes of the Caribbean are looking up to you, Joseph stressed. Your place in history is indeed remarkable.

Miller said they appreciate the Bahamas being in the spotlight as the host of the sixth edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games and he assured the rest of the Commonwealth that while they have accomplished a lot, they would make sure that the games are indeed a success.

The Bahamas is taking the games as if its our very own personally, he insisted. The Bahamian people are depending us and the 70 countries in the Commonwealth are depending on us and we will deliver the kind of games that everybody will be proud of.

In 2000, the Commonwealth Games Federation, headed by president Louise Martin of Scortland, hosted the first Commonwealth Youth Games in Edinburgh. The second games was in 2004 in Bendigo, Australia. It went to Pune, India for the third edition in 2008 and The Isle of Man hosted the 2011 with the 5th edition in Samoa in 2015.

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Bahamas ready for Commonwealth Youth Games | The Tribune - Bahamas Tribune

NASSAU, Bahamas, Feb. 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A picture is normally worth a thousand words, yet pictures of The Bahamas do the multi-island destination no justice. You'll simply have to come and see it for yourself, and when you do, we guarantee you'll fall in love - fall in love with The Islands of The Bahamas and with your partner all over again.

Perhaps you'll consider these activities to make your trip even more memorable than you had imagined. This Valentine's Day we're highlighting five (of many) reasons to fall in love with The Bahamas.

Looking for more things to love about The Bahamas? Log on to http://www.Bahamas.com or call 1-800-Bahamas for more information. Happy Valentine's Day from The Islands of The Bahamas!

The Islands Of The Bahamas have a place in the sun for everyone. Each island has its own personality and attractions for a variety of vacation styles with some of the world's best golfing, scuba diving, fishing, sailing, boating, as well as, shopping and dining. The destination offers an easily accessible tropical getaway and provides convenience for travelers with preclearance through U.S. customs and immigration, and the Bahamian dollar is on par with the U.S. dollar. Do everything or do nothing, just remember It's Better in The Bahamas. For travel packages, activities and accommodations information, call 1-800-Bahamas or visit http://www.Bahamas.com. Look for The Bahamas on the web on Facebook Twitter and YouTube.

Photos accompanying this release are available at:

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=42177

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=42178

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Five Reasons to Fall in Love with The Bahamas - Yahoo Finance

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The DNAs leader yesterday urged the Bahamas to up its tourism game as a result of Norwegian Cruise Lines decision to divert 25 sailings to Cuba, warning: If thats not an eye opener, I dont know what is.

Branville McCartney told Tribune Business that the Bahamas was already out of time to prepare for Cubas opening to mass market US tourism, with the cruise lines move another warning sign to this nation.

Arguing that this nation should have been ready yesterday, Mr McCartney said the Bahamas had failed to address weaknesses he had identified almost a decade ago while minister of state for tourism in the former Ingraham administration.

Apart from crime, high costs, cleanliness and service, the DNA leader added that the Bahamas also need to improve on the product itself, suggesting it had failed to incorporate its own culture into tourisms offerings and give it a distinctly Bahamian flavour.

Mr McCartney said there were enough tourists to go around to blunt the impact of Cubas potential US opening up, but this depended on the Bahamas getting it right.

Responding to Norwegians decision to switch 25 four-day cruises to an overnight stop in Havana, eliminating calls on Nassau and Freeport during the 2017 second half, the DNA leader told Tribune Business: If thats not an eye opener for us as a country, I dont see anything else being so. But the Minister of Tourism almost brushed it off.

The bottom line is that we have to recognise that Cuba is in the tourist market. They are getting more tourists than us now, and the fact they are now more open will cause more tourists to go there to experience Cuba. We have to up our game in the Bahamas.

Tribune Business revealed Norwegians decision to switch the 25 cruises from Nassau and Freeport, to Havana, last week, in a bid to both alert Bahamians to the increasing competitive threat posed by Cuba and the potential for other cruise lines to follow its lead.

Mr McCartney said the challenge presented by Cuba had been exacerbated because the Bahamas had failed to address weaknesses he had identified in his last speech as minister of state for tourism.

I said we will continue to lose our place in the tourist market if we dont clean up crime; reduce our rates, as its too expensive to come here; if we dont ensure we have a clean environment, the DNA leader told Tribune Business.

Look at how dirty we are. Every time you drive to the airport you see the KFC boxes dumped by the sides of the road.

We must also improve our service. We must realise that we are not doing the tourists a favour by serving them. They are doing is a favour by coming here and spending money in our economy. Our service has to improve.

Agreeing that other cruise lines may now follow Norwegians trail to Cuba, Mr McCartney emphasised: We must get our act together. We must also improve on the product itself.

What do we have to offer? We have sun, sand and sea. So does Cuba. Weve had the same tourism product since the 1960s and not enhanced it.

Norwegian Cruise Lines talked up Cuba, and Havanas, cultural, historic and other attractions in the statement announcing its 25 cruise-switch. With Cuba having been closed for more than 50 years, many Americans are likely to be attracted to the prospect of exploring a new destination.

Asked how much time the Bahamas has left to prepare for Cubas growing threat, Mr McCartney added: The time has gone already. We are always reactionary as a people, and probably more so as a government.

The time was yesterday when we needed to start working on this thing. Were out of time. We needed to start yesterday.

Still, the DNA leader acknowledged that where Cuba was concerned, all was not lost for the Bahamas yet.

If we get it right, theres enough tourists to go around, Mr McCartney added. But we need to get it right. The Bahamas is unique in itself, and if we get it right we will cause people to come here.

We have our culture, which no one else has, and we ought to enhance it through tourism.

Mr McCartney added that the Bahamas also needed to target niches such as sports, medical and religious tourism, strategies that have been adopted by successive PLP and FNM administrations in the past.

We need to get on it, and get on it quickly, he reiterated of the Bahamas weaknesses. Getting here should not be so expensive. The cost of living is a turn-off for people.

Its less expensive to go to Miami from Nassau than it is to go from here to the Family Islands. Keeping our country clean and the service. These things must be acted upon.

Mr McCartney added that crime is already killing our tourism product, with cruise lines warning passengers about the dangers of Nassau and to avoid certain areas, and the US Embassy issuing numerous warnings.

Obie Wilchcombe, minister of tourism, lambasted Tribune Businesss revelation about Norwegian Cruise Lines switch to Cuba, saying it did a disservice to all the work the Bahamas was doing to enhance its cruise tourism product.

Mr Wilchcombe referred, in particular, to the investment by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) at Ocean Cay, and Carnivals upcoming cruise port in east Grand Bahama, as evidence of the Bahamas bolstering its competitive position.

Both these facilities, though, are own ports/private islands located well away from large population centres. While they provide some employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for Bahamians, the majority of the benefits from private ports go to the cruise lines, who often control the mark-ups and margins charged to passengers by providers.

Mr McCartney agreed, saying: The benefits go to the cruise lines, and the funding goes out the country. Theres hardly any benefit to the Bahamas.

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Bran: Bahamas 'Eye Opener' From Cruise Line'S Cuba Switch - Bahamas Tribune

CBS Local

Search Underway For Passenger Missing From Bahamas Cruise CBS Local MIAMI (CBSMiami) The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a man who was reportedly seen going overboard from a cruise ship near the Bahamas. It happened Monday around 8:30 a.m. on the Carnival Elation cruise ship, about 15 miles southwest of Abaco ... Man, 24, believed to have gone overboard from cruise ship near BahamasWFLA Coast Guard searching near the Bahamas for missing cruise ship passengerSun Sentinel Coast Guard searches for missing Carnival Elation passenger near BahamasActionNewsJax.com WPTV.com -13WMAZ.com -Firstcoastnews.com all 10 news articles »

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Search Underway For Passenger Missing From Bahamas Cruise - CBS Local

Nassau is back in business. The main port of the Bahamas quickly bounced back from Hurricane Matthew last fall, with resorts, restaurants and tourist attractions on line. If youre planning a first or return visit this spring, here is how to explore the Caribbean destination right now, from sampling fresh catches to diving to relaxing on secluded beaches.

A couple miles from downtown Nassau is Goodmans Bay, a vibrant beach where you can find cookouts, parties with bright umbrellas and locals swimming and snorkeling on the placid beach.

To eat like a local, too, head to a fish fry, like Nassau's Fish Fry, near Goodman's Bay. And at Twin Brothers (multiple locations, twinbrothersbahamas.com), tryclassic Bahamian cuisine like grilled mahi mahi, rice and plantains.

For something quite unique, head to dive resort Stuart Coves Dive Bahamas (stuartcove.com) on the southwest side of the island and explore underwater in a SUB aquanaut, a machine that combines motorcycling and scuba diving. Be sure to watch out for pirate fish, seabass, yellow tail snapper and stingrays.

Hop on a boat and head to Blue Lagoon Island, a secluded nursery for more than 100 species of marine life. Choose between shaking fins and wet kisses from dolphins or sea lions with an animal encounter (dolphinencounters.com), then rest up at the adults-only VIP beach.

For boutique shopping, head to the downtown Nassau area, along West Bay Street. Highlights include Straw Market, where a plethora of vendors selling colorful Mexican wares like baskets, blankets, and tchotchkes, and Cotton House, which sells colorful boots with intricate designs.

The all-inclusive Melia Nassau Beach (melia.com) is a kid-friendly resort located on Cable Beach, about a 20-minute bus ride from downtown Nassau. The most scenic views of the beach can be taken in on one of the wrap around balcony suites; if you have a family or a group of friends, opt for the 2-bedroom/3-full-bath suite. Indulge in the selection of free water sports like water biking, kayaks and stand-up paddle boarding. Fancy getting certified to dive? The property offers a complimentary scuba diving introduction at the pool area. The on-site restaurants offer a selection of cuisine from all over the world, from the Marketplace buffet restaurant, where dinner is themed each night, to the tapas bar Estavida.

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Nassau, Bahamas: Where to eat, dive and lay out on the sand - amNY

NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) The police on Monday appealed to citizens to provide information no matter how small or insignificant the tip may seem as they launched investigations into several murders in the Bahamas over the weekend.

Police said that the information could be provided anonymously or through Crime Stoppers.

They said that on Sunday, a man was shot dead while standing outside of his home. The authorities said that the unidentified man was approached by two armed gunmen who shot him before fleeing on foot.

In another incident, the police said two separate shooting incidents have resulted in one man being killed and two others hospitalised on Saturday.

The police said in the first incident, a group of people were attending a party, when the occupants of a blue self-drive vehicle pulled up and fired several shots into the crowd before speeding off. Two males were shot and taken to hospital where one of them remains in serious condition and the other in stable condition.

In the second incident, an unidentified male was standing outside of his home when the occupants of a vehicle pulled up and shot him before speeding off. The man was pronounced dead on the scene.

Police said that two of their colleagues have been hospitalised after they were shot by a suspect who has since been detained.

They said the shootings on Sunday occurred when the male and a female police officer responded to a domestic incident at a home in the capital.

While at the home, a man arm with a shotgun approached and shot both of them. The officers returned fire but the suspect was able to flee in a vehicle. The two officers were taken to hospital where they remain in stable condition, a police statement said, adding that the suspect was held suffering gunshot wounds. Police also recovered a shotgun from the suspect.

Police said on Friday, three people were shot dead during two separate shooting incidents.

In the first incident, a male was walking with two other males when a male armed with a handgun approached and shot him before fleeing on foot. The victim was pronounced dead on the scene.

In the second incident on Saturday, a group of people were at a nightclub, when an altercation occurred that led to a male armed with a handgun firing several shots into a crowd.

One male was shot as he attempted to leave in his vehicle. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Another male was taken to hospital where he later died, the statement said, adding that the police have launched an island-wide manhunt for the suspects.

In other criminal activities over the weekend, police said they seized several rounds of ammunition during an operation in Nassau Village.

An American national along with three Bahamians including two women have been taken into custody in connection with the discovery.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Free National Movement (FNM) has called on the government to break its silence on the crime situation in the country.

Those charged with ensuring the safety of our nation, must reassure citizens, and all residents, that the situation is under control, said the FNMs Marvin Dames.

He said that with 25 murders already on the record, an average of one murder every two days, and a pace that, if continued, will certainly lead to another heinous murder record, making a case that the nation is secure is extremely difficult.

However, silence on the part of our national security officials will not do, he added.

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Bloody weekend in Bahamas, Opposition calls for Gov't to break ... - Jamaica Observer

NASSAU, Bahamas, Feb. 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) has announced that the Norwegian Sky will begin calls to Havana, Cuba in 2017 dropping Freeport, Grand Bahama from its scheduled four-day voyage to The Bahamas.

While the Sky is indeed dropping Freeport from its itinerary for the period May to the end of 2017, the ship will still call on Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay during its three-day itinerary and Great Stirrup Cay on its four-day voyage.

NCL received approval for a one day per week sailing into Cuba and that date coincides with their Freeport stop which resulted in NCL dropping Freeport, Grand Bahama from its 4-day schedule.

Norwegian Cruise Lines have been sailing to The Bahamas for almost 50 years and all, except for one of its vessels, are registered under the Bahamian flag. This not only proves confidence in our destination, but it is also a testament of our stability in the region. The Sky began its operation in 1999 and is the second smallest vessel in Norwegian's fleet weighing 77 tons.

The Bahamas also attracts all Norwegian class vessels which include the Norwegian Sun, Spirit, Dawn, Jewel, Jade, Pearl, Gem, Epic, Breakaway and Getaway, Breakaway Plus and Pride of America. The vessels are vested in our destination.

The timing for the Sky to drop Freeport, Grand Bahama - an island that is still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Matthew which struck the island in October 2016 - is regrettable. We look forward to Norwegian returning to that island in 2018.

Figures from 2016 show that cruise visits were up by 5.8 percent in 2016 over 2015. A total of 4,219,218 visitors cruised to The Bahamas through to November last year, compared to 4,066,530 for the same period in 2015. As a result, thousands of jobs and millions of dollars have been injected into The Bahamian economy as a result of the cruise industry.

Moreover many cruise lines, who committed to move their itinerary to Asia, have moved back to the region where The Bahamas owns the market share. This is further evident in the investments by all major cruise lines including Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Disney, MSC and Carnival Cruise Line.

It should be noted as well that several new cruises by major operators were added to The Bahamas in 2016 including the Carnival Vista, which has capacity for up to 5,000 guests and Royal Caribbean Harmony, which has a capacity for up to 5,400.

About The Islands Of The Bahamas

The Islands Of The Bahamas have a place in the sun for everyone. Each island has its own personality and attractions for a variety of vacation styles with some of the world's best golfing, scuba diving, fishing, sailing, boating, as well as, shopping and dining. The destination offers an easily accessible tropical getaway and provides convenience for travelers with preclearance through U.S. customs and immigration, and the Bahamian dollar is on par with the U.S. dollar. Do everything or do nothing, just remember It's Better in The Bahamas. For travel packages, activities and accommodations information, call 1-800-Bahamas or visit http://www.Bahamas.com. Look for The Bahamas on the web on Facebook Twitter and YouTube

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Bahamas Ministry of Tourism's Statement on NCL's Norwegian Sky Announcement - Yahoo Finance

Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade.

By SANCHESKA DORSETT

Tribune Staff Reporter

sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE the country recording 13 homicides in 13 days, Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade said the Bahamas is not in a state of crisis and the average Bahamian can continue to go about their day as normal day without the fear of being attacked.

At a press conference at police headquarters on Monday after a weekend of carnage, Commissioner Greenslade said the only solution to the countrys crime problem is to keep prolific offenders behind bars. He said the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) is not considering implementing a curfew or locking down certain neighbourhoods and the suggestion to do so is emotional and makes no sense.

His comments came hours after the country recorded its 27th homicide for the year. Seven people have been killed since Friday.

On Monday afternoon, police also reported that a man was stabbed outside an establishment on Nassau Street while two men were shot while in the area of Ross Corner. These victims were said to be in stable condition in hospital.

Commissioner Greenslade said it is simply not enough for people to point the finger at the police in times of crisis yet refuse to manage their homes or assist the police in catching wanted persons.

It is a falsehood to tell the Bahamian public and the world at large that the Bahamas is in crisis, that is nonsense, he said. Every well meaning citizen in this country is well aware that these young people that are unfortunately dying and the young people that are the perpetrators, these are people that have fallen though the cracks of our society and they did not remain in school. The ones who did, when they got out of school, chose to associate with the wrong type of company and this is tit for tat, you touch my boy I touch your boy type of thing.

He added: I do not want the public to form the impression you cant drive your car and go to work, or you cant drive your car to go to church, or you cant drive your car and go to the grocery store. We have a problem, lets not kid ourselves and that problem is prolific offenders that are in and out of the system who are not prepared to not live a life of crime....

This country is not at a stage where the average decent citizen has to be concerned about being attacked, Commissioner Greenslade added. Do we have cases were someone is robbed and where an innocent person dies, yes. But I am telling you year on year, those who are prepared to look at the facts can tell you that no one is interested in harming persons who go about their normal daily activity.

Bahamians can go about their daily lives as normal, I dont perceive that any Bahamian citizen who is going about their business on a daily basis is going to have any issues. It is a very bad development in this country but this is not something that happened overnight.

He also said there are far too many healthy bodied prolific offenders in our country who have no hesitation in causing harm to other people and until these people are put away for good the crime situation will never improve. When asked if the RBPF is considering implementing a curfew in high crime areas, Commissioner Greenslade said absolutely not.

The only solution (to crime) is when these people are arrested and charged, that we allow due process and natural justice and we put them before the courts. I believe firmly as the commissioner that they should remain incarcerated based upon the egregious crimes they have committed, Commissioner Greenslade said.

We have to ensure that people that walk around with assault weapons and other variations of weapons, that have raped people, that have attempted to rape people, that have killed people that have attempted to murder people they should remain, I will make no apology, they should remain incarcerated and have their day in court. If we continue he way we are going we will continue to chase our tails.

People are getting emotional and saying things that sound good to say - a curfew is not a good idea. I am going to say we should be careful...You can not ask the commissioner, in a democracy, with any intelligence to go into a community and just hit people over the head. It doesnt work like that, it makes absolutely no sense. I am telling you again, please listen to me. We know who the man is that shot the person, we have arrested him and taken him to court. Why are you continuing to ask me the same question? Why am I having to arrest these men again?

We are kidding ourselves. Yes, some drastic things should happen but the question should not be how drastic is the approach by the police. How much more drastic would you wish us to be? We dont sleep at night, our families hardly see us, everything we do we show you.

Commissioner Greenslade also said police are still looking for several persons in connection with this weekends homicides. Anyone with information on any of these murders is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.

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Greenslade: Bahamas Is Not In Crisis - Bahamas Tribune