Minister of National Security Announces the Appointment of a National Council on Crime

Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham speaks on crime in The Bahamas following his return from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala, Uganda. Mr. Ingraham also provides an update on talks in London with a prospective purchaser of shares of the Grand Bahama Port Authority.

Nassau, The Bahamas – The Minister of National Security, the Honourable O.A.T. Turnquest has announced the appointment by the Government of a National Advisory Council on Crime (NACC). The Council is comprised of 11 persons from a broad cross-section of Bahamian society. The members of the Council are:

• Bishop Simeon Hall, Senior Pastor, New Covenant Baptist Church
• Mrs. Arlene Nash Ferguson, Director of Educulture
• Mr. Vicente Roberts, Director of Campus Life, College of The Bahamas
• Mr. Felix Stubbs, Managing Director, IBM (Bahamas) Ltd.
• Mr. Carlos Reid, Director, Operation Redemption/Youth Against Violence
• Rev. Dr. Ivan Butler, Senior Pastor, Kemp Road Ministries
• Mr. Frank Comito, Executive Director, Bahamas Hotels Association
• Ms. Anastarcia Huyler, President of the College of The Bahamas Union of Students
• Dr. Michael Neville, Consultant Psychiatrist Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre
• Ms. Maria Scott, Representative of victims and families of victims
• Chief Superintendent Hulan Hanna, representing the Royal Bahamas Police Force

The establishment of the NACC was foremost among the recommendations made by the National Assembly on Crime, convened by the Ministry of National Security 14-15 September 2007. Under the Theme, ‘Back to Basics: A National Approach to Fighting Crime,’ the National Assembly brought together major stakeholders for a focussed exchange of views, information and ideas on the grave crime problem in The Bahamas, and how it ought to be addressed.

National Assembly participants included members of the clergy, the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, policy makers, the business community, senior Public Officers, community activists and the media.

National Assembly stakeholders were unanimous in their view that crime is a critical national problem, requiring a critical national response. Collective action and the development of crime-fighting strategies based on the values, ideals and traditions of The Bahamas was agreed as the best way forward.

This approach can be seen in the recommendations of the National Assembly, which envisages that all Bahamians would work together for the peaceful, safe and secure country that everyone wants, and to halt and reverse current trends in crime and criminality, and fear of crime in The Bahamas.

The National Advisory Council on Crime is charged with providing direction for the implementation of the recommendations of the National Assembly, sustaining the public dialogue country-wide on strategies for a more peaceful and stable Bahamas, providing input for national policies and programmes, particularly in the area of crime prevention and criminal justice, and working together with Government and stakeholders to bring forward new and practical proposals and approaches for halting and reversing current crime trends in The Bahamas.

In making the announcement on the establishment of the NACC, the Minister commented that the success of the National Assembly must be attributed to those persons who took time out from their busy schedules to share their opinions and ideas with the Ministry of National Security in consultations leading up to the Assembly, and in the Assembly itself.

He expressed his sincere thanks to all, particularly the Assembly’s Presenters, for their participation and contribution, and especially for the sound recommendations that had been agreed by the Assembly.

Regarding the NACC, the Minister thanked all Members for their agreement to serve, and expressed his confidence in their commitment and dedication to the task at hand.

The NACC will have as one of its initial tasks providing direction for another of the recommendations of the National Assembly on Crime, the convening of a National Youth Anti-Crime and Non-Violence Forum, currently being organized for early 2008.

The Ministry of National Security will provide Secretariat services for the NACC.