Dr. Minnis’ Statement on the Spike in Murders in October
Dr. Minnis, Leader of the Free National Movement (FNM), issued the following statement on the spike in murders in October:
“It is a sad state of affairs in our country when we see a spike in murders in October following the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew. We can all agree that the Bahamian people deserve safety and security – especially in the aftermath of a hurricane. However, it is this Government’s failure to deliver on their commitment to the Bahamian people as they try to recover and rebuild their lives that has created within them a state of worrisomeness about their own safety and protection of property and possessions. We have had 9 murders in The Bahamas in October bringing the current murder rate to 84.”
“It’s a fact that the people have not felt safe for years because of the Government’s failure to keep their promise to ensure safety on our streets. The murder rate has hit record highs year after year, and sexual predators are targeting women at an alarming rate. Leadership is about solving problems, not holding flashy press conferences to try to convince people otherwise. Earlier this summer the Government boldly celebrated when there was a decrease in murders, however they are silent now that our children are being murdered on our streets.”
“Since the passing of Hurricane Matthew we have witnessed rampant crime across the Islands – multiple murders, shootings involving young children, looting of homes and schools, and the list goes on. All of this is happening at a time when the Bahamian people have more than enough hardships to shoulder. Particularly at this time, Bahamians should not have to worry about a crime wave this Government has shown absolutely no capacity to fix.”
“It is time for this Government to finally develop and implement a plan to fully protect our citizens. It starts with acknowledging the problem, not treating it like a campaign issue that they are afraid to address. The people deserve safety and security – they pay taxes and live up to their obligations as citizens. It is time for the Government to finally bring forth a real plan to address the high crime rate in our country.”
