BAHAMAS CHRONICLE EDITOR’S NOTE: Given the widespread concern about the escalating spate of murders in Nassau, I absolutely had to share the excellent “As I See It” column by Tanya Smith-Cartwright that was posted on Facebook today by the Royal Bahamas Police Force with readers of my Washington, D.C. – based online publication, BAHAMAS CHRONICLE, which has a huge following among the Bahamian diaspora across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom as well as in The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean.
NASSAU, Bahamas, January 22, 2024 — Last Sunday, the nation stood still in anticipation of the Prime Minister’s address to the nation on crime. This, on the heels of a spate of murders that opened 2024 like an ancient Roman arena filled with gladiators, lions and tigers all knowing that most won’t survive.
The Prime Minister’s speech was very moving as he set down his administration’s plan to address the nation’s achilles heel, crime. Just prior to the Prime Minister’s national address, Chief Supt. Chrislyn Skippings warned those involved in the criminal element that their time was up.
Many Bahamians, including myself, thought that this was it, the criminal element would be put in fear, and murders and mayhem would cease, at least for a while. This didn’t happen. There was no lull. There was no break. Showing no respect to law enforcement nor the chief executive of our nation, the criminals immediately continued “taking out” each other with no mercy, not even for those bystanders or passengers who have nothing to do with their gang-styled disputes.
I got a call from an old friend who runs a security company. She reminded me of an article I wrote about two years ago when employed at Tribune Media. I interviewed a young, gang member street-named “Ghost”. He got that name because of his ability to move silently and quickly using the element of surprise on his victims.
My caller reminded me of the things “Ghost” said during our three-part interview. He told me of the areas where the gangs were located. He spoke of how they used trackers on the cars of those they intended to kill. Most importantly, he also told me how he was recruited by the criminal element when he was a teen in private high school.
I cringed at the things this young man told me, but my key take away was that these young thugs are not born criminals and in most cases they are not being raised to be criminals at home. They are being targeted in schools and no matter what their homelife is like, the “recruiters” are making them feel welcomed, empowered and are using whatever they yearn after to lure them into a life of ruthless crime.
The “Dirty South”, Pinewood Gardens, Kemp Road, Ridgeland Park, Montell Heights, Elizabeth Estates are all areas quoted to me by Ghost as areas with high levels of gang activity. He even pointed out which area would “feel it” if someone was “dropped” in another area. My caller was right. Ghost’s words are coming to fruition.
After the third part of our interview was done and Ghost informed me that he was “wanted” by his colleagues in crime and would probably not be around much longer, I begged him to turn himself into police and apprise officers of what he knew. He declined. He didn’t want to be a “snitch”. Sadly, he met his demise on the streets. He should have snitched.
What could have saved Ghost? He grew up in a Christian home with wealthy parents. He told me he needed nothing growing up, but although there was plenty, there still was “nothing”. He wanted something that he could not describe; a sense of belonging to something more “meaningful”, maybe.
I strongly urge the powers that be to beef up Urban Renewal and the National Youth Guard. I feel both these entities could be utilized a lot more in the fight against crime. I am not sure the National Youth Guard in its current form is what Sir Lynden Pindling spoke of in yesteryear. I feel it was a little more – more discipline, more “soldiering up”, for want of a better term – A “Shock Treatment” if you may. And yes, I am down with the “Shock Treatment” program run by Carlos Reid and colleagues. Not that I get joy out of seeing rude boys roughed up, but tough love and strict discipline is a must in these situations.
My advice is to revamp both organizations by pulling in the experts – local and foreign – and putting in place a more viable plan to get our youth in a place where they balk at the criminal element and are no longer susceptible to being recruited by it. This will no doubt call for millions of dollars, but should be prioritized if it means lowering the vexing murder count. I feel as strongly about this as I feel the Bail Act needs to be revamped.
I like the police’s efforts with the “Street Saturation” unit (maybe that’s the wrong name). High visibility on the streets is a must to show the bad men that our police force means business. The police need to regain the respect of the criminal element.
Gone are the days when bad men turned into mere cry babies while on their knees in front of police officers pleading their innocence to the crime they were accused of. Now they simply fire gunshots at police officers as if appalled at the nerve of armed forces approaching them in the first place. Ghost said we are living in a “Cowboy Town” where the outlaws rule the streets. I pray this never comes to pass. Our nation is too small for all of this.
Chief Supt Skippings says all hands are needed on deck as we seek to get crime under control. She is right! Get off your high horse and be a snitch to save your community from thugs.
This is not a PLP versus FNM thing on who had the least crime during their term or who has the ultimate answers. The church, the politicians, the police, parents, children, me – ALL of us need to show how much we love our country and work with each other to drive a dagger into the heart of this beast called crime. Well that’s how I see it, anyway.
“AS I SEE IT” DISCLAIMER – The views and opinions represented in this column, “As I See It” belong to the columnist and do not necessarily represent those of the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas. The views and opinions expressed in the column are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, or individual. This column is for informational purposes only.
See this week’s edition of “As I See It” by Tanya Smith – Cartwright.at https://znsbahamas.com/are-we-covering-everything-as-we…/
