Smith says govt must do more in crime fight

The Nassau Guardian

Smith says govt must do more in crime fight

The government has to do more in the fight against crime, according to Nassau Village MP Dion Smith, who warned that the country is likely one generation away from losing everything.

“Crime is challenging our very survival as a nation,” said Smith during his contribution to the budget debate in the House of Assembly yesterday.

“…We need to find a way to tackle this scourge of crime. It is impacting our way our life. And in my opinion, it is impacting it in a very negative way. Crime is changing the Bahamian way of life. We are perhaps one generation removed from the beautiful existence we enjoy, which was the envy of the world. If The Bahamas loses its charm, Mr. Speaker, we have lost everything.”

Smith noted that Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage has announced various crime fighting plans. However, he said it seems that every strategy that is implemented is “challenged by this monster of crime”.

“Somehow I wonder if we could look at this in another way,” he said.

“…We have to do more in our response, Mr. Speaker, as the crime epidemic is eating away at the very soul of this nation. We are losing too many of our bright and

talented people to the war on our streets.”

Smith said parenting skills have dropped over the years and there is less emphasis placed on obeying laws.

He said parents should be held accountable for their underage children. Smith said if there were legal consequences, parents would take their jobs more seriously.

He noted, however, that there are good parents who have uncontrollable children.

In May, Nottage said he is “personally satisfied” that the government is on the right track in the fight against crime.

At the time, he pointed to broken homes as a key factor in crime.

He said a poll of homes in Over-the-Hill areas found that 80 percent of residents live with single mothers with no male presence.

Nottage said the crime problem will not be fixed overnight, adding that he spends every waking hour formulating strategies and crime solutions.

 

 

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