One crime, one murder is one too many, according to Attorney General Allison Maynard-Gibson who called on citizens of The Bahamas to realize the process of bringing criminals to justice as the AG’s office also works to improve the system.
Speaking with the media right before Cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, Mrs. Gibson noted that if all citizens play an active role in society there would not be so many prolific offenders.
“We are looking at how we are improving the process and continue to improve our systems.
“And I want our citizens to realize very importantly the justice begins and ends with citizens,” Mrs. Gibson said.
Mrs. Maynard Gibson noted that most offenders are often known by communities; however these community citizens are not playing their part in reporting crimes that they see being committed by those they see and know.
Her sentiments echo those of Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade’s during a press conference held at the Police Headquarters on Monday.
“It is a citizen who sees a crime being committed; you saw the commissioner of police say yesterday that we know who these people are they’re in our communities,” the attorney general said.
She further noted that criminal offenders are sometimes even close to home, noting that if a parent has a child that brings home goods not purchased that should send up a red flag.
“If your son or daughter is bringing home a fridge and stove and a 52 inch TV and they don’t have a job you should be asking yourself questions.
“In the old days, a mother would have called the police in and that’s what we need to think about. The kind of community we want to live in, justice ends with citizens,” Mrs. Gibson stated.
Mrs. Gibson also encouraged Bahamians to not shy away or run away from their civic duty when called to the jury panel, noting that it too is a part of the process of bringing swift justice to offenders.
“When the jury list goes out and your name is on it to be on the jury, don’t call and say how can I get off the jury, how can we have a trial without a jury?
“Remember citizens, we are all in this together, this is our Bahamas, justice begins and ends with citizens, witnesses and jurors,” she said.
