At least one local bishop has answered the call, a day after a top police official made a plea to the Church to assist in the country’s fight against crime and days after the prime minister himself declared that The Bahamas is at war.

Pastor Emeritus at New Covenant Baptist Church Bishop Simeon Hall said he agrees that the police needs the help of all Bahamians in fighting the vexing problem.

In a press statement issued Tuesday, Bishop Hall said Prime Minister Perry Christie’s declaration that the criminal element in the country has declared war on the rest of The Bahamas, should be taken as a clarion call for all citizens to enlist as “patriotic foot soldiers” against this criminal encroachment.

“All sectors of society must become more involved in this national nightmare,” he said.

“All the pronouncements and warnings by Prime Minister Christie, Minister of National Security Dr. Nottage, church and civic leaders, and a plethora of others are not being adhered to by some who are hell-bent on a criminal lifestyle. We therefore need to develop and send another message to the criminals. As we have seemingly removed the death penalty as a viable deterrent, we should find another message that would cause would-be criminals to reconsider their ways.

“All Bahamians who love their country must put country above self. The staggering level of crime has emerged as more than a political issue – it permeates every aspect of our country, affecting us socially, economically, culturally and spiritually and therefore needs a holistic, all-hands-on-deck response – and should not be left solely to the politicians.”

Bishop Hall said politicians alone do not make good crime fighters as they generally see things primarily in their interest of being re-elected.

“The apparent disconnect between the efforts of the police and the courts must be seriously addressed if we are to win this war,” Bishop Hall said.

“Crime is a national problem. It is sad that the current official Opposition is doing the same thing the current government did while in opposition – when it comes to the crime problem, they each blame the governing party. Unfortunately, it is still true that what a political party states is predicated on whether it is in power or not.”