State Minister for National Security Keith Bell cited the fact that there were no reported homicides in the country for more than a week as evidence that the government’s crime-fighting strategies are working.

Mr. Bell told members of the Senate during his contribution to the budget debate yesterday that the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) crime prevention initiative ‘saturation patrol’ has been especially effective in warding off criminal efforts.

“The government can confirm that the evidence is suggesting that we are making progress as of [yesterday]. For the first time in a long time, there were no reported homicides in the country,” Mr. Bell said.

“This is the first time for the year that we experienced no homicides in a week.

“I believe that we can all agree that this is commendable. The reality is, though, that we need more weeks like this, more months like this and by the grace of God and the resolve of the Bahamian people, more years like this.”

However, Mr. Bell’s assertions are incorrect. Earlier this year The Bahamas experienced more than a week of no murders.

The latest homicide occurred on Saturday, June 9 when 27-year-old Bamboo Boulevard resident Roger Taylor was gunned down on a tract road off Jasmine Gardens.

Taylor’s death marked the country’s 66th homicide for the year.

While there have been no murders recorded in the past week the current murder toll exceeds the number of murders recorded at this point last year. That figure stood at 60.

The state minister fell short of celebrating the apparent lull in murders, but noted that criminals are getting the message that the Christie administration is serious about stopping crime wherever it exists.

“Our saturation patrols have begun,” he said. “Everywhere you turn, you will see law enforcement – day and night.”

Mr. Bell pointed to a number of arrests that the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) made as further evidence that the government’s heightened patrols are making an impact.

In recent days, Mr. Bell said that officers have taken several murder suspects into custody and have also removed several illegal firearms from the streets.

The national security state minister gave assurances that the government would continue to support law enforcement officers who are the frontlines in the fight against crime.
“You have a government who cares about you; you have a government who will support you. You are therefore directed to go out there and leave no stone unturned – there will only be one order in this country – and I am referring to the legitimate authority of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas,” Mr. Bell said.