The country’s current crime situation is a result of the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) bad governance over the last three years, according to Member of Parliament for Central Grand Bahama Neko Grant.
During his contribution to the debate on Juror’s Amendment Bill in the House of Assembly yesterday, Mr. Grant said the PLP administration for years has blamed many national issues including the crippling crime situation on the Free National Movement (FNM) administration.
“The Right Honorable Member for Centerville, as Leader of the Opposition on August 15, 2011 in a national address, declared that crime was the result of bad governance. This right honourable member has been the prime minister for three years. I ask him: ‘What is now the reason for the unacceptable level of crime in The Bahamas today? Or do you now accept that is it is bad governance?’ ”
Mr. Grant said crime is and has always been a vexing problem in The Bahamas and the PLP government will have citizens believing that the former administration was the sole cause of all criminality in this country.
“Prior to May 2012 crime was a Free National Movement government’s problem. Crime had the FNM crippled and unable to govern,” he said.
Mr. Grant added that the PLP has failed Bahamians and he claims that there is no progression in the country.
“Some time ago the PLP used the slogan ‘Shock and Awe’ in one of their political ads,” he said.
“The Bahamian populace certainly is in a state of shock and awe of this current administration. In shock and awe of the total disregarded campaign promises. They said they were ready on day one, and yet few promises have been fulfilled. This current administration has shown nothing but disdain to the Bahamian people. Do nothing and the people will forget, is their mantra. Deflect and dodge is the order of the day in so many matters that need to be addressed in this country. They have turned governing this country into a defensive game, they cast blame, they defend and deflect, but they have yet to score.”
The member for Central Grand Bahama called for the “swift justice” that the PLP campaigned for during the 2012 general election.
He also called for the government to strengthen transparency, trust and accountability and to use the methods of crime prevention that were promised.
