Former National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest yesterday defended the use of the electronic monitoring bracelets, despite criticisms that the devices are flawed.

Mr. Turnquest said the question of the effectiveness of the tracking system is null and void. Instead he said the focus need to be on the management of the bracelets meant to monitor suspected criminals released on bail.

The devices have been heavily criticised in recent days following the discovery of a man’s body. The victim was wearing one of the bracelets at the time.

The man is believed to have been dead for several days prior to his body being found and despite wearing one of the monitoring devices, it was never reported that he was missing.

In light of the incident, Prime Minister Perry Christie said the government may need to reconsider whether it will keep its contract with the current company (ICS Security Concepts) responsible for monitoring those devices.

But Mr. Turnquest said the devices work and he believes they are effective.

“As with any of the tools in the arsenal of crime fighting tools, it’s the management of them as opposed to the technology or the tool itself,” Mr. Turnquest said. “We provide the police with hundreds of cars, but if they don’t service them and drive them properly and take care of them, they won’t last.”

The electronic monitoring bracelets were first introduced in June 2010.

At the time Mr. Turnquest served as National Security Minister.

He said serious consideration and planning went into bringing the devices into the Bahamian criminal justice system, adding that the fact that they are used all over the world effectively is enough proof that they can work here.

I’m saying to the minister of national security – find out who is at fault,” Mr. Turnquest said. “The technology provides a log per minute of the people being monitored and so he should just ask for a print out of that log.”

Mr. Turnquest said he supports the use of the devices, but he said in order to correct the flaws in the system, communication between the government, the police and the monitoring company will need to improve.