By Gerrino J. Saunders
Journal Staff Writer

In April 2024 the Davis Administration introduced a suite of new anti-gang
legislation aimed at dismantling existing gangs, and preventing gangs recruiting
new members in an effort to eradicate them. Police intelligence has shown that
many of the murders and associated crimes like attempted murders and car-
jackings are the result of gang activity oftentimes fueled by turf wars and
retaliation.
At that time the government admitted that it would take some time for the new
laws to begin to have an impact.
Well, this week at the Clear Hold and Build press conference hosted by the
Ministry of National Security at the Office of the Prime Minister the
Commissioner of Police and the Jones Communications Person of The Year 2024
Shanta Knowles revealed that the new anti-gang laws are beginning to produce
results.
She said, “I want to say thank you to the government for providing the tool for us.
We had a discussion in my commanders meeting about that law to see where we
are. We are actively investigating our very first case.”
“And the update that I got that I can give now to the public is that we are well
underway and hoping that very shortly we would be able to put persons before the
courts and deem them true gang leaders in our community,” said Commissioner
Knowles.
She said she is pleased with the work the investigators are doing but noted that it is
not something that can happen overnight as prosecutors seek to get “proper
intelligence and documentation, and I’m pleased to say that we do have at least
once case we’re investigating and hopefully we will have that before the courts.”
In his contribution to the debate, Prime Minister Davis said once passed the
legislation will give new tools to law enforcement in the fight against criminal

gangs, a societal plague on which Bahamians have increasingly demanded more
action be taken.
“Today, we are making it clear that this administration is willing to take on the
organized gangs who destroy lives and communities. Enough is enough,” the
Prime Minister declared from the floor of Parliament.
Key features of the Anti-Gang Bill 2024 include the establishment of the kind of
evidence that may be permissible in court to prove a person’s gang involvement.
A comprehensive list includes symbols, signs, codes, markings, or clothing. A
person who assists, transports, or disposes of evidence among other things may
also face criminal charges.
The Anti-Gang Bill 2024 also gives the Supreme Court the capacity to declare a
group as a gang to prosecute its members.
Further, the bill in clauses 5 and 6, defines gang membership and activity, which
involves recruitment, initiation, and acts of intimidation.
Anyone found guilty of offenses under the Bill may face 25 years in prison and up
to a fine of $100,000. However, if someone is proven to be a gang member who
took a life during gang-related activity, they will face up to life in prison.
The bill also makes provisions for convicting for retaliatory killings with a penalty
of up to 20 years in prison.
The police commissioner said the new anti-gang initiative will cast a wide net and
no one will be exempt.
Additionally, she doesn’t want anyone to take for granted how serious and focused
she and her officers are when it comes to upholding the law and bringing criminals
to justice especially those involved in gang activities.
Asked how the police intend to tackle the gang culture that thrives in some of the
communities Commissioner Knowles said one of the good ways were the police
see their efforts are working is certainly through the Clear Hold and Build initiative
that began on October 7 th 2024.
She said, “We are going into each community, and we have started with the
Englerston community and we have seen the results, and so we intend to the very

aggressive in our approach to crime and those who commit crimes in our
communities
“I don’t want anyone for a second to believe that because a woman is in charge of
the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) she will allow anything or any crime to
go unchecked.
“My officers are quite competent. I believe that they are brave bold and dedicated
enough to make sure that everyone in our community feels safe; and so I can tell
you that I have already issued commands and I’m seeing the results of those
commands, and we will not shrink to anyone’s challenges of crime in our
community, we will show you that we are the top law enforcement to enforce the
laws of The Bahamas and we are not afraid to do so,” said the Commissioner.
Earlier during the press conference Knowles shared some of the successes of the
Clear Hold and Build initiative has seen in the Englerston community which is
indicative of a number of other communities that have seen high levels of crime.
She noted that murder in the Englerston community is down by 48 percent while
shootings are down 100 percent.
There were eight murders in Englerston between January 1 st and October 6 th in
2024 compared to two murders for the period October 7 th 2024 to February 16 th
2025.
There were three shootings or attempted murders between January 1 st 2024 and
October 6 th 2024, compared to zero shootings from October 7 th 2024 to February
16 th 2025.
As for gunshot reports from January 1 st to October 6 th there were 50, which is down
16 percent to 20 from October 7 th 2024 to February 16 th 2025.
“So the impact within the community it tells us that partnership is very important;
we are in partnership with other government agencies, but it is important for us to
be partners with members of the community and that is what we have been
building over the past 2-3 months, and we see the importance of that partnership
because we are able to reach even more people in the communities,” said
Commissioner Knowles.
She also revealed that the new communities that the RBPF will be targeting are the
Carmichael community and the Nassau Village community.

In 2024 there were four murders, four shootings and 94 reports of gun shot in the
Carmichael community that includes Cowpen Road, India and Jackfish Drive and
Golden Gates Straight.
In the Nassau Village Community there were also four murders, four shootings and
86 reports of gunshots reported by civilians and detected by shot spotter
technology.
All of the government’s anti-crime and ant-gang initiatives are supported by
existing initiatives that aim to correct absenteeism in schools, robust and ongoing
technical and vocational training, and empowering youth to make a difference
through the National Youth Guard and other youth and young adult programs that
encourage individuals to become law abiding citizens that contribute to the
development of the country.