By Tynia Brown
Journal Staff Writer

Illegal firearms continue to be the main weapon of choice in serious crimes in The
Bahamas. So far this year, murders, armed robberies, and carjackings continue to
be a cause for concern for both the police and residents.
In 2023, the murder count was 110, and in 2024, it increased by 10, bringing the
total of murders to 120.
By the end of June last year there were 60 murders, at the end of June this year the
murder count currently stands as of this publication at 43. However, in recent
weeks, there has seemingly been an increase in murders compared to the first few
months of the year.
In murder 39 on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 15, shortly before noon, a police
reservist was approached by gunmen as he attempted to make deposits at the RBC
ATM in Palmdale. He shot and killed one of the suspects in self-defence, but was
shot and killed by one of the other suspects.
Murder number 40: Then on that same day, a 34-year-old male who was wearing
an ankle monitor was killed, and two other men were shot when the two occupants
of a white Jeep Compass that was reported stolen on June 5 fired shots at a group
of men standing in front of a residence on Palm Beach Street just off of Cordeaux
Avenue. The victim then died on the scene.
Murder number 41: A 21-year-old male was shot and killed on East Street South at
a residence near Porky’s Gas Station on Taylor Drive around 7 p.m. on Sunday,
June 22. The suspect got off a motorcycle and chased the victim, who was playing
dominoes.
Murder number 42: A male was shot to death by two gunmen who exited a
Japanese vehicle while on Newbold Street off of Market Street on Monday, June
23, around 8 p.m.

Murder 43: A 26-year-old female was shot to death while at a residence on John
Terrance, one block west of Lincoln Blvd, around 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 29. A
21-year-old female and a teen boy were also shot, but survived after being treated
in the hospital.
Last month the Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe spoke on how crime
as a whole, inclusive of murder, has significantly decreased.
He reported a 25 percent reduction in crimes against the person including murder,
attempted murder, rape, unlawful sexual intercourse, and armed robbery along with
an 11 percent drop in property crimes such as burglary, housebreaking, shop
breaking, stealing, and vehicle theft.
He also noted declines in crime throughout the archipelago: 14 percent in New
Providence, 14 percent in Grand Bahama and the northern Bahamas, and 19
percent in the Family Islands.
In March of this year, Opposition Leader Michael Pintard said Prime Minister
Philip Davis’ newly unveiled crime plan offers little comfort to Bahamians seeking
real solutions to escalating violence.
In a statement, Pintard dismissed the address as “his same old comments packaged
differently,” saying it lacked the specific strategies citizens were hoping for.
“Instead, they got a carefully scripted public relations speech in response to
mounting public criticism,” he said. “Residents got little comfort or hope this
administration would take that swift and comprehensive action to win back our
streets.”
Pintard urged the government not to politicize crime and called on the prime
minister to deliver on longstanding promises before heading off to attend overseas
events.