New Category : Crime

Rahming announces plan for gun amnesty to reduce violence on streets

Thu, Jun 22nd 2023, 09:14 AM

A TWO-WEEK gun amnesty is to be called for by Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander to help reduce gun violence in the country.

State Minister of Social Services and Urban Development Lisa Rahming said it is time to “give it up and bring it in” as she announced the planned initiative yesterday, saying Commissioner Fernander would seek a declaration for the amnesty programme from Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis. #Ms Rahming said the initiative is part of the Urban Renewal and Royal Bahamas Police Force’s “Say No To Guns” campaign, which she said will be launched shortly. # She said people who surrender illegal firearms will not be prosecuted. However, she added they will also not be rewarded. # “Gun violence has been endemic and remains a pervasive issue in some of our communities for too long,” Ms Rahming said during her contribution to the Budget debate in Parliament yesterday. “We cannot let another young person be gunned down and just step over their body or create a video and circulate it around to social media. # “It’s not enough to just blame the Minister of National Security and the security forces. We really must join forces to do something that says enough is enough.” # She said Urban Renewal will be sharing flyers and organising community walkabouts and campaign rallies to encourage people to join in the effort. # Ms Rahming pointed to recent crime statistics which she said show 168 firearms were recovered so far for the year. # 5,339 rounds of ammunition have also been recovered, she added, while 243 adults have been charged for firearm possession. # “The commissioner of police will be seeking a declaration for a two-week gun amnesty by our honourable Prime Minister, which will give persons in possession of illegal firearms the opportunity to surrender these weapons without jeopardy and prosecution,” she said. # “Let me make it clear, there will be no reward for money to surrender any illegal firearm. You will not be paid. The stark reality is that there may be some of us who may have inherited a firearm from a husband, grandfather, or uncle who may have had it locked in a safe and just paid no attention to it. # “We say time to give it up and bring it in.” # She issued the same plea to people who have firearms just to protect themselves. # “We are only providing an opportunity for them to surrender the firearm because we believe if just one weapon is taken off the streets, that reduces the chances of that being used in criminality.” # She said National Security Minister Wayne Munroe and Commissioner Fernander will give more details about the programme. # News of the initiative comes as the country grapples with a recent spate of murders, with three murders recorded in the past five days. # Yesterday, Ms Rahming also announced plans to launch a Second Chance programme, an initiative meant to help people who served time in prison enter the jobs market. # “The overarching goal is to equip formerly incarcerated males with the view of rehabilitating them and giving them a second chance of being a productive member of society,” she said. # “The participants will enroll in a six-month programme that focuses on healing just as much as it focuses on developing work readiness skills.” # She said the programme will consist of in-class academic studies, on-the-job training and apprenticeship.

State Minister of Social Services and Urban Development Lisa Rahming said it is time to “give it up and bring it in” as she announced the planned initiative yesterday, saying Commissioner Fernander would seek a declaration for the amnesty programme from Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis.

Ms Rahming said the initiative is part of the Urban Renewal and Royal Bahamas Police Force’s “Say No To Guns” campaign, which she said will be launched shortly.

She said people who surrender illegal firearms will not be prosecuted. However, she added they will also not be rewarded.

“Gun violence has been endemic and remains a pervasive issue in some of our communities for too long,” Ms Rahming said during her contribution to the Budget debate in Parliament yesterday. “We cannot let another young person be gunned down and just step over their body or create a video and circulate it around to social media.

“It’s not enough to just blame the Minister of National Security and the security forces. We really must join forces to do something that says enough is enough.”

She said Urban Renewal will be sharing flyers and organising community walkabouts and campaign rallies to encourage people to join in the effort.

Ms Rahming pointed to recent crime statistics which she said show 168 firearms were recovered so far for the year.

5,339 rounds of ammunition have also been recovered, she added, while 243 adults have been charged for firearm possession.

“The commissioner of police will be seeking a declaration for a two-week gun amnesty by our honourable Prime Minister, which will give persons in possession of illegal firearms the opportunity to surrender these weapons without jeopardy and prosecution,” she said.

“Let me make it clear, there will be no reward for money to surrender any illegal firearm. You will not be paid. The stark reality is that there may be some of us who may have inherited a firearm from a husband, grandfather, or uncle who may have had it locked in a safe and just paid no attention to it.

“We say time to give it up and bring it in.”

She issued the same plea to people who have firearms just to protect themselves.

“We are only providing an opportunity for them to surrender the firearm because we believe if just one weapon is taken off the streets, that reduces the chances of that being used in criminality.”

She said National Security Minister Wayne Munroe and Commissioner Fernander will give more details about the programme.

News of the initiative comes as the country grapples with a recent spate of murders, with three murders recorded in the past five days.

Yesterday, Ms Rahming also announced plans to launch a Second Chance programme, an initiative meant to help people who served time in prison enter the jobs market.

“The overarching goal is to equip formerly incarcerated males with the view of rehabilitating them and giving them a second chance of being a productive member of society,” she said.

“The participants will enroll in a six-month programme that focuses on healing just as much as it focuses on developing work readiness skills.”

She said the programme will consist of in-class academic studies, on-the-job training and apprenticeship.

 

Three men convicted of drug possession jailed for three years

Three men convicted of drug possession jailed for three years

Thu, Jun 22nd 2023, 07:28 AM

Three men were jailed for two and a half years after being convicted of drug possession with intent to supply.

Acting on information, on March 10, 2021, the police went to a residence on Firetrail Road in search of dangerous drugs.

While executing a search warrant, the officers seized 336 pounds of marijuana.

As a result, the officers arrested and charged Andy Glinton, Peter Lewis and Colin Russell.

They were convicted following a trial before Magistrate Samuel McKinney.

The men will serve an additional six months in custody if they don't pay a $10,000 fine before the completion of their two-and-a-half-year prison sentence.

Suspect dies after being shot by police officer in attempted armed robbery

Fri, Jun 16th 2023, 11:37 AM

A 17-year-old male of Kemp Road is dead after he was shot by a police officer during an attempted armed robbery on Thursday night.

According to reports, shortly before 10pm, two males, one of whom was armed with a firearm, entered a restaurant on Deveaux and East Bay Streets and demanded the cash. An off duty officer inside the establishment identified himself as police and was immediately fired at by the suspect which resulted in an exchange of gunshots and the suspect being shot. His firearm was confiscated. The suspect was transported to hospital via EMS personnel where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after 11pm. Police are aggressively searching for the second male involved in this incident. Investigations continue.

According to reports, shortly before 10pm, two males, one of whom was armed with a firearm, entered a restaurant on Deveaux and East Bay Streets and demanded the cash.

An off duty officer inside the establishment identified himself as police and was immediately fired at by the suspect which resulted in an exchange of gunshots and the suspect being shot. His firearm was confiscated.

The suspect was transported to hospital via EMS personnel where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after 11pm.

Police are aggressively searching for the second male involved in this incident. Investigations continue.

Rotary Road to Peace and PACT assist youth at new juvenile correctional facility

Wed, Jun 7th 2023, 12:54 PM

The Ministry of National Security has overseen the newly renovated Juvenile Correctional Facility at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS), created for youth awaiting court proceedings and with the goal of rehabilitating youth offenders. The facility was given new beds and classroom desks, and visitors were told about the extracurricular, medical, and mental health programs and religious services available that will be offered to residents.

Previously, the dozen young men were at the BDOCS long-term facility with adult offenders. The Rotary Road to Peace Committee and the PACT Urban Peace Program donated 20 kits of tee shirts and undergarments that were purchased from local retailer Sandy’s for juvenile offenders.

Chairman of Road to Peace, Mike Russell and Rotarian Azaleta Ishmael-Newry, co-founder of the PACT program in The Bahamas, worked with Ministry of National Security Consultant Dr. Carlos Reid and Assistant Chaplain Glen Miller for this special presentation to Commissioner Doan Cleare (Acting) at the opening. Mrs Ann Marie Davis, Spouse of the Prime Minister who was on hand for the ribbon-cutting, said it was a good initiative as most people do not think of something as essential as under clothing to give as a donation.

Also in attendance were Minister of National Security, Hon. Wayne Munroe, Minister of Social Services and Urban Renewal, Hon. Obie Wilchcombe, Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Education and Technical Vocational Training, and other senior officials.

“BDOCS is planting good seeds in the lives of its juvenile residents, a seed that will hopefully turn a new leaf and bear good fruit in the lives of juvenile offenders in the future. It is hoped that the opening of this new facility will optimistically give them renewed hope, purpose, and a new focus”, said Minister Munroe.

Minister Hanna-Martin also stated that she was relieved that juveniles would no longer have to interact with adult offenders.

The Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas created the Rotary Road to Peace Program to address the problem of crime and violence in the country and to develop social-based strategies and proactive interventions to foster change and promote peace. They have also been working towards reducing crime and violence through other projects and partnerships. The PACT Urban Peace Program is one such collaboration. Working in conjunction with the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Renewal, the “PACT LifePlan Coaching Program” for youth in custody has been operating in Toronto, Canada, for 15 years. In New Providence, it is in its initial stages at the Willie Mae Pratt and Simpson Penn Co-Education Unit. More information on the Rotary Road to Peace Program is available on Facebook – Road to Peace Bahamas, and for PACT, www.pactprogram.ca.

The Ministry of National Security has overseen the newly renovated Juvenile Correctional Facility at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS), created for youth awaiting court proceedings and with the goal of rehabilitating youth offenders. The facility was given new beds and classroom desks, and visitors were told about the extracurricular, medical, and mental health programs and religious services available that will be offered to residents. Previously, the dozen young men were at the BDOCS long-term facility with adult offenders. The Rotary Road to Peace Committee and the PACT Urban Peace Program donated 20 kits of tee shirts and undergarments that were purchased from local retailer Sandy’s for juvenile offenders. Chairman of Road to Peace, Mike Russell and Rotarian Azaleta Ishmael-Newry, co-founder of the PACT program in The Bahamas, worked with Ministry of National Security Consultant Dr. Carlos Reid and Assistant Chaplain Glen Miller for this special presentation to Commissioner Doan Cleare (Acting) at the opening. Mrs Ann Marie Davis, Spouse of the Prime Minister who was on hand for the ribbon-cutting, said it was a good initiative as most people do not think of something as essential as under clothing to give as a donation. Also in attendance were Minister of National Security, Hon. Wayne Munroe, Minister of Social Services and Urban Renewal, Hon. Obie Wilchcombe, Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Education and Technical Vocational Training, and other senior officials. “BDOCS is planting good seeds in the lives of its juvenile residents, a seed that will hopefully turn a new leaf and bear good fruit in the lives of juvenile offenders in the future. It is hoped that the opening of this new facility will optimistically give them renewed hope, purpose, and a new focus”, said Minister Munroe. Minister Hanna-Martin also stated that she was relieved that juveniles would no longer have to interact with adult offenders. The Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas created the Rotary Road to Peace Program to address the problem of crime and violence in the country and to develop social-based strategies and proactive interventions to foster change and promote peace. They have also been working towards reducing crime and violence through other projects and partnerships. The PACT Urban Peace Program is one such collaboration. Working in conjunction with the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Renewal, the “PACT LifePlan Coaching Program” for youth in custody has been operating in Toronto, Canada, for 15 years. In New Providence, it is in its initial stages at the Willie Mae Pratt and Simpson Penn Co-Education Unit. More information on the Rotary Road to Peace Program is available on Facebook – Road to Peace Bahamas, and for PACT, www.pactprogram.ca.
May police roundup

Tue, May 30th 2023, 10:41 AM