The crime problem we face is not nationwide. It is centered in New Providence, our most populous island. The islands outside of New Providence remain peaceful places in which to live and raise families.
The crime statistics presented by police for 2013 confirm this. Just to take one category as an example, of the 119 murders recorded last year 112 were in New Providence. This would give us a homicide rate of nearly 45 per 100,000 -- which is a very high homicide rate.
There are many factors behind our crime problem. We have had a breakdown in the family, with more children being born to broken single parent homes where no productive values are taught. The criminal justice system is dysfunctional.
It is unfair, therefore, to place all blame for the problem on police and to expect them alone to fix it. Police, however, can do better in their field of responsibility in several key areas. And they seem to be doing better of late with a visible presence on the streets of New Providence.
For years, inexplicably, and across the commands of several commissioners and political administrations, it was hard to consistently see marked police cars on New Providence. At the low point on this issue seeing a marked car on patrol was as likely as seeing a leprechaun.
We use hyperbole to make a point. Police were not around as they should have been. And in the absence of law enforcement young malevolent actors did as they pleased.
Of late, patrols are visible. And, remarkably, they can be seen at nights. As we maneuver around New Providence in the early morning hours officers of the mobile division can be seen patrolling.
We hope the force and government can keep this up. More cars have been purchased and a remobilization of the force has been pledged in order to place more officers in frontline duties.
If we can master this on our small main island the next step may be to expand foot patrols in troubled areas. Officers are on foot patrol downtown. Officers from the Urban Renewal offices also hit the beat from time to time. If the officers can be found, getting more of them closer to the people in communities consistently would bring a further deterrent to crime.
Too much crime happens in New Providence. We must constantly work on systems to prevent crime. In the area of responsibility of the police force, just having uniformed officers around does much to make criminals alter their plans.

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