Murders increased by 32 percent between January 1 and April 8, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014.There have been 41 murders for the year, an average of one murder every 2.4 days. That's compared to the 31 murders recorded this same time last year, an average of one murder every 3.1 days.
A closer look at this year's murders show that 11 people were murdered in January; 13 in February and 11 in March. There have been six murders so far in April. The latest murders took place on Tuesday when three men were killed in separate incidents.
A man was stabbed to death on Adventurers Way, Grand Bahama, shortly before 4 a.m., police said. Police said a 44-year-old man was stabbed to death around 9 p.m. following an argument at a home on Roberts Street, Nassau Village.
A teen relative was taken into custody. Police also reported that a man sitting in his 1997 Honda Prelude at the junction of East Dennis Court and Graham Drive, Yellow Elder, was shot in the head around 9:30 p.m. He attempted to drive away, but crashed into a parked car, police said. Police recorded 123 murders in 2014 compared to 119 in 2013.
In many cases the victims and their attackers were on bail for serious offenses. Speaking about the recent spate of murders, Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade said yesterday this trend will not improve if people charged with serious crimes are allowed back into communities where they often reoffend.
"I have said to the Bahamian public before and I will say again, we have far too many prolific offenders, serious offenders, who are moving about our communities, who are continuing to reoffend, and who are continuing to cause fear in the hearts of our people," he said. "I am of the firm view that if we don't find a way to arrest this troubling trend of having serious offenders back in our communities [not long] after they have been put before the courts for very serious matters -- offenses like murder, armed robbery, and rape -- we are never going to see an improvement.
"It is a very difficult thing for me to tell you as a commissioner, but I have to be honest in telling you." Greenslade said far too many people who have been arrested several times for serious offenses are in the various communities "wreaking havoc". "Unfortunately, many of them die, and unfortunately many of them reoffend by causing harm to other persons to the extent of murdering people," he said.
"Every well-thinking Bahamian is aware of this. "This is a small community and whenever people are released back into the community, who should not be in the community because of the egregious nature of the crime they have committed, those communities are fearful and they tell us they are fearful."
Greenslade said based on reports he is able to flag individuals released on bail and inform officers and the public to be alert. But he said it is extremely difficult for police to "follow and babysit" hundreds of these people around the clock.
Responding to criticisms of the government's fight against crime, Minister of State for National Security Keith Bell said last month the government is doing a lot of work behind the scenes. Bell said he hopes to soon educate the media and Official Opposition "as to what is going on and what we are seeking to do".
The government has said several new crime-fighting strategies have been implemented, but there has been no formal announcement outlining these strategies. Last year, crime decreased by 18 percent, according to police.
However, murders increased by three percent and attempted murder increased by 47 percent.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
