'Remove failed leaders'

Thu, Nov 19th 2015, 12:25 AM

One day after Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade suggested that police are currently powerless in their efforts to drive down the high rate of violent crime, former Deputy Commissioner Quinn McCartney said if those charged with addressing the problem are failing to do their jobs, they should be removed.

"If those who have been reposed with the authority to make a difference are not doing the job, then as in any corporate organization, give them the golden handshake and send them packing," McCartney said. "If they have been given the opportunity and have squandered it, for whatever reason, bid them farewell.

"It is not fair to the other 349,999 persons who call The Bahamas home to suffer because of one person or a group of persons, who are clearly out of touch with reality and are more concerned about image rather than substance."

While McCartney did not name anyone, his statements, posted on his Facebook page and submitted as a letter to the editor, are widely viewed as a critique of the commissioner.

Pointing to the state of the country's economy and increasing crime problem, McCartney said it is not right for one individual or group to take this country on a "nosedive to destruction because of their egos and their pettiness".

McCartney noted that those in authority must account for their own stewardship before pointing out faults and problems in other areas. He pointed to a "blame game", a lack of accountability among authoritative figures and the challenge of talented Bahamians being ostracized.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Greenslade said while the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) is doing its job, the murder count will rise in the absence of policy and legislative changes. He suggested that others need to act. Greenslade said while he does not want to use anyone as a scapegoat, a big part of the problem continues to be the ability for repeat offenders to get bail after being charged with serious crimes. He insisted that the system of bail is "fundamentally flawed".

The RBPF has struggled to get a handle on crime. The murder count stands at 134, the highest in recorded history in The Bahamas. McCartney said he is sick and tired of hearing people blame others for the state of this country.

Ostracized
He said what further annoys him is that talented, qualified Bahamians, who, if given the opportunity, could offer significant contributions to deal with all of the challenges The Bahamas faces, have been "ostracized or not utilized because of petty mentalities".

"And these persons have proven their worth with their peers and counterparts from countries all around the world; persons who have excelled and proven to be shoulders above others who claim to have better educational systems and facilities, resources, exposure, et cetera. Yet, these same Bahamians, when they come home are ostracized or not utilized because of petty mentalities.

"Someone labels you as showing allegiance to a particular political party and you are thrown to the trash heap or someone, because of their own personal insecurities and inadequacies, scandalizes your name to deflect attention from themselves, and you are deemed an enemy of the state. And no one cares that you were educated by the taxpayers' money.

"You are deemed useless by one group and everyone seems afraid to even mention your name or give you credit for what value you brought or can still bring to the table."

"In the current state that we are, it is not right for one individual or group of individuals to take this country on a nose dive to destruction because of their egos and their pettiness," McCartney said. "It is not right to bury our heads in the sand and pretend that all is well while Rome is burning because we are afraid to call a spade a spade and identify the real source of the problem or problems."

He insisted that The Bahamas does not need more consultants, but just the "testicular fortitude to identify and appreciate the talent and skills of our fellow country men and women and use them, no matter what label we have placed on them".

"When I look at my passport it says 'Bahamian'," McCartney said. "Plain and simple. There is no prefix or suffix. I have not heard of any incident where a criminal asked the political, religious or other affiliation of a person before they killed them or robbed them."

He said hundreds of talented Bahamians have been sidelined, marginalized or have even sought refuge overseas because of what he called petty tribalism.

"All Bahamians, no matter their race, color, creed or political affiliation should be allowed to make this country better. No one has the right to try to silence anyone, particularly when their own performance leaves much to be desired. I call on all Bahamians to state emphatically, 'I am a Bahamian, and yes I am available. Use me'."

McCartney retired from the police force in January after more than 30 years of service. It was widely known that his relationship with Greenslade was strained. McCartney holds a first degree in chemistry and a master's degree in forensics from the University of Scotland. He had extensive professional training since then.

As deputy commissioner, he was responsible for complaints and discipline, fire services and the force's inspection and review branch, which was reportedly dismantled in 2012. McCartney was stripped of control of the forensics division, days after the last general election, The Nassau Guardian understands. He spent years pushing for a local forensics lab and was instrumental in building the force's forensic capabilities.

McCartney's resignation from the force came three and a half years after Marvin Dames resigned as deputy commissioner. Both senior officers took up posts at Baha Mar and are still employed there.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian

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