Free National Movement (FNM) Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest said yesterday that he has no confidence in Prime Minister Perry Christie's new crime plan. Turnquest also questioned if National Security Minister Dr. Bernard Nottage took Bahamian law enforcement officials with him to a meeting with U.S. officials in Washington, D.C. on Thursday.
"Clearly he is not an expert in this area and I would presume that he took along the individuals with the technical knowledge and the expertise in this area so that there is a direct relationship created between our law enforcement agencies and the FBI," Turnquest said.
Nottage met with U.S. officials to discuss concerns surrounding the crime problem in The Bahamas, Christie said on Thursday. He added that the government's new crime plan is being finalized. Turnquest said he's sick of hearing Christie talk about his crime plan.
"The truth of the matter is the prime minister indicated on more than two occasions that he is going back to the drawing board to come up with a crime plan," he said. "Every time he does that he comes back with nothing or he comes back with some weak version of a plan that he has already announced which has already failed. Him saying that they are going back to the drawing board or coming out with a new strategic plan gives us no confidence."
A record 149 murders were recorded in 2015. Last month, Christie said the government will provide more police officers, modern equipment and expanded CCTV. His pledge followed an earlier commitment that the police force would roll out new crime-fighting strategies, which may impose on people's freedom of movement. He said the government will soon have "good news" on the fight against crime.
Turnquest said any new plan must have a focus on reducing the flow of illegal guns into The Bahamas.
"We don't manufacture guns in The Bahamas," he said. "There is not doubt in my mind that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) will have information and techniques that we can utilize to help identify the source of these illegal firearms that are coming into this country."
Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis has said the government needs to declare a "war on guns" and seek out the assistance of U.S. law enforcement agencies to address the importation of illegal weapons.
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