Despite the fact that the murder count has been trending significantly downward when compared to last year, respondents in a Public Domain survey conducted in mid August pointed to crime as the number one issue facing The Bahamas.
Sixty-three percent of respondents listed crime as the number one issue.

Researchers said, "crime is the main issue, and it is still up for grabs who can capture this issue. No party currently owns this issue".

Just last week, Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis accused the Christie administration of failing to adequately address crime, although Minnis has not yet outlined any detailed policy initiatives intended to tackle the problem.
"We have a message for this government," Minnis said.

"Crime is literally killing our communities. We at the FNM believe every Bahamian life matters, and we will fight and work every day to ensure our children, our mothers, our fathers don't continue to become tragic statistics."

There have been 72 murders in The Bahamas for the year so far, compared to the 106 murders during the same period last year. There were 147 murders recorded in 2015, the highest in the recorded history of The Bahamas.

While many people associate success in the crime fight with declining murders, many remain fearful about other serious crimes, which officials also say are down overall.

On June 21, Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage reported in Parliament that overall crime in The Bahamas was down 29 percent between January 1, 2016 and June 14, 2016 when compared to the same period last year.

Statistics showed that most major categories were down during that period.

"This is the effect of some of the strategies that we have adopted," the minister said.

"And while they appear to be working, we're going to embolden them so they appear even better in the second half of the year."

In July, no murders were reported.

Crime was a major issue ahead of the 2012 general election, with Perry Christie, then leader of the Official Opposition, saying the high crime rate was due to the Ingraham administration's failed policies.

The PLP still faces criticism today for erecting billboards in locations frequented by tourists in New Providence, highlighting the high murder count under the Ingraham administration.

The billboards read "Under the FNM government 490 plus murders".

Although murders are down over 30 percent this year when compared to the same period in 2015, the number of murders this term exceeded 500 months ago.

Though Prime Minister Perry Christie said in January 2014 he did not regret his party's decision to erect the murder billboards before the election, four months later he said in hindsight he would not do it again.

Christie has told reporters he expects voters to judge his government on whether it has effectively tackled the crime problem.

Candia Dames, Guardian Managing Editor

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