The Bahamas Christian Council (BCC) is backing a move by the gospel community to host a national choir workshop - an effort they hope will put a dent in the country's burgeoning crime problem.
Last week National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest revealed that overall crime has increased by 10 percent in the first ten months of the year.
"We are tired of the negative happenings in our country and we believe it is past due for initiatives like this one to take place," BCC president Dr. Ranford Patterson said yesterday at a press conference at Cousin McPhee Church.
He said the initiative will be the "first ever" national choir workshop of The Bahamas.  According to program co-ordinator Pastor Clint Watson, the three-day worksop will take place from October 26 to 30 at the Trinity City of Praise.
"The workshop will offer sessions in enhancing choir rehearsal techniques, technical engineer training, a directors guild along with spiritual renewal sessions," he said.  There will be a $10 registration fee.
Additionally, there will be a one-day session for all senior high school choirs in the capital.  The workshop will culminate with a concert on Sunday at Golden Gates International Ministries.
"This bold move will not only send a strong message to our country and region that gospel music is alive and well, powerful, effective and necessary, but it will also serve to foster and build a new bond in the music arena that previously existed through an avenue of gospel music that once thrived in our nation," said a statement from the program organizers.
Dr. Patterson said the churches have partnered with the Ministry of Education for the initiative.
He added that at the end of the program the students will produce a national song against crime to be performed at the concert and recorded on CD.
It is expected that 300 to 500 people will participate in the event. The initiative involves 90 choir directors throughout the island and 10 denominations.
"No doubt this explosion of worship from such a multitude will shatter through the dark cloud that has been woven over our country through the intolerable crime rate," the release added.
Violent crime has increased by more than 15 percent in all but two categories in the first 10 months of 2011, with murder and rape representing the most dramatic increases, according to police statistics.
As it relates to crimes against the person, statistics show that during the period January 1 to October 11, 2011, cases of murder, attempted murder, rape, attempted rape, armed robbery, robbery, and attempted robbery all increased.
Murder was up 44 percent in the first 10 months of the year, according to the statistics.  The cases of attempted murder grew by 29 percent, with nine recorded this year compared to the seven recorded in the first 10 months of 2010.
Reported rapes grew by 38 percent.  Armed robberies increased by 10 percent.
Unlawful sexual intercourse cases decreased by 30 percent.

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