By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

BRANVILLE McCartney, Democratic National Alliance leader yesterday said he fully supports the reintroduction of corporal punishment in the Bahamas as a means to combat crime.

Speaking to the media during a press conference that introduced his party’s shadow cabinet ministers, Mr McCartney said that persons responsible for crimes, especially rapes, should be flogged publicly.

He said: “Let’s start enforcing the laws. Let’s start getting a more disciplined society. The fact of the matter is we don’t have a disciplined society. (These criminals) they would have regard and they would think twice if we started carrying out the law and if we started ensuring that the death penalty is carried out.”

“(We need to) ensure that these persons, who are going around raping (and) terrorising this country are made examples of. I mention these persons who are alleged of committing rape and terrorising this country. If persons are found guilty to have done that, there should be a public flogging of these persons in my view, a public flogging.”

Mr McCartney also noted that Bahamians should not take a back seat approach in the fight against crime. Had the DNA been elected as the new government of the Bahamas, Mr McCartney said their crime plan would have been enacted on day one, leading to a noticeable decrease in criminal offences.

The DNA leader said he is not only convinced that small crimes should have consequences, but that should parents be held responsible for their children’s actions then they would do a better job at raising them.

Mr McCartney made the charge two weeks ago in an interview with The Tribune.

At the time, he said: “In the Child Protection Act under section 125 an order can be made where a minor is found guilty, but the parents are responsible. The parents pay a fine, damages or costs. Holding parents responsible for their children’s actions is a start to combating the crime problem. The law is there for it.

“We need to catch these things from young. A parent won’t be saying ‘my good son’ if they are found liable for their sons actions. They won’t be saying ‘my good son’ when they have to pay that fine. Those are only two examples. The law is there. We need to do something.”

Mr McCartney said until the government starts holding parents responsible “we will not see a decrease in crime.” Something, he said, the present government seems not to understand.

Story courtesy ofThe Tribune