The criminal element continued to unleash fury on our paradise in 2013.
In the middle of the year, police reported that murders were down 20 percent.
At the time, the murder count stood at 58 compared to the 73 murders recorded up to the same point in 2012.
Other crimes, like armed robbery and rape, also decreased. Overall, crime had decreased by over 10 percent, according to officials.
But the criminals remained busy and the fear of crime high.
In a two-week period in August, 12 people were murdered, prompting Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage to roll out a new crime plan.
On September 6, Nottage announced that all police officers on New Providence would immediately be placed on 12-hour shifts.
Additionally, he said 150 Royal Bahamas Defence Force marines would be immediately deployed to assist with the crime fight.
Nottage said police officers serving in administrative and support service capacities, and in fire services would also be deployed to the front line.
The minister said significant resources were being added to the Homicide Unit of the Central Detective Unit (CDU). The Armed Robbery Unit and Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) were also being enhanced, he said.
Nottage said that gang and turf wars had fueled the increase in violence.
In the weeks following the announcement of the new plan, murders were recorded with less frequency.
But the Police Staff Association complained that officers were fatigued and demanded compensation for the longer hours.
Eventually, the 12-hour shifts were adjusted, according to the association.
Murders and crime in general continued to be a major national concern.
On October 24, businessman Kurt McCartney, the brother of Democratic National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney, was murdered in Gambier Village.
Many other murders followed, as did multiple armed robberies and other crimes.
Police urged residents to be extra cautious.
The United States Embassy in Nassau also advised Americans living in and visiting The Bahamas to be on the alert.
When asked about crime statistics in November, Nottage said he would no longer release figures to the press as "bad things happen" after he does so.
In early December, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis' home was invaded and he and his wife Anne Marie were held up at gunpoint.
According to police, three masked men entered Davis' home after 7 a.m. on December 9 after they assaulted Davis' chauffeur outside.
No police aides were at Davis' house at the time of the attack.
When the murder count hit triple digits in November, Prime Minister Perry Christie said the government "will do whatever it takes" to stamp out crime and decrease the fear of crime.
The killings continued.
On December 27, 11 people were shot in Fox Hill; four of the victims died.
The murders shocked the country, which in some ways was already numb to the high rate of violent crimes.
Those murders pushed the murder count for the year to just under 120.
In 2012, 111 murders were recorded.
One hundred and twenty-seven murders were recorded in 2011, a record high.
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