TWO men were killed over the weekend, bringing the murder count for the year to 52.

Police reported that around 7am on Saturday, a 27-year-old man was found dead in a one-bedroom structure in the Haitian Village, Cowpen Road. The man, who was identified as a Haitian national, was found with apparent gunshot wounds to the upper body. #Police are uncertain of the circumstances surrounding the 27-year-old’s death, but said gunshots were reported in the area three hours before the body’s discovery. #In the second killing, police on Saturday were reportedly alerted to an incident in the area of Wulff and Claridge Roads around 9pm. #A 39-year-old man from Culmersville and another man were reportedly outside a business establishment when they were approached by a man wearing a dark hooded jacket and blue jeans.  #When the 39-year-old got into a verbal argument with the suspect, the hooded man pulled out a gun and shot him multiple times. The 39-year-old died of his injuries at the scene. A 32-year-old man who received gunshot wounds to his buttocks while leaving the store was successfully treated at the hospital. #“Police are following significant leads into this matter and are appealing to members of the public, to find alternate ways to resolve their conflicts. Additionally, members of the public are encouraged to anonymously report persons who are in possession of illegal weapons, to further prevent shooting,” police said.

Police reported that around 7am on Saturday, a 27-year-old man was found dead in a one-bedroom structure in the Haitian Village, Cowpen Road. The man, who was identified as a Haitian national, was found with apparent gunshot wounds to the upper body.

Police are uncertain of the circumstances surrounding the 27-year-old’s death, but said gunshots were reported in the area three hours before the body’s discovery.

In the second killing, police on Saturday were reportedly alerted to an incident in the area of Wulff and Claridge Roads around 9pm.

A 39-year-old man from Culmersville and another man were reportedly outside a business establishment when they were approached by a man wearing a dark hooded jacket and blue jeans. 

When the 39-year-old got into a verbal argument with the suspect, the hooded man pulled out a gun and shot him multiple times. The 39-year-old died of his injuries at the scene. A 32-year-old man who received gunshot wounds to his buttocks while leaving the store was successfully treated at the hospital.

“Police are following significant leads into this matter and are appealing to members of the public, to find alternate ways to resolve their conflicts. Additionally, members of the public are encouraged to anonymously report persons who are in possession of illegal weapons, to further prevent shooting,” police said.

On Tuesday, 6th June, 2023 in Magistrate’s Court #11 twenty-eight (28) foreign nationals were arraigned before Assistant Chief Magistrate Sabusola Swain, for various immigration offenses.

One (1) Dominican national was charged with twenty-one (21) counts of Assisting IllegalPassenger to depart from The Bahamas, pled guilty and fined $21,000.00; $1,000.00 for eachcount or, in default of payment, serve twelve months at the Bahamas Department of CorrectionalServices (BDOCS), sentencing to run concurrently. One (1) Haitian national was charged withKnowingly Attempting to Mislead an Immigration Officer, pled guilty and fined $1,500.00 or,in default of payment, serve nine months at (BDOCS) and four (4) Haitian nationals charged withIllegal Landing, pled guilty and fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at(BDOCS).

Additionally, on the charge of Overstaying; seven (7) Chinese, four (4) Brazilian and two (2)Haitian nationals pled guilty and fined $1,000.00 each or, in default of payment, serve threemonths at (BDOCS). One (1) Venezuelan national pled guilty and fined $700.00 or, in default ofpayment, serve one month at (BDOCS). One (1) Italian national pled guilty and fined $500.00or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS). One (1) Ecuadorean national pled guiltyand fined $2,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS). One (1) Dominicannational pled guilty and fined $750.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS).

Two (2) Haitian nationals pled guilty and fined $1,500.00 each or, in default of payment, serve sixmonths at (BDOCS). Three (3) Haitian nationals pled guilty and fined $1,000.00 or, in default ofpayment, serve six months at (BDOCS), $1,500.00 or, in default of payment, serve three monthsat (BDOCS) and $3,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve nine months at (BDOCS),respectively.

Upon payment of all fines and completion of sentences, all migrants were ordered to be turnedover to the Department of Immigration of deportation.

The public is reminded that the Department is committed to executing our mandate to ensurecompliance with Statue Laws of our country.

For more information, call the Public Relations Unit at 1-242-322-7530, visit our website atwww.immigration.gov.bs, or call our Investigation hotlines (anonymously) at 1-242-604-0249,1-242-604-0171-2 or 1-242-604-0196. 

On Tuesday, 6th June, 2023 in Magistrate’s Court #11 twenty-eight (28) foreign nationals were arraigned before Assistant Chief Magistrate Sabusola Swain, for various immigration offenses. One (1) Dominican national was charged with twenty-one (21) counts of Assisting Illegal Passenger to depart from The Bahamas, pled guilty and fined $21,000.00; $1,000.00 for each count or, in default of payment, serve twelve months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS), sentencing to run concurrently. One (1) Haitian national was charged with Knowingly Attempting to Mislead an Immigration Officer, pled guilty and fined $1,500.00 or, in default of payment, serve nine months at (BDOCS) and four (4) Haitian nationals charged with Illegal Landing, pled guilty and fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS). Additionally, on the charge of Overstaying; seven (7) Chinese, four (4) Brazilian and two (2) Haitian nationals pled guilty and fined $1,000.00 each or, in default of payment, serve three months at (BDOCS). One (1) Venezuelan national pled guilty and fined $700.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS). One (1) Italian national pled guilty and fined $500.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS). One (1) Ecuadorean national pled guilty and fined $2,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS). One (1) Dominican national pled guilty and fined $750.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS). Two (2) Haitian nationals pled guilty and fined $1,500.00 each or, in default of payment, serve six months at (BDOCS). Three (3) Haitian nationals pled guilty and fined $1,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve six months at (BDOCS), $1,500.00 or, in default of payment, serve three months at (BDOCS) and $3,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve nine months at (BDOCS), respectively. Upon payment of all fines and completion of sentences, all migrants were ordered to be turned over to the Department of Immigration of deportation. The public is reminded that the Department is committed to executing our mandate to ensure compliance with Statue Laws of our country. For more information, call the Public Relations Unit at 1-242-322-7530, visit our website at www.immigration.gov.bs, or call our Investigation hotlines (anonymously) at 1-242-604-0249, 1-242-604-0171-2 or 1-242-604-0196. 

NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe rejected criticism yesterday about the length of the police investigation into a woman's allegations of abuse involving a sitting MP.

Bjorn Ferguson, the lawyer of a woman who filed a complaint against the MP, recently said the length of the investigation shows a double standard in how police treat matters involving prominent people versus less influential people. #Mr Munroe countered yesterday that the length of investigations is driven by the facts of each case, not who a person is. #“So if you have an allegation with, we had them with tourists with the spring break things, it’s fairly simple: they say they were raped, they come immediately to the police station. They’re carried to the hospital. All of that happens in a short compass. Whether the person in that instance is rich, powerful, famous, doesn’t really matter.” #“I did one with a young baseball phenom from the US. That happened quickly because the female made the complaint right away. There have been others where if the longer it takes for you to come forward, then the more period of time that the police are investigating. That just stands to reason. #“So if you make a complaint a month later, they have to investigate your interactions and communications over that month. That takes longer than investigating your interaction (and) communications over one hour. So in my experience of 31 years, that’s been my experience. It’s been driven, not so much by the person but by the facts that the police are investigating.” #The woman filed a complaint with the police about her ex-boyfriend on April 7. #On April 15, she showed The Tribune a copy of a document she had signed and submitted to the police when she met them for the third time. #Mr Munroe said he does not believe the police investigation has been excessive given the time between when the assault allegedly happened and when the alleged victim filed a complaint.

Bjorn Ferguson, the lawyer of a woman who filed a complaint against the MP, recently said the length of the investigation shows a double standard in how police treat matters involving prominent people versus less influential people.

Mr Munroe countered yesterday that the length of investigations is driven by the facts of each case, not who a person is.

“So if you have an allegation with, we had them with tourists with the spring break things, it’s fairly simple: they say they were raped, they come immediately to the police station. They’re carried to the hospital. All of that happens in a short compass. Whether the person in that instance is rich, powerful, famous, doesn’t really matter.”

“I did one with a young baseball phenom from the US. That happened quickly because the female made the complaint right away. There have been others where if the longer it takes for you to come forward, then the more period of time that the police are investigating. That just stands to reason.

“So if you make a complaint a month later, they have to investigate your interactions and communications over that month. That takes longer than investigating your interaction (and) communications over one hour. So in my experience of 31 years, that’s been my experience. It’s been driven, not so much by the person but by the facts that the police are investigating.”

The woman filed a complaint with the police about her ex-boyfriend on April 7.

On April 15, she showed The Tribune a copy of a document she had signed and submitted to the police when she met them for the third time.

Mr Munroe said he does not believe the police investigation has been excessive given the time between when the assault allegedly happened and when the alleged victim filed a complaint.

 

The first 37 of 100 police trucks acquired by the Royal Bahamas Police Force were deployed on Friday with another 63 trucks expected in the country soon.

The trucks were distributed among the various divisions on New Providence.

"On the ground as we speak, we have a total of 37," Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander told reporters at Police Headquarters.

"The balance, which is 63 vehicles, should be here on the island in another week and a half; it's on the way to New Providence. So, we are pleased with the government for signing off on this and we are ready to move."

Fernander revealed that the cost of the 100 trucks is "just under $2 million". He said the vehicles are more versatile, and are well suited for New Providence's roads which are prone to flooding.

"After taking office, I did my inspection to the various divisions. I found that a division, Southwestern, which is a huge area, had only two vehicles. The other divisions, the same issue. I put the information together, I met with my minister, and eventually to our prime minister, and after it was presented, right away, the prime minister and the minister agreed that, no, this just can't continue to happen," he said.

"I put a proposal together, I looked at the fleet of vehicles that was present during that time. I did research within the region with respect to fleet of vehicles and we came up with the Frontier trucks that are being used across the region in the fight against crime. And the prime minister agreed with my proposal of 100 vehicles and he signed off on it almost immediately with [the Ministry of] Finance.

"We did our background and we are being driven by the data where the crimes, the shootings, continue to happen; the armed robberies, the murders, and vehicles that are being stolen.

"We are being driven by the data and the concentration and to be consistent in these areas. The Bahamian people want to see more boots on the ground, more presence within the community to prevent these incidents from happening and we will do just that. The officers are up to the task."

Prime Minister Philip Davis said acquiring the police trucks is part of his government's initiatives aimed at addressing crime and the fear of crime.

"My administration upon coming to office understood and appreciated that our country has been gripped with a cycle of violence that does not augur well for economic growth," Davis said.

"The first step to any growth is to ensure that our citizens feel safe, and that they operate in a secure environment. We have identified some initiatives, one of which was saturation patrols.

"We recognized that whereas we had limited vehicles to make our efforts of saturation patrols effective, [we] decided to invest in acquiring 100 vehicles specifically for purposes of this initiative.

"And so, we are today demonstrating what we've been talking about investing more in prevention, and we think that these initiatives, our streets being lit, saturation patrols, the police presence in these various areas, particularly what we call hotspot areas, will be a deterrent for crime and that is what this is all about."