Citizens Security and Justice Programme to address crime/violence

Thu, Jan 28th 2016, 04:33 PM

The Government of The Bahamas will borrow $20 million from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for the implementation of the new Citizen Security and Justice Programme.

The Programme is designed to assist with reducing crime and violence in The Bahamas and will include rigorous monitoring and evaluation that will help to assess the impact of the actions that will be undertaken on the communities.

It is expected to assist with reducing crime and violence in The Bahamas by targeting at-risk youth and by strengthening the institutional capabilities of the justice system. It will also provide a mechanism to institutionalise a framework for community security, integrating the promising and most successful components and strategies developed throughout the region.

Minister of National Security, Dr. the Hon Bernard J. Nottage, said the Programme will work towards reducing risk factors for crime and violence by funding and facilitating community-based social interventions that include parenting support, anti-violence initiatives, and after-school programmes – all with the goal of “diverting people away from crime and violence.”

“The Programme is an approach to crime and violence prevention that will couple innovative, human-centred support to communities with more traditional crime prevention support to the Royal Bahamas Police. This approach to crime is aimed to make communities an integral part of crime prevention,” Dr. Nottage said.

“The fight against crime is part of an integrated approach in the Government’s effort to accomplish the goal of a better life for the citizenry. Improving the quality of life also means improving conditions of safety and security of the people in their homes, in their communities and in their places of work.”

The National Security Minister said communities will serve as focal points for the resolution of conflicts; the articulation of community needs and as the “conduit of necessary resources to address the same.” Training in violence prevention ranging from domestic violence prevention to certified counselling and mediation courses will be provided.

“We look forward to getting our communities to commit to working to achieve community attachment, social cohesion and safer, more productive communities, that are intent on contributing to national development and sustainability of The Bahamas,” Dr. Nottage said.

“We are only going to realise such transformation through partnering with, and empowering the communities themselves.”

Officials at the Ministry of National Security, in conjunction with facilitators from the Inter-American Development Bank, collaborated with stakeholders from both the private and public sectors for the exchange of information and views on crime and security issues in The Bahamas and suggested approaches to addressing those crime and security challenges, in developing the programme.

While the general objective of the Programme is to contribute to a reduction in crime and violence in The Bahamas, specific objectives of the Programme are to improve behaviours for non-violent conflict resolution in New Providence; increase employability and employment of the at-risk youth population in New Providence; strengthen institutional capabilities of justice services and reduce the recidivism rate amongst persons within the prison system.

The Programme is comprised of four components: Component 1: Social Crime and Violence Prevention in New Providence - $4.8 million (24% of the loan); Component 2: Youth employability and employment training and strengthening of the Public Employment Services (PES) - $4 million (20% of the loan); Component 3:  Strengthening of the justice administration system - $5.6 million (28% of the loan) and Component 4: Rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders - $3.2 million (17% of the loan).

Just under 10 per cent of the load ($1.7 million) has been allocated for the Administration of the Programme along with a Contingency of $454,200 (which represents two per cent of the loan).

“The Government of The Bahamas has committed to promoting a sustainable national crime agenda which incorporates effective crime prevention, detention, prosecution and rehabilitation strategies, while addressing social issues associated with a recent upward trend in violent crimes,” Dr. Nottage added.

Source: Bahamas Information Services

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