Before any Bahamian government or commissioner of police gets too comfortable with the recent marginal reductions in several categories of violent crime, we would do well to finally address the underlying matter at the heart of our violent crime problem. That matter is the easy availability of guns and our politicians’ and courts’ dereliction of duty in the areas of bail for violent crimes and sentencing for gun possession. As usual, one of our southern neighbors (this time Barbados) has proved more proactive than us, notwithstanding that their rate of gun crime and murder is minuscule compared to ours. A bill introduced last week to the Barbadian Parliament will, when enacted, ensure that no individual charged with murder, or a firearms offense punishable by at least 10 years in prison (which includes mere possession in Barbados), will be considered for bail within two years after they were charged – except in special circumstances.

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