Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade said yesterday the high rate of murder in the country is "disgraceful" and "unacceptable" and called on church leaders to play a greater role in the fight against crime.
"Sixty-seven murders in this country this year so far is disgraceful," he said at the Bahamas Christian Council Conclave at the British Colonial Hilton. "You can't explain that. For a nation that prides itself on respecting God and maintaining Christian values, that is unacceptable."
The murder count has increased by more than 40 percent this year compared to last year this same time, according to The Nassau Guardian's records.
At the end of the first half of 2010, there were 47 murders in The Bahamas. In 2010, there was a record 94 murders in total. The country appears on pace for another murder record this year.
Greenslade told the church leaders gathered at the conclave that collectively they are too silent on the crime issue that is facing the country.
"I continue to tell you as a church that these perpetrators are our children...Nassau is 21 by seven, 80 square miles," he said. "No one ever goes to the coastline and backstrokes and swims freestyle away after committing a crime. It doesn't happen. People hardly ever take a boat or a plane and when they do, most times they end up in the Family Islands.
"Our communities are small and people know everyone. So why are we so silent? We need pastors in a real way to stand up and help. We need your advocacy. When people construct a liquor store just in front of your church -- silent." The murder country hit 67 when a man was stabbed to death on Sunday.
Christian Council president Dr. Ranford Patterson also called the religious leaders to action. He said the country is faced with "serious challenges". "This country needs us," Patterson said. "As men and women of God I believe we have been placed in this season and at this time to make a difference.
"We believe with all our hearts that if change is going to take place in this country it must begin with the church. We have the responsibility to ensure that whatever happens in this land we are aware, we have our input. "We also have our input to do what we must do to cause change to take place in this country. Our country is in trouble. I believe that God has placed us on the wall to bring about change."
Patterson said he hopes the religious leaders can pool their thoughts and resources to bring about necessary change. "It is my hope at the end of the day we would have put [in place programs] that we can use to take this country to the next level," he said. Greenslade asked the pastors to walk the high crime areas of New Providence and speak to residents.
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