Despite the hopes of national security officials, 2011 offered no respite from the carnage witnessed in 2010. Violent crime rose dramatically this year, but nothing would shock Bahamians more than the sheer number of brutal murders that occurred in the past 12 months.
There were at least 124 murders recorded as of yesterday, far outdistancing the 94 murders that occurred in 2010. This fourth murder record in five years left the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) and other law enforcement agencies struggling to stanch the flow of blood on the streets. But even as police stepped up their efforts, men, women (even those who were pregnant) and children continued to die violent deaths in an almost indiscriminate fashion.
According to the latest police statistics, which were tabled in the House of Assembly in late October, violent crime increased by more than 15 percent in all but two categories, with murder and rape representing the most dramatic increases. Overall, crime increased by 10 percent during the first 10 months of the year.
As it relates to crimes against the person, statistics show that during the period January 1 to October 11, 2011, cases of murder, attempted murder, rape, attempted rape, armed robbery, robbery, and attempted robbery all increased. Murder was up 44 percent when the statistics were released.
The cases of attempted murder grew by 29 percent, with nine recorded this year compared to the seven recorded in the first 10 months of 2010. Reported rapes grew by 38 percent, with 80 rapes recorded this year, compared to the 58 rapes reported during the same period in 2010. There were 18 percent more attempted rapes -- 26 compared to 22.
Armed robberies increased by 10 percent. There were 704 cases up to October 11 compared to the 639 recorded during the same period last year. Robberies increased by 16 percent -- from 237 to 274. There were 27 attempted robberies up to October 11, an eight percent increase over the same period last year.
Manslaughter decreased by 50 percent -- from two cases to one. Unlawful sexual intercourse cases decreased by 30 percent -- from 183 to 129. As it regards property crimes, the statistics show that there were 2,502 housebreakings up to October 11, an increase of nine percent over the same period last year.
Stealing from vehicles increased by 58 percent with 1,868 such reports up to October 11. Stolen vehicles increased by seven percent -- from 960 to 1,031. There was a 12 percent decrease in burglary matters with 258 cases reported this year.
The figures also show a 23 percent decrease in shopbreaking with 752 cases reported this year.There was a one percent decrease in stealing with 1,503 cases reported this year.
Addressing Crime
Police blamed the staggering murder count on prolific offenders, and Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest publicly criticized the judiciary, claiming it was too lax in the granting of bail to persons repeatedly accused of committing serious crimes. The level of crime also prompted two national addresses, the first came from Opposition Leader Perry Christie in August.
Christie said the Progressive Liberal Party's crime plan would include the creation of new police strike force teams, the prosecution of high-powered gun possession cases in the Supreme Court, the creation of a special unit to speed up the processing of death penalty cases and the creation of additional criminal courts.
"No one should have to live in a neighborhood where fear and menace rule the streets. We are going to flood these areas with police, with resources and support," said Christie.
"How can it be that people accused of one horrific crime are freed to commit more crime? This violates common sense and it violates common decency. We must move heaven and earth to get persons accused of murder tried within 12 months, preventing their release on bail."
In October, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham addressed the nation on crime, instituted a month-long gun amnesty and introduced a package of legislation to restrict the granting of bail in many circumstances. The new laws also outlined cases of murder that would warrant the death penalty in line with a Privy Council ruling in June that threw out the death sentence of Maxo Tido, who killed 16-year-old Donnell Conover in 2002.
The death penalty is now mandatory sentence for anyone convicted of killing a member of the following organizations: The Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Department of Customs, the Department of Immigration, the judiciary and the prison services system. The legislation also mandates that when a person is sentenced to life in prison for murder, that person will serve the rest of his or her natural life behind bars.
Even with murders being categorized, murder convicts still have the right to appeal to the Privy Council. The government also passed the Evidence Amendment Bill, the Penal Code Amendment Bill, the Criminal Procedure Code Amendment Bill, the Court of Appeal Amendment Bill, the Pawnbrokers and Second-hand Dealers Bill, the Customs Management Bill, the Criminal Evidence Witness Anonymity Amendment Bill, Sexual Offences Amendment Bill, and the Dangerous Drugs Amendment Bill.
"We are confronted by criminals -- a criminal class of older seasoned offenders as well as a crop of bloody-minded juvenile offenders and thugs who seem to believe that they can evade the rule of law with little or no regard for life and other people's property," said Ingraham.
"For some, life is cheap; our common welfare is of no value. I share your anguish and anger whether you or a family member or neighbor has been a victim of crime. This vicious assault of crime affects us all. It destroys lives and damages livelihoods."
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