Last week there were a number of positive events going on in Nassau to counteract the amount of violence in society.
And this week one community is holding a town meeting to discuss ways to combat crime in that area.
But no matter how many meetings are held, it seems the crime rate continues to rise.
Algernon Allen, a former Cabinet Minister, is correct in saying the high crime rate may be directly related to high unemployment, and to people not having the kind of jobs that provide the expensive things that they see others have around them.
Furthermore, the country is experiencing a slowing down of the economy, and studies have repeatedly shown that when there is a downturn, crime rates rise.
Society as a whole must bear some responsibility for the crime wave, since it helped foster within youth the desire for material things.
Some of them have decided that if they cannot get things the right way, they will go about it illegally.
One of the consequences is that people fear their homes are not safe. That is the point when you know something needs to be done.
It is only a matter of time before this negative news about The Bahamas affects the tourist industry.
It is time for the law to be applied in the strictest sense.
No longer can people think they can commit crimes and get away with them. They must not believe that family and friends will help them evade the law.
The Prison Reform Commission has been in place for months but is still in the process of gathering information.
By now it should know what is wrong with the prison system and should be in the process of recommending changes to end the high rate of recidivism.
Many criminals are repeat offenders and one of the mandates of the Commission is to recommend rehabilitation programmes.
But until it does, the law must be followed to the fullest extent and the police allowed to do their job.
Editorial, The Nassau Guardian
