In order to get a clear picture of the caption of this article and its presentation, it is necessary for me to give the meaning and definitions of the words crime and society.
Crime is defined as an act or omission in violation of public law either forbidding or commanding it, for which a punishment is prescribed, and which is prescribed by the state in its own name or in the name of the people or the sovereign.
Any grave offence against morality or social order, wickedness, iniquity.
Society is described as the system of community life in which individuals form a continuous and regulatory association for their mutual benefit and protection.
It can be said without fear of contradiction that crime is wreaking havoc in our once peaceful Christian nation. have the powers that be ever sat down and given serious thought to the crime situation?
I seriously doubt it. There has been and still is a whole lot of talk about it, but never any real action in the right direction.
If one goes to a doctor for a complaint, after the diagnosis a prescription is given for the complaint; and in order to get rid of the complaint, the remedy prescribed must be taken as directed. this brings us to another level, remedy.
We know that this society is stricken with the disease called crime and we know that we have the remedy, law.
Let us now look at the definition of this remedy called law. “A rule of conduct, recognized by customs, or decreed by formal enactment, considered by a community, nation or other authoritatively constituted group as binding upon its members.”
Are we in possession of the prescription needed to cure the illness in our society? The answer is “yes”.
Then why are we still suffering from a massive overdose of this unwanted disease? The answer to that question is simple. The prescription is being properly prescribed by the doctors (judges), but is not being administered to the patients as prescribed.
The Bahamas Constitution gives us, as Bahamian citizens, the right to defend our property and our lives, and the right to use whatever force necessary to do that as long as the force is not excessive.
Our statute laws prescribe penalties for crimes committed against the laws of the state, so there is no need for any hue and cry for new laws or penalties, as I am sure that they are all covered in our penal code. What is really needed is the speedy execution of the sentences imposed (prescriptions as given).
I am convinced that the death penalty is and will continue to be a deterrent to murder. I am not saying that it would put a stop to it; but God knows we need to slow it down as much as possible. I do agree that keeping a man in death row for years is a waste of taxpayers’ money, because we have to feed him and provide him with medical attention. A review of the judicial system and the a/g Department is urgently needed. With all of these courts, and judges coming out of your ears and all, we still have persons awaiting trial for years (criminal) and I know of civil cases that take twelve years to fifteen years to get a trial date. If the judicial system needs to be revamped, then by God, do it and start over; but for the salvation of this nation, murderers should have their sentences executed as quickly as possible after they are sentenced.
Six months for appeals and do-gooders to make noise about hanging and the human rights people to put in their two-bits, is ample time to exhaust the avenues open to convicted murderers.
Then they should be hung six or eight at a time.
If and when this should happen, I am sure that we will see a marked reduction in murders.
By E. Washington I. Watkins, J.P.
Letter To The Editor, The Nassau Guardian
