Crime is rampant because too many Bahamians tolerate it, a Member of Parliament said Tuesday. “Changing our tolerant ways will be painful, but we must begin the change process now,” Carmichael Member of Parliament John Carey told a constituency town meeting held at the Sir Gerald Cash Primary School.
“How can we expect to get away with breaking the law on one hand, and then on the other hand seek legal recourse from the law when others break the law in a way that offends us?” Mr Carey asked.
He said that no person – including politicians, government workers, businesspersons, or his own constituents – is above the law,
Among various infractions cited by Mr Carey were: Failure to pay customs duties, utility bills, real property tax, and bribery in the public service.
“Failure to pay appropriate customs duties has a cascading affect throughout the country. If each person paid the required duty, revenues would go up and this will make it possible to lower duty rates,” Mr. Carey said.
“If we fail to remedy these horrific behaviours, our public funds will become too low. At some point additional measures may be necessary to make up for this reckless revenue shortfall,” he said.
Society cannot ignore such crimes any longer because they erode the moral fabric, he said, describing the crime rate as “ridiculous”.
“To win the battle we must all work together. Your help is needed now. As the government we will do our part, but public co-operation is essential if we are to win,” he said.
“Far too many people do not respect the traffic laws,” he continued. “The tragic result is that pedestrians and motorists alike get wasted on our streets. Many good lives are lost. Many families suffer. Drivers have no respect or care for the little school children walking along our streets,” he said.
Road rage could also lead to accidents and personal injury, he said, and reckless offenders should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. zero tolerance for habitual criminals.
Addressing reports of police abuse of apprehended persons, which he said was of grave concern to him, Mr Carey said, “I will not tolerate any forms of barbaric treatment towards criminal suspects while they are in custody of our public officers. We must do all in our powers to weed out the bad apples that nest among our honourable police and law enforcement officials.
“We need law enforcement and judicial reforms now! Too many violent criminals are out on bail continuing their cycle of terror,” he said. “The courts are backed up. The penal system transforms petty thieves into hardened criminals. This must stop.”
By Vanessa C. Rolle, The Nassau Guardian
