Even though drug barons are a major problem in Bahamian society, they are seen as “Gods” by many because they are the ones who many times “save the day” for downtrodden families.
Officer in Charge of the Central Detective Unit, Supt. Marvin Dames, explained on Sunday, that a number of communities have been surrendered to the drug trafficker. “I think a lot of it hinges on our appetite and greed.
The drug baron goes into a particular neighbourhood and he gives away cash and material goods and all of a sudden, he’s a Robin Hood,” said Supt. Dames, who was a guest speaker on Island FM’s Parliament Street, radio talk show, hosted by Jerome Sawyer and Jessica Robertson.
Supt. Dames explained that there are communities that are on the verge of collapsing, but suddenly an individual arrives on the scene who seems to be the Messiah who saves the day.
“This is not something that just happened yesterday, but it is through decades of neglect and deterioration. When it reaches the level of the police, it means now that everything else would have failed and now we are going in to enforce and play the role of the social worker, in conjunction with our primary responsibility of enforcement,” he said.
Commissioner of Police, Paul Farquharson, who was also a guest on the talk show, said that over the years, society has manifested itself as being “materialistic.”
He said that the police know that there are sons and daughters in homes who live off the proceeds of crime.
“They (parents) know that their sons and daughters are not working, but yet still, they know that these persons are going out there robbing, breaking into people’s houses and bringing valuables home that they know have not been purchased legitimately, but yet still, when the police go after them, they are in great uproar,” he said.
Commissioner Farquharson also said there are many who want to continuing living on the edge of crime, while totally rejecting police intervention.
The drug culture has been a major cause for the creation of serious crimes. Commissioner Farquharson said that the police have seen over the years that drugs, accompanied with the gun culture is a major factor that contribute to crime in the country.
The Commissioner did state, however, that he has hope the criminal justice system can be improved.
By Tamara McKenzie, The Nassau Guardian
