According to crime statistics for Exuma, minor crime nearly doubled last year compared to the previous year. In 2003 minor crimes reported stood at 104 compared to 65 in 2002.
Police Inspector David Deveaux said in an interview with the Bahama Journal recently that the police on the island have positioned themselves to deal with the various crime problems.
“We realize that there are people who are going to be coming to the island and they will bring their bad habits with them,” Mr. Deveaux said. “As a result the police are vigilant in terms of keeping complaints under control.
The crimes on the island range from petty theft to behavioral problems and as a result of the increase police has beefed up their security forces.
Earlier this week masked gunmen entered and robbed a popular Three Sisters Restaurant and Bar on Queens Highway of an undisclosed amount of cash.
Police say they have still not arrested anyone for the matter.
Just last month a group of trained police officers were sent to the island. This new set of officers adds to the 30 reservists and Criminal Detective Unit officers now stationed on the island.
Mr. Deveaux believes that with development there will be some social problems.
“I believe that as time goes on more people will come and of cause we have the position to take care whatever matters that confront use,” Mr. Deveaux said. “We have positioned ourselves to deal with those problems.
Along with the increased migration from other islands in the country, officials believe that an increased criminal element has also reached Exuma’s shores.
Last year the multimillion -dollar Emerald Resort in Exuma, which government officials anticipate will develop thousands of jobs opened last year but also brought many individuals from around the country to Exuma.
But Mr. Deveaux said that the migration of individuals did not gell too well but caused rivalry among local men and men from other Bahamian islands.
“We found out that the native men look at that as an invasion and they feel that it is their duty to protect their territory, so we have experienced a rise in confrontation with the young men on the island,” Mr. Deveaux said.
Mr. Deveaux added, “We want to let the public know that it is important for the public and the police to work together because we realize that the police cannot do it alone.
Assistant Commissioner of Police for the Southern Bahamas Allen Gibson told the Bahama Journal recently that the Police have Exuma as a place where they anticipate that security will continue to be beefed up.
“We have sent officers to increase the strength down there and we will continue to do so base on the needs,” Mr. Gibson said. But we are dealing with the situation down there.”
Crime on the island has increased fear in persons like Iva Ferguson who lives alone.
Ms. Ferguson said that Exuma has changed and no one knows if it’s for better or worse.
There is also a reported increase in traffic accidents on the island. Mr. Deveaux noted that persons are not respecting the traffic laws and are causing unnecessary accidents.
Mr. Deveaux believes that the accidents are caused as a result of the considerable amount of vehicles that came to Exuma over the last year.
Yvette Rolle-Major, The Bahama Journal
