Police Press Liaison officer Inspector Walter Evans said Bahamians are having problems with settling disputes in a civilised manner. They need to rule out violence as an option.
“The crime figure thus far, speaks to the social ills we have in our country,” Insp Evans said. “And in terms of resolution of conflicts, it speaks much about how people, when they get into arguments, exactly how they resolve their arguments and the extent to which people will go to expressing themselves.”
The homicide count for 2006 has sent shock waves throughout the country. On April 25, 2005, the homicide rate was at 14 and on May 20 of that same year, the number rose to 17. Two months later, in July 2005, the murder rate was at 22. But police reports indicate that the 20 homicides already recorded for 2006 as of April 29 is cause for concern. According to police reports, in January of this year, 17-year-old Judith Price became the first homicide victim after the driver of a white car mowed her down. Six murders followed, rounding out that month’s death total to seven. February recorded five homicides with businessman Keith Carey being the last victim that month following an armed robbery on the steps of the Bank of The Bahamas which left him dead. In March, police records show that one person was murdered. The seven murders in April wrapped up the count thus far, with a 20-year-old Kemp Road resident being the last, after he died of a gunshot wound to the left side of the chest on Saturday.
Insp Evans said police officials will make no predictions about the homicide rate for the end of 2006, but are calling on Bahamians to stop the killings. He added that these startling statistics should not be taken lightly as police officials have repeatedly warned the public about using violence as a way out. “We’ve been singing this same song,” he said. “When people get into rows they just don’t know how to deal with it in a proper manner. And they resort to violence and this really places scars on people’s lives; it is not the favourable direction to go.”
The total homicide count for 2005 was 52 and in 2004 that figure stood at 44 οΎ– indicating a 15 per cent change between those years.
By: IANTHIA SMITH, The Nassau Guardian
