Nearly 50 percent of the 125 murders committed in The Bahamas so far this year remain unsolved, according to police sources.
Superintendent Paul Rolle, head of the Central Detective Unit (CDU), admitted that there are 61 murders committed in 2011 that have not been solved, leaving police with a 51 percent murder clearance rate so far this year.
However, Rolle did say that in five cases the suspects have been identified and police are actively searching for them. Also, some of the men who police wanted to question in reference to other murders have become victims themselves. If the police had been able to charge those men, the murder detection rate would be a little higher.
The 125 figure sets a new record for the number of murders in The Bahamas committed in one year. The previous record was 94, which was recorded last year.
Even more shocking is the pathetically low rate of convictions. In 2010, of the 94 murders committed, only two people were actually sentenced for murder.
Members of the public who may have information regarding any murder are encouraged to contact police at 911, 919, 322-3333, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991, 502-9910 or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS.
