National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest, weary of being blamed for a crime crisis that he is clearly not responsible for, has pointed a finger at the dysfunctional courts of The Bahamas.
Turnquest, responding to a question at a Rotary Club of West Nassau meeting, said that Bahamian judges, who are completely out of synch with the people of The Bahamas, have been far too liberal in granting bail to repeat violent offenders.
The courts have become revolving doors for murderers, with judges and magistrates allowing crafty defence attorneys to abuse the legal system, which contributes “greatly” to the country’s escalating crime problem.
Like Police Commissioner Ellsion Greenslade, who spoke similar words only days before, Mr Turnquest was careful not to encroach on the independence of the judicial system. However, in his opinion, he feels that certain judges have been far too “liberal” when it comes to granting bail to career criminals and repeat offenders. Mr Turnquest said he believes the police and the public agree with him.
“If we had a system as they do in New York, where judges are elected, many of them would have been chased out of town.”
That may hold especially true for Supreme Court Judge Jon Isaacs, who has probably released more violent offenders than all other judges combined.
The FNM government has been promising changes to the Bail Act, but like the Freedom of Information Act that has also been promised, they have failed to deliver.
