Highlighted in the 2004 report is the increase in police shootings in this country, which does not even include the three most recent extra-judicial police shootings.
But Chief Superintendent of Police Marvin Dames, who heads the Central Detective Unit, pointed out that the police are operating in times when the level of threat in the country is elevated. ﾠClearly, this is an excuse, or an admission that the police can not handle the responsibilities, which may be due to the massive amount of corruption on the force and a lack of real leadership.
Dames added that police officers have been killed in the line of duty. He said officers are trained and have to determine when they should react in fear for their lives.
But Amnesty paints a different picture, and highlights the shooting deaths by police of Giselle Glinton in August of last year and Jermaine Mackey in December 2002.
This is also not the first time that The Bahamas has been presented in a less than favourable light for its record by the human rights advocacy group.
Amnestyﾴs report for 2004 covers the period of January to December 2003.
The report also raises concerns about the alleged ill-treatment of persons detained by the police.
The report also focuses on conditions at Fox Hill Prison, including the use of buckets as toilets.
This drew a sharp response from Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Mark Wilson.
According to Wilson, further upgrades are expected to be carried out in compliance with recommendations made by the Prison Reform Commission, and will include toilet upgrades for general population inmates.
Wilson said, however, that maximum security residents may not benefit from those upgrades in the upcoming year.
One of the recommendations made by the Prison Reform Commission, he added, is the opening of a reclassification centre at the end of this month.
