I really don't know what to say about this. Fact is the entire world is now more violent that it has been, but you would think that for a small country like us, we should have our *issues under control, but that has not been that case. There is a serious gap between the previous generation, and the *now generation that is helplessly spinning out of control.

How can we stop it? Do we finally enforce the laws on our books w/ capitol punishment, or do we hope and pray for the best?????

I wouldnt go by that number, there is a huge amount of deaths that are never reported to the public. Most of the time they dont have the investigating skills or tools to determine if something is murder or not, and there are also missing persons who were probably kidnapped and dumped somewhere never to be found.

They need to stop counting the murders and fix it, there is so much violent crime here now, even if they dont die, people still end up in hospital every day from gun shot wounds, stabbings, rapes, or beatings.

I wouldnt go by that number, there is a huge amount of deaths that are never reported to the public. Most of the time they dont have the investigating skills or tools to determine if something is murder or not, and there are also missing persons who were probably kidnapped and dumped somewhere never to be found.
They need to stop counting the murders and fix it, there is so much violent crime here now, even if they dont die, people still end up in hospital every day from gun shot wounds, stabbings, rapes, or beatings.



You know what, I've always believed that there's a add ten (10) rule when it comes to murders in our country. Take for instance the numbers of bodies that wash up on the shores the past few months. That's gat me thinking that there's something wrong going on around here.

I wouldnt go by that number, there is a huge amount of deaths that are never reported to the public. Most of the time they dont have the investigating skills or tools to determine if something is murder or not, and there are also missing persons who were probably kidnapped and dumped somewhere never to be found.
They need to stop counting the murders and fix it, there is so much violent crime here now, even if they dont die, people still end up in hospital every day from gun shot wounds, stabbings, rapes, or beatings.


Excellent points Rory. We really need to stop counting. I personally think that it's promoting record breaking.

There was a good discussion this afternoon on Jones & Company. There was the Commissioner of Police and one of his right hand men answering questions from Mr Jones and Mr Eneas. They said that the worst year for murders was the year 2000, when there were 74. The rate has been reduced over the years. The commissioner said this reduction was due to the fact that a strong effort was made to gradually put away the drug king pins.

With more resources and more manpower the police can do much more, but presently they are doing their best with what the powers that be have given them.

To put things in perspective, on the subject of homicides in the Bahamas.

Am I correct in thinking that the total population of your country is about 300 thousand people, and the polulation of Nassau is about 100 thousand people?

If those numbers are corecct, you have a HUGE problem down there.

Here is why I say that.......................

I live in the largest city in my country. Toronto has a population that is THIRTY times larger than that of your entire country. The population of Toronto is about 3 million people.

Last year, in 2004, we had 63 homicides in this city. I'm ONLY talking about one city in Canada, but if you compare the rate of killings per one hundred thousand of population, the rate in the Bahamas is sky high.

The standard statistical unit of crime measurment is "one hundred thousand people" and that is about the population of Nassau, give or take a few thousand, right?

If the rate of murders that have taken place in Nassau was extrapolated to Toronto's larger population , we would have a annual murder rate of 1890 killings. ( That would be your annual murder rate, multiplied by our popluation ). As you can see, the Toronto murder rate is no where that high

That is why I say you have a Huge crime problem on your hands.

Personal family experience.....................My Brother in law is a partner in a wholesale food importing business in Nassau. Over the past 10 years he has been robbed at gun-point at least 10 times. I was finally able to convince him to stop taking the cash money to the bank, in his own car, and hire a armoured car company to do it. That it took him 10 years to catch on to the idea that what he was doing was dangerous says a lot to me about the "island mentality".

I don't think I need to go into the measures that home owners in Nassau have to have in place to make their houses into fortified bunkers, do I?

The answers? I don't know, but I do know that NOT keeping track of crime stats is NOT the way to get it under control.

By the way, how come you all don't put house numbers on the front of your properties, by the road-side to aid in an emergency situation?

Might be a good idea for the responding fire, Police, or Ambulance crews to get there faster? A standardised reflective number sign that is at the same place, outside of each home would be a great idea. If the Government was to "approve " a standard model, the local charity organsiations could make and sell them to raise funds for their good works.

A reflective number on a metal sign with a L shaped post placed in the ground would be great at night, not only for the emergency services, but also for the delivery guys who bring the pizza to you.

Or is that too good an idea?

Jim Bunting. Toronto. Ontario. Canada.

P.S. THe Province of Ontario with a population of 13 million people has a street numbering system, that is applied even in the most remote villages of the far north, as well as in the farming districts, where the houses may be over a mile apart.:bye2:

Numbers for the homes .. Hmmm :-)

First they need to put up road signs, map the place out properly, while they are at it some lines on the roads would be nice too, and some cat eyes if they cant afford extra lighting. :-)

Im not sure but I think we have more than 100,000 here on New Providence, supposedly the majority of the population live here, which ofcourse is why it is so congested. Theres a couple sites that say what the approx population is but cant remember them off hand ..

Anyway, some good ideas, but unfortunately the people in charge here dont want to hear ideas besides their own, or unless they pay someone some ungodly amount of money to tell them what we already know, and what they know they will never do anyway :cry:

Mapping? Are you telling me that the island of N.P. has not been completely mapped , for streets and roads? Please tell me you are kidding?:what:

Street signs................I can understand why it is a low priority, considering that no body gets mail delivered to their home. Do you know how odd that was to me the first time I visited down there? BUT surely there is a official map that shows the entire island, with all the streets and roads on it?

My Wife has a few more years to go before she retires from the University of Toronto, and then we intend to live on Abaco, perhaps I can become a " Consultant " and advise the Government about how to make life a bit more modern in The Bahamas. Solar power, and wind turbines for the generation of power, and how to produce clean drinking water from sea water, all come to mind.

I guess I'm spolied living up here.

Jim Bunting. Toronto.

They have "some" maps, but as far as I know they are old and not complete.

They have alot of people that want to give them advice, they just dont take it well ;)

But hey, just so long as you are not a Bahamian, they will hire you :D

Im getting a work visa for the US to join a company up there, just so I can come back here and get all the big jobs :confused:

Numbers for the homes .. Hmmm :-)

First they need to put up road signs, map the place out properly, while they are at it some lines on the roads would be nice too, and some cat eyes if they cant afford extra lighting. :-)

Im not sure but I think we have more than 100,000 here on New Providence, supposedly the majority of the population live here, which ofcourse is why it is so congested. Theres a couple sites that say what the approx population is but cant remember them off hand ..

Anyway, some good ideas, but unfortunately the people in charge here dont want to hear ideas besides their own, or unless they pay someone some ungodly amount of money to tell them what we already know, and what they know they will never do anyway :cry:

Rory, this last paragraph is so correct, as right as right can be! Puts me in mind of what one used-to-be-popular talk show host said years ago -- how he was thinking of getting citizenship in a foreign country and coming back here so he could be able to make some big money! :cool:

44 & counting!

Hit Me High If Ur For Execution

right downtown bay street, 20 floggings and Execution by potcake ..:bye:

Doubt if hangings would help. I believe all these senseless killings and disasters are signs of the end!!! You see no matter what, they just keep increasing! The police now have crime-fighting computers coming out of the woodwork, and they were just given an additional one by the US the other day!

One thing though, I just hope and pray we learn to handle anger in a peacefull way, especially in domestic and love situations. A song said "breaking up is hard to do", but we just need to learn to walk peacefully away from incompatible unions. :angel:

Break-ups, heartbreaks, etc, will happen at times to the best of us -- no use to get all bent out of shape over it! How many of us would be left on this earth if we all go and beat up someone badly or take a life because of a misunderstanding we can't resolve???

Murder count now at 44!