Government must crush gangs | Editors

When parliament passed the anti-gang bill earlier this year, it was hoped it would mark the start of a new era in the Bahamas’ brutal fight against gang-related crimes.

With provisions for a $100,000 fine and a prison term of up to 25 years for those convicted of involvement in gang activity, this legislation was seen as a necessary step toward dismantling the networks that have long threatened the security and stability of our have threatened communities.

The anti-gang law is comprehensive and targets not only gang members, but also those who facilitate and enable gang operations, including the harboring of gang leaders or members, and retaliation against informants.

In cases resulting in death, the legislation prescribes life imprisonment, underscoring the seriousness of these crimes.

The Davis administration appears to be making good on its promise for tougher legislative action amid a disturbing wave of killings.

But for the law to achieve its full potential, the government must take a more aggressive stance on several fronts.

It is imperative that we also address systemic issues within our criminal justice system to ensure that these legal provisions translate into real effectiveness.

The lenient bail system often releases suspects into the community, where they can continue their criminal activities or intimidate witnesses.

This cycle not only undermines public confidence in the justice system, but also perpetuates a culture of impunity.

Changes to the Bail Act at the beginning of the year were heavily hyped but sloppily handled.

Whether they will be effective remains to be seen, but bail issues should not fall off the radar just because these amendments have been passed.

The addition of more judges and prosecutors is also critical to addressing the backlog of cases that delay justice.

Without this expansion, even the most well-intentioned legislation could falter, trapped in the procedural limbo that has plagued our courts in the past.

To expedite the criminal justice process, there is a growing need to reconsider the reliance on jury trials for criminal offenses.

Our jury pool consists only of registered voters – this should change.

And trials, where only a judge determines fault, provide a streamlined path to verdicts, reducing the time and resources needed to reach a resolution.

This has been suggested by several of our most senior lawyers, and our Attorney General has wisely said that the Government is willing to look at an option to facilitate Supreme Court trials that do not require a constitutional referendum.

The Bahamas is not alone in its fight against gang violence.

Other countries have adopted varying strategies to combat similar challenges, offering valuable lessons.

Singapore’s strict laws against gang membership and related activities, coupled with an aggressive policing strategy, have significantly reduced the prevalence of gangs. Their approach underlines the importance of both deterrent legislation and robust law enforcement.

Colombia has combated its notorious gang problems by integrating aggressive legal measures with social programs aimed at prevention and rehabilitation. This two-pronged strategy emphasizes the need for strong legislation, which must be complemented by interventions at community level.

The use of data-driven policing in New York City to identify and dismantle gang networks demonstrates the power of technology in modern law enforcement.

Increased investment in technological resources could enhance The Bahamas’ ability to effectively detect and combat gang activity.

Then there is El Salvador, which has implemented measures that are not necessary here, but provide an example of what unchecked gang activity can lead to.

According to government figures, there were more than a thousand murders in El Salvador in both 2021 and 2020, and in 2019 there were more than 2,000.

President Nayib Bukele received parliamentary approval to implement a national emergency in 2022.

The national emergency granted police extensive powers to immediately arrest and jail suspected gang members, bypassing the need for a lawyer and judicial approval for initial detention.

More than 75,000 people were arrested.

As a result, the country reported 154 murders in 2023.

However, this drastic reduction has been marred by allegations from human rights groups of serious abuses, including torture, deaths in custody and arbitrary arrests.

We only have to look to our southernmost neighbor, Haiti, to see what can happen when gangs get out of control – they eventually become bold enough to challenge the state.

That cannot be accepted in Haiti, and it certainly cannot be accepted here.

The government must crush the gangs and make the prospect of gang activity frightening.

Adopting a zero-tolerance policy toward gangs is essential to ensuring public safety, promoting economic stability, protecting youth, and upholding the rule of law.