By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

"MURDER Record Rate, vote DNA!" was the chant heard by motorists and pedestrians yesterday as members of the Democratic National Alliance marched nearly three miles along Bay Street.

The political party staged an anti-crime protest that started at 10am from Arawak Cay and ended in Rawson Square, marching with Bahamian flags and picket signs saying "Stop the Red Splash", "Enough is Enough" and "PLP and FNM Weak on Crime".

Speaking at the protest, Branville McCartney, DNA leader, flanked by a number of the party's 38 candidates for the May 7 General Election, said: "It's a symbol of what's going on in this country. The number one issue in this country today is crime and the fear of crime."

He said at the rate the country was going, if Tuesday night's murder was any indication, "we will have another murder rate record this year".

The MP for Bamboo Town said other party leaders were only now "talking about what they can or can't do" about crime. "Well they've failed and they've failed miserably." he added.

"They failed to take crime seriously and they ought not to be given another chance. If this is our number one issue and they have not done what they are supposed to do, you should not give them another chance."

Mr McCartney said criminals today had no fear of the law and felt there were no consequences because, he claimed, the PLP and FNM had not taken the crime issue seriously.

He said the DNA would enforce the death penalty and would make change the law so that the UK-based Privy Council could not oppose it.

He said: "Capital punishment comes into play if you commit a murder. If you commit murder, capital punishment must be carried out.

"We're making sure that if it goes to the Privy Council, we'll have the laws in place that will force their hands when there is a conviction on murder, that the death penalty will be enforced."