By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune News Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

AT LEAST 25 witnesses have been killed since the FNM abolished the witness protection programme, Minister of State for National Security Keith Bell said yesterday.

In making his contribution in the Senate, Mr Bell said the FNM is an "uncaring" government that sat around doing nothing while witnesses were being attacked and murdered.

"From my count at least 25 Bahamian witnesses were murdered who could have been assisted and protected under the programme. The FNM showed yet again through their actions that they were uncaring and they did not put Bahamians first. Nothing can be found in the entire Ministry of National Security which shows that for the past five years the former administration took an active role and ever required, requested, reviewed or directed that the witness protection programme be maintained or expanded. Nothing for the past five years," he said.

"Instead they claimed that the programme was too expensive and sat on their hands while Bahamians were being killed. They did nothing to save the lives of those persons who either witnessed a crime or who were victims of these serious crimes and they could have done something. In accordance with the Witness Protection legislation, an administrative centre is required to be set up in the Ministry of National Security. The former PLP administration established such a centre and collaborated with the United States Marshals and the Trinidadian authorities in terms of best practices. But the FNM dismantled the centre. They said it was too expensive. There is no such centre in the Ministry right now. They must be held accountable. If there is no administrative centre so how can anything get done. There is no centre. It is in the Act. The Act calls for it and they dismantled it."

Mr Bell said as a former police officer he is passionate about witness protection and part of the reason he resigned under the FNM was because he refused to "be party to any administration that allows Bahamians to be killed."

He said the witness protection is being re-established under the PLP and the government will do everything in its power "to protect persons who fear for their lives as they courageously step forward in the fight against crime."

Mr Bell also sent a message to witnesses and those who intend to harm them.

He said: "To those who may witness a crime, do not be afraid to come forward. The ministry and every able man and woman in the Royal Bahamas Police Force, in the Defence Force and anywhere in law enforcement will be there waiting to assist you.

"Those who intimidate, maim or take lives of witnesses, your days will be numbered. It will be zero tolerance."