By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN leaders in every sector of society failed to address crime warnings nearly 10 years ago, according to Rev Dr CB Moss, who said the country was “reaping the bitter fruits of our neglect”.

Rev Moss, President of the Bain and Grants Town Advancement Association (BGTAA), said anti-crime initiatives were summarily dismissed with an overriding sentiment that crime was bound to specific areas and only affected criminals.

He called for leaders to “collectively acknowledge our failure, ask God for forgiveness, unite, and then try and resolve the problem”.

“It was in the year 2005 when Freddy Munnings Jr said it to me,” said Rev Moss. “We were talking about the condition of the society as it relates to crime, we discussed the fact that because we are on the ground and operate with all parts of society, we were aware of the impending crime crisis. 

“Freddy was the first person that said to me, ‘CB you know we did the Hands Across the Bahamas in 1988 – we need another Hands Across the Bahamas to address this crime situation and you should lead it. “

Hands Across the Bahamas was a national effort to raise funds for programmes and facilities to fight against drug trafficking and addiction. Rev Moss said the fundraiser was the most successful event of its kind as it surpassed the target of $250,000 and raised more than half a million dollars. A portion of the funds were used to build a drug rehabilitation centre, which still exists at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre, according to Rev Moss.

“I and a couple of others,” said Rev Moss, “made appointments to see the leaders in every sector of this society. We started first with Rotary – that was our organisation. We met with the Rotary leaders; we said to them look you all sponsored Hands Across The Bahamas, we feel that unless something is done now within a few years this country is going to be embroiled in a crime crisis that you wouldn’t believe. 

“They virtually ran us out of the room. These were our friends, I’m a long standing Rotarian of 36 years, and at one time was considered the third highest ranking Rotarian in the country. 

“They said what crime ya’ll talking about. We then went to the Church, the Bahamas Christian Council, similarly no response. We went to every organisation, the political organisations, all the parties. That’s why I don’t see how they could fix their mouth now to talk.”

Other organisations included masonic lodges and the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence. “We had a meeting with all of them trying to alert them to the problem, no one saw it or at least they were in denial.”

Rev Moss said: “That is why we often challenge any entity, or any leader of any sector who operated at that time to tell this nation that what I’m saying is not the truth. So, therefore, instead of us blaming and pointing fingers we should now collectively acknowledge our failure, ask God for forgiveness, unite, and then try and resolve the problem.”

Two years with no response led to the formation of the BGTAA, with Mr Munnings Jr and a few others.

Rev Moss’ remarks follow reports of the three latest murders, in which a 41-year-old and two Pinewood Gardens men were gunned down in separate incidents just hours apart. 

“I’m only saying this because it is absolutely necessary, because we hear from time to time and we see in the media where this one is criticising the next one for the state of crime, this one accusing the next one,” said Rev Moss. 

“At that time (2005),” he added, “everybody was thinking, oh, it only occurs in certain areas and if you don’t live a certain lifestyle or associate with certain people you were going to be all right. Well we’re not all right, we know now that was a lie, and so we are reaping the bitter fruits of our neglect.”