By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

THE government will introduce “tougher measures” to combat crime in 2016, Prime Minister Perry Christie said last night.

During his Christmas address to the nation, Mr Christie said reducing crime is “a challenge of the highest priority” and the government is determined to “wrestle it to the ground in the New Year.”

Up to press time, the country had recorded 143 murders this year, the highest ever in the history of the Bahamas.

The previous murder record came in 2011, which saw 127 killings that year. The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), which was in opposition at the time, used the problem of crime and murders as an election tactic.

The party campaigned on the platform that it had the solution to lower violent crime while the Ingraham administration did not. However, since coming to office, the Christie administration has been grappling with the same issue.

“As we are reminded of the surpassing value of family, we must remember that the fight against crime is a concern for all of us,” the prime minister said. “We must therefore redouble our efforts to work together with our uniformed forces. We will continue to institute training opportunities and job creation initiatives to ensure that our at-risk youth are afforded positive life changing alternatives.

“Those who remain intent on pursuing lives of criminality, who only want to rob and steal or to inflict violence upon others, to such persons, they must hear this: cease and desist because there is no place in our society for those hell-bent on senseless acts of violence. The strong arm of the law will catch up with you, so stop, stop now, and stop before it is too late,” Mr Christie said.

“We will be introducing even tougher measures to combat criminality in 2016. Bringing down crime is a challenge of the highest priority and one that we are determined to wrestle to the ground in the New Year. On that note, I wish to express our appreciation to our uniformed forces, especially the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Defence Force, our Department of Corrections and our customs and immigration officers. They are working diligently to make sure that our Bahamas is safe and secure.”

Mr Christie said as we prepare to start a new year, the government is encouraged by new developments and investments in the country. He also said he is “convinced” that Baha Mar will open in 2016.

“Indeed in recent weeks, heads of agreements for significant new developments were signed heralding a bright economic future for our Bahamas,” the nation’s leader said.

“We are also encouraged by the progress being made in relation to Baha Mar. We therefore look with optimism and confidence towards the day when this resort will fulfil its promise and positively impact the economic life of our nation. Despite all the setbacks, I remain absolutely convinced that this will happen in 2016. This is not wishful thinking. It is well-informed optimism.

“We are also buoyed by ongoing infrastructural developments in our nation and by the new pages that are being turned in the vitally important spheres of telecommunications and energy. These improvements are helping us to build a stronger and more modern Bahamas better equipped to meet the challenges of life in the 21st century.”

Mr Christie said during this season of giving, he must commend all the civic groups, religious organisations, government agencies and private individuals who partnered with the National Emergency Management Agency to address the needs of those ravaged by Hurricane Joaquin in October.

The prime minister said he “feels good about” the prospects for 2016 and believes next year will be a “good” one for the Bahamas.