By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

ORGANISERS of the anti-crime group, Mothers United for Peace, staged a seven-hour protest in Rawson Square yesterday, advocating a return to Christian principles, law and order.

Group spokesperson Brenda Harris led a small group of protestors in their demands that the government take the vexing issue of crime seriously. She said the group was created in reaction to escalating crime and violence.

Speaking to The Tribune in the presence of National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage, FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis and the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Hubert Chipman, Ms Harris said her group will not relent in the face of crime.

“Our sons and our daughters, persons are feeling unsecured in their homes, in our country, we have to lock ourselves up behind bars,” she added.

“We have made up our minds that peace in our nation is our priority and we will take our country back by force, with zero tolerance for crime at all levels.”

According to the group, while the prevalence of violent crimes is alarming, the nature of the criminal acts being perpetrated has them even more concerned.

“In recent weeks, we have seen a major wave of crime that isn’t sparing anyone, our young girls are even being affected,” said Ms Harris.

“Crime has in some way, affected all of us so we can’t sit back and pretend that we don’t see what is going on. We need major restoration and transformation in The Bahamas. This is the first step to doing that.”

Meanwhile, despite not addressing the press, Dr Nottage did hold conversations with select members of the group.

Dr Nottage also shared a moment with Dr Minnis shortly before entering the House of Assembly. Both politicians could be heard telling the group that respectively, they were doing all they could to fight crime.

Dr Minnis told The Tribune that his party, if elected to office, would “extend a hand” to civic groups working to solve crime through community approaches.

“If you look at every article in the newspaper, when you see a murder victim you see a mother crying and pleading for the lives of their children. They feel the pain. They feel the pain when their children are born and it hurts even more when their children are gunned down and brutally murdered,” he said.

“Do you ever see any fathers? It’s always the mothers and you should focus and seek their support.”

Mothers United for Peace contended that the protest was not a political or religious demonstration. The group added that the issue of crime goes beyond political and religious divides.

“We have to stand up and be active participants today to secure our future and the future of the next generations,” Ms Harris said.