By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEY General Allyson Maynard-Gibson defended the judiciary after Minister of National Security Dr Bernard Nottage blamed the body for the country's crime problem earlier this week.

In a statement on Thursday night, Mrs Maynard-Gibson maintained the government's respect and appreciation for "hard working judges".

Her comments are in stark contrast to the condemnation levelled against the judiciary by Dr Nottage, who said judges were failing to impose stiffer penalties and not properly enforcing laws that are on the books.

"It is the responsibility of police, prosecution and defence counsel to assure that cases are properly investigated and prosecuted and if disappointed with the outcome of a matter, to utilise the appellate process," Mrs Maynard-Gibson said.

"The Government of The Bahamas respects and upholds the Rule of Law. This has been demonstrated in many ways including our significant investment in infrastructure to improve efficiency in the administration of justice. We acknowledge, respect and appreciate our hardworking Judges."

Dr Nottage has come under a firestorm of criticism over his comments in the House of Assembly on Wednesday.

His comments came during a bloody week, which saw seven people killed over a five-day span from September 11.

The Bain and Grants Town MP said that some magistrates give lighter sentences to criminals because the accused is someone in society’s “good son”. He added that it was hard to believe that some judges live in the same country and still only give criminals “a slap on the wrist” when they appear before them.

On Thursday, Bar Association President Elsworth Johnson branded the national security minister a “coward” who blamed everyone but himself for crime.

Mr Johnson suggested that Dr Nottage should “stick to gynecology” because he obviously lacked the “innovation and the intellectual aptitude” to solve the nation’s crippling crime problem.