Tuesday, July 26, 2016
EDITOR, The Tribune.
I am a business owner in Hope Town, Abaco. My family and I have been a part of this community for the past 60 years.
For most people, visitors or those who live here in Hope Town and Elbow Cay, this place is unique and special. School children from Family Islands to the mega-wealthy from all corners of the world come here and fall in love with this special place and its people, many of them descendants of the original settlers.
Hope Town is a community of predominantly hard working local people, and regular visitors, many of whom own second homes here. Most everyone knows one another. Life here has been very peaceful with a deep sense of communal trust and respect. Typically people are accustomed to leaving boats, golf carts unlocked, keys in the ignition. Tragically, in recent times the people and businesses of Elbow Cay have become victims to local criminals who are now preying upon the innocence that makes this community so special. If ignored or left unchecked this idyllic gem of the Bahamas will fall to ruin.
As a devoted Bahamian and passionate stakeholder in the Abacos, I write this letter as a plea to the Commissioner of Police to aggressively clean up and bring to justice the thugs who steal our boats, burglarize homes, deal drugs on the streets, among other crimes. We understand that financial and human resources are limited. Given an opportunity to partner with competent law enforcement, and moving toward classic community policing, this community can hopefully move forward free of the concern of it becoming more of a lawless place.
This is a letter of outrage. While our country has many other very serious problems, we are not asking for any special attention. We are simply urging you to lead the police force in an effort to work with the Out Island settlements of the Abacos to clean up this crime and maintain law and order. Commissioner Greenslade, the ball is in your court.
Five boats were stolen in one night last week, and as I write this an additional two boats have been stolen last night.
Outraged Abaco businessman
Abaco,
July 25, 2016.
Comments
themessenger says...
Unfortunately this problem isn't limited to Abaco but is wide spread throughout the country. Great Exuma has for the last 4-5 years experienced a horrendous problem with boat thefts, break ins and ransacking of second home owner houses on that island causing many of them to sell up and leave. In many cases the local police have a very good idea of who the culprits are but turn a blind eye because of their connections.The situation in Nassau speaks for itself.
Those chickens from the bad eggs laid in the 70's and 80's have come home to roost and don't care who they crap on.
We are the people our parents warned us about.
Posted 26 July 2016, 1:47 p.m. Suggest removal
birdiestrachan says...
I am quite surprise. I thought Abaco had a very low rate of crime. Where are they taking these boats.?**. Security Cameras and something to trace the boats should help, Technology is great. I believe this is a ring of only a few.
Posted 26 July 2016, 3:18 p.m. Suggest removal
Sickened says...
The boat thieves have sensors that can locate the transmitters on the boat. The transmitters are just ripped out and tossed in the ocean or on land. I personally wished they worked.
Posted 27 July 2016, 9:34 a.m. Suggest removal
YesiJed says...
sso Birdie, your typical PLP response is that the citizens should self-police themselves rather than have the Police Force do it's job ?
Posted 26 July 2016, 3:49 p.m. Suggest removal
ohdrap4 says...
the residents of hopetown often know who the perpretators are.
call crime stoppers, it is anonymous. so your neighbour will not know who called
Posted 26 July 2016, 7:54 p.m. Suggest removal
herecomestheboom says...
sorry can't reason with the the stupid in this comment.....
Posted 27 July 2016, 10:06 a.m. Suggest removal
ohdrap4 says...
neither can I.
often people know who the housebreakers are, but they happen to be the locals in your midst. people talk about who broke into the houses but keep quiet because they are members of the community.
i repeat, call crime stoppers, that way you can tell them who broke into the home without fear it is you who is telling on the neighbor's children.
Posted 27 July 2016, 11:08 a.m. Suggest removal
BMW says...
catch them and roll them in fifty feet of fence wire!
Posted 27 July 2016, 5:48 a.m. Suggest removal
OMG says...
It is who you know always. Every island has its "royalty" who run the churches and businesses,and are given special treatment if and when it comes to court. If joe blow causes death with a vehicle whilst drunk (vehicular manslaughter) he will probably get a fine and imprisonment. Not so if you are connected . A good lawyer and a fine and free as a bird.I have even seen one person who had been fired from numerous jobs and served jail time get a position as security at a government airport.
Posted 27 July 2016, 11:20 a.m. Suggest removal
juju says...
The Hopetown policeman is inept. He should be replaced. Commissioner will know of a good replacement. Hopetown and other settlements needs to be proactive and get this issue nipped in the bud SOON.
Posted 27 July 2016, 11:24 a.m. Suggest removal
herecomestheboom says...
It doesn't matter what single policeman you post in Hopetown, one man cannot police a 1,000 people on a island several miles long.
Posted 28 July 2016, 9:49 a.m. Suggest removal
sealice says...
it's a country wide problem that is at it's worst in Abaco = sadly this PLP gov't clearly doesn't care about Hopetown.... probably cus it's too conch coloured...
Posted 27 July 2016, 11:39 a.m. Suggest removal
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