By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Senior Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

 FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said crime in New Providence escalated as his successor travelled “all over the place with large delegations on very expensive trips in the early months of his term.”

 His comments in the House of Assembly yesterday came as parliamentarians debated The Evidence (Amendment Bill), the Magistrates (Amendment) Bill, the Juries (Amendment) Bill and the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Bill.

 Dr Minnis said the bills, while needed, amount to administrative fixes at a time when bolder action is needed to thwart rising violent crime.

 “These are not bills with a broader and more visionary scope to address crime and other pressing national issues,” he said.

 “This legislation does not appear to be a part of a broader and more comprehensive plan to make The Bahamas safer. These are functional bills. They chart no new territory or offer creative responses to the spiral of crime we are now facing, which seems to keep getting worse.

 “I have been stunned, the people of Killarney have been stunned, and Bahamians everywhere have been stunned by the government’s abject and miserable failure to keep our communities safe.

 “Last month was one of the most violent months in our country’s history.

 “Deputy Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander said so in a briefing with the media on April 7. There were 22 murders in March, police reported. There were also numerous shootings that left survivors with life-long injuries.

 “Seven months into their term and the administration of the member for Cat Island is overseeing a spectacular failure to keep Bahamians safe.”

 Dr Minnis said Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and his administration have no comprehensive plan to counter crime, inflation or rising energy costs.

 He added: “While the prime minister was all over the place travelling with large delegations on very expensive trips in the early months of his term, things fell apart in our crime response. The man Bahamians entrusted with power to lead them and keep them safe has thus far failed in his most fundamental duty to our people.

 “Sadly, the prime minister is so often out of the country. Perhaps he could not grasp or see what was happening on the ground because he was often in midair. . .

 “He and his government seemed to have been caught off guard.

 “In normal times it is fine to come to Parliament and make amendments and administrative changes to laws as we are doing today.

 “The problem is this government is making small changes at a time when the country needs a big and comprehensive crime plan.”