By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune News Editor

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

OFFICE of the Prime Minister communications director Latrae Rahming said the Davis administration acknowledges that travel advisories and global reports about crime in the country have affected the tourism industry, with the government preparing to launch an aggressive campaign to promote and protect the country’s reputation.

“The prime minister has chaired a number of meetings, has already spoken to key stakeholders and is going to look at how the government can ensure there is no fallout on businesses,” Mr Rahming said.

“The prime minister has already spoken to a number of CEOs, including Baha Mar, Atlantis and a number of major players. Ahead of the spring break season, the government is going to ensure that it signals the right message that The Bahamas is a safe place for both guests and visitors. It will be a collaborative approach with all stakeholders coming together on how we tackle the issue with the travel advisory and most recent situation with Grand Bahama.”

 Earlier this month, two American women alleged they were sexually assaulted in Grand Bahama and that Bahamian police botched the investigation. Police have pushed back against their claims, saying the women turned down medical attention. Twenty-five people have been killed locally in one of the deadliest starts to a year in the country.

 Mr Rahming said: “There was an impact, but consistent trends do demonstrate that things are levelling out and that we have to now continue to build on a strategy.”

 Privately, some in the government and national security system say people feel safe because most killings are targeted and retaliatory, not random.

 Mr Rahming said the government’s crime plan is focused on disrupting gangs because many of the people killed “were either known to the police or were out on bail for a particular issue.”

 “There have been some instances where you have a domestic violence issue and we are concerned that unintended targets are struck, and this is why our message is always to be very conscious of who it is that you are with and the company you keep because you could find yourself in a very unfortunate situation or one that costs you your life,” he said.

 “Bahamians see crime as an issue that needs to be solved. Whilst they might accept that these are targeted killings, they do not like the possibility of the callousness of persons who believe they can execute such heinous acts any time in the day, and anywhere in the day.”