Crime Culture Concern Bishops

The grouping has therefore called on its members across the Province to engage in long-term strategies and initiatives that, while ensuring the need to protect human rights, will also allow them to respond to these challenges in constructive ways.

"We note that some of the causative considerations arise from social injustice and inequalities in the region, the drug culture and escalating gang warfare, all of which have produced fear and a sense of impotence and hopelessness in our communities," outlined the communiqué of the meeting of the House of Bishops and Provincial Standing Committee.

The recent meeting was held in the capital from November 11-14 at the Holy Cross Parish Church in Stapledon Gardens and the Anglican Diocese issued the communiqué on Friday.

The Bishops noted in the communiqué that while they accepted the severe systemic challenges that the culture of crime and violence creates for regional, judicial, and penal systems, its security forces are all under extreme pressure.

"We acknowledge that there have been inadequate responses to these challenges and that the solution resides in a greater community involvement and awareness-building in all of our territories," the Bishops noted.

The Anglican Bishops suggested that:

There should be continued education and re-training for the clergy that is geared toward greater awareness building and skills-learning in relation to ministering to victims of crime and violence at individual and community levels.

There should be awareness building and action at the congregational level, designed to be proactive and preventative through engagement with young persons.

There should be intervention through mediation and conflict resolution training, as well as ministry to families of incarcerated persons, especially children.

There should be outreach and ministry in community ‘hot spots’ which support appropriate initiatives for improving police-community relations.

The Bishops said they also recognize that these strategies and initiatives must also find their resource base in:

Ecumenical cooperation.

Inter-disciplinary participation of the courts, the police and social services in all steps in the process.

The interaction of a three-point focus in any community of church, home and school.

Dispute resolution alternatives initiated in the parishes, dioceses and the Province.

The Bishops outlined that they resolved to pursue a path of encouraging governments of the region to seek through legislation and in their policies, to effect the reduction of significant social inequalities in the region, which is necessary for their fight against crime and violence.

"We assure you of our prayers and support as we collaborate in confronting and working through these most challenging times in the life of the peoples of our region," the communiqué concluded.

Meanwhile, addressing the recent 108th Anglican Synod in New Providence, Anglican Archbishop Drexel Gomez said fixing the court system is critical in addressing the country’s crime problems.

"The present situation in respect of the functioning of our court system is unacceptable," he said. "In my opinion, there is an urgent need for the appointment of a skilled Task Force to probe into the existing situation and make recommendations for an improved and truly functional legal and judicial service, including the establishment of a Family Court."

"When we have expended efforts and funds to upgrade the skills in the Police Force and provide relevant equipment, those efforts will be negatively impacted by a system that requires fixing as a matter of national urgency."

Gomez said that Bahamians must recognize and accept that we face a national challenge regarding the level of crime. The nation as a whole, he said, must be involved in providing solutions. 

The Bahamas recorded a record 79 murders in 2007. The country now appears to surpass this number with 68 murders having already been recorded thus far as of Saturday, with just two weeks remaining in the year.