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Last Updated: Oct 6, 2020 - 10:11:22 AM |
BIS Photo/Kristaan Ingraham
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The Hon. Marvin H. Dames, M.P.
Minister of National Security
The Ministry of National Security
The Commonwealth of The Bahamas
Monday, 5th October, 2020
5:00 p.m.
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
Good day Bahamas,
It is fitting that I first take this opportunity to thank the men and women of the three (3) law enforcement agencies, Parliamentary Registration Department, the staff of the Ministry of National Security and their families for their continued commitment to service to the people of our great nation.
Our Government believes that the Bahamian people have a need to know how their elected officials are managing the affairs of the nation, especially during times of crisis.
Protecting the Bahamian people from Grand Bahama in the north to Inagua in the south from threats to their safety and security is a priority of our Government and, my most important job as the Minister of National Security. I truly understand that the safety and security of our nation are directly tied to its socio-economic development and undergirds its progress. The actions taken by my Ministry and its agencies are designed to keep all within our borders safe, while advancing our established democratic processes.
My Brothers and Sisters,
It has been a little more than 6 months and the ongoing crisis of COVID-19 continues to impact the socio-economic constructs of our society and, by extension, the world. No country has proven capable enough to take this on alone. COVID-19 has put our healthcare and security structures under tremendous strain.
My Brothers and Sisters,
On Sunday, March 15th of this year, the nation recorded its first case of COVID-19. To date, The Bahamas is 1 of 213 countries and territories around the world which have reported COVID-19 cases (Worldometer, September 2020). This novel pandemic shows no signs of unabating anytime soon. The Ministry of National Security has been monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic since January. Our agencies began systematically devising plans to mitigate the spread and to ensure that we remain focused on our strategic priorities.
The Ministry of National Security and its agencies were among the first to introduce and implement its COVID-19 policies and procedures on March 17th, two days after the country’s first positive case.
My Brothers and Sisters,
Our goal was to execute a preparedness and readiness plan which
seeks to facilitate a feasible national response with government and non-government agencies in confronting COVID-19; keeping all within our borders safe; and assisting in slowing the spread of the virus. Our national statistics indicates the pressing concerns for continued health and safety protocols.
My Ministry, consisting of just under 7,000 employees including
front-line responders, Officers, and other essential staff have also been impacted by this disease. Approximately 6,050 persons or 86 percent of the Ministry of National Security’s staff comprise law enforcement personnel. Out of this number, it should be noted there has been to date:
- 1 COVID related death for RBDF which reflects 0.01 percent of its total complement;
- 354 positive cases which reflects 6 percent of the total complement; and
- 697 quarantined cases which reflects 11 percent of the total complement.
Given these statistics, our law enforcement agencies should be commended for their COVID strategies in mitigating the spread of the virus.
My Brothers and Sisters,
The Bahamas Department of Corrections also continues to do a
tremendous job in mitigating the spread of the novel coronavirus in the confines of the institution. With an inmate population of 1,489, to date, BDOCS has recorded two (2) positive cases which reflects 0.1 percent of the total inmate population.
The initial case was recorded in August, five months after the first case was recorded in The Bahamas. The inmate contracted the virus while receiving medical care for an unrelated illness outside of the prison. The second reported case of a male inmate testing positive only occurred on September 23rd.
My Brothers and Sisters,
The UNODC, WHO, UNAIDS and OHCHR (May, 2020) have
jointly encouraged institutions of detention around the globe to consider the release of inmates as COVID-19 undermines hygiene, health and safety due to social distancing limitations. Our Ministry through the Prerogative Board of Mercy Committee, in light of the current pandemic, have been reviewing inmates’ files who would be considered high-risks for contracting the virus.
That would include the elderly; comorbidity; persons who have completed more than half of their sentences with good behaviour; and persons sentenced for minor, non-violent offences that don’t compromise public safety. To date, the Committee has recommended for approval, by the Governor General, the release of 57 persons and others are currently being reviewed and considered for the same.
My Brothers and Sisters,
According to an IDB Report on COVID-19 law enforcement response in Latin American and the Caribbean (2020), the virus has significantly reduced preventative and community enforcement. All of the agencies have changed their policies on proactive and preventive enforcement. Meanwhile, 92 percent of the same have adopted policies which serve to reduce or limit community policing activities during COVID-19.
My Ministry is committed to advancing partnership between law enforcement and the community. I am pleased to highlight that the NNWC, under the umbrella of the Ministry of National Security and RBPF, recently won the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Leadership in Community Policing Award. The IACP is the global leading law enforcement association with over 31,000 policing agencies and 165 country membership.
My Brothers and Sisters,
We continue to make substantial progress and stay on schedule despite the challenges faced by COVID-19 using our three pronged- approach on strategic planning, investments in human capital development and technology. With reference to the latter, I am pleased to share:
- CCTVs: To date, 221 or almost half of the 507 cameras have been installed. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
- Real-time Crime Centre: The integrated technologies system was completed on July 30th and is fully operational.
- Body and Dash Cameras: Two hundred dash and body cameras were introduced on August 14th.
- Marco’s Alert: All of the billboard have been installed and they are in the testing phase before going live.
- Ankle Bracelet: We are in the vendor testing phase and will announce a winning bid soon.
- Multi-agency Drone Programme: The drones will be arriving on the island for assembly and the academy will commence training on October 12th.
- CSJP: The Tender’s Board process for the digitization and modernization of the Court’s integrated case management system has commenced and we expect to sign a contract in October.
In summary, the state of safety and security relative to criminal offences and rehabilitative matters, is good. In short, crime is once again trending downward by 10 percent compared to last year this time; recidivism has been reduced to 14 percent and, if the trend continues, it will reflect a 2 percentage points decrease from last year when it stood at 16 percent. Meanwhile, illegal poaching and drug smuggling interdictions are up 6 interceptions and 884 lbs, respectively.
My Brothers and Sisters,
The impact on the Parliamentary Registration Department is evident. The virus has hindered participation in a most treasured democratic process that is fundamental to our democracy. To date, both our Local Government and School Board Elections have been postponed. Like 70 other countries around the world, the electoral processes have been impacted by the outbreak of the virus (IDEA, 2020).
Our Parliamentary Commissioner was scheduled to begin the voters’ registration exercise in July. However, cognizant of the health and safety concerns the exercise was delayed. Presently, extensive research and consultation with various stakeholders is occurring and a recommendation will be made to the Government on the best way forward.
We await further feedback on the consultative process and a decision will be made on voters’ registration and the public duly advised. Rest assured that our Government is committed to ensuring that no eligible voter will be disenfranchised due to COVID-19.
My Brothers and Sisters,
Our Government is fully committed to ensuring the unity in the socio-constructs of Bahamian culturalism, its democratic principles and processes which help maintain its sovereignty and its social institutions. The socio-economic success and sustainable development of The Bahamas is inextricably tied to the safety, security and health of its people. Each individual effort leads to the collective safety of all. In the words of Alexander the Great – “upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all”.
I now invite the Heads of the respective agencies under my remit to provide a report on the status of their activities in a COVID-19 era including:
The Commissioner of Police – Mr. Paul Rolle
The Commander of Defence – Commodore Dr. Raymond King
The Commissioner of Corrections – Mr. Charles Murphy and
The Parliamentary Commissioner – Mr. Philip Turner
Thank you.
References
ABC Eyewitness News. (4th September, 2020). COVID has killed
more law enforcement officers this year more than any other causes: The toll could surpass 9/11 officer deaths. Retrieved from https://abc7.com/police-covid-death-killed/6408876/
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
(IDEA) (2020). Global view of COVID-19 Impact on Elections. Retrieved from
https://www.idea.int/news-media/multimedia-reports/global-overview-covid-19-impact-elections
Ismail, O. & Hendrickson, D. (2009). What is the case for a security
and justice focus in development programming? An assessment of the existing literature and evidence. Birmingham: Global Facilitation Network for Security Sector Reform, University of Birmingham.
Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological
Review, 50(4): 370–96. Retrieved from
CiteSeerX 10.1.1.334.7586. doi:10.1037/h0054346
WHO (13th May, 2020). UNODC, WHO, UNAIDS and OHCHR
joint statement on COVID-19 in prisons and other closed settings. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/13-05-2020-unodc-who-unaids-and-ohchr-joint-statement-on-covid-19-in-prisons-and-other-closed-settings
Worldometer. (September, 2020). Information on Coronavirus.
Retrieved from
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
© Copyright 2020 by thebahamasweekly.com
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