Star Date 03 05 point 09, yes I am a TREKYY! Never the less it was a beautiful Sunday past, a little work and play made quite the evening. This drive made me wonder is our lovely little island of New Providence safe or is it just lawless. Whats the difference you may ask well the reliable Webster defines
 
‘Safe’ 1: free from harm or risk: 2: secure from threat of danger, harm, or loss
 
Lawless 1: not regulated by or based on law 2 : not restrained or controlled by law
 
This was my debate back and forth with myself as I drove from the Carmichael area in to Coral Harbor on to Adelaide Road, on to the New Albany divide passing by this time a NPDCo Security Patrol way to Mr. Gibson. Then it hit me I have not seen any police patrols.  So I continue my drive, passing Clifton Prier and the Clifton Heritage Site, Jaws Beach, Lyford Cay, still no police. Passing and old favorite and also a new one I find myself now near Nirvana Beach and guest what still no police. There are pedestrians cyclist foot and motor driven, beach goers, with families having picnics ‘just chilling on de island’. As I drive not one police insight all way now by the ever popular Goodman’s Bay, where are the police? Getting a bit concerned after visiting another new favorite I still see no police. Of course I remind myself from my days on the force that is Sunday, and our police too need some time to relax.
 
But if there are no police out keeping us safe why are there so many people out having from what I can see and hear, having such a good ole time so to speak. They must be mad, because as some would have us to believe Nassau is not a safe place to be. Well obviously these folks have not gotten the memo.  By now I am passing Arawak Cay, and still only the existence of Police via the Police Station erected at the site, still however no police presence.
 
So what is it with Sunday?  Well as I introduced you to last the week the concept of ‘selective enforcement’. Of which, as I stated our police force is very good at, well Sunday’s enforcement level the police are obviously going for a combination of the Oscars, Grammy and Cacique award. The now obvious I am certain practice of reduced coverage on Sunday must mean that the potential for crime is reduced during these hours, or is it? Remember those motorbikes; none of them had helmets on. Many of the cars if not speeding, doubled parked and parked on the grass or wherever, music of course loud.
 
No police not event on Bay Street, at which point I decide to take a break form this long drive and observe a bit more critical the absence or lack there of officers.  So downtown Nassau,  at about 5pm – 5:30pm not one foot patrol.
 
The time now is nearly after 6pm by now, maybe I am too early. But seriously folks it has been about 3 and a half hours and not a single police patrol. Maybe this selective enforcement needs to be revisited. Maybe a review of this management style as the safe environment which exists has become a fertile ground for lawlessness behavior.  The law breakers regardless of the infraction feels safe thus speeding, illegal parking and loud music have become as one eyewitness to the raid on a local alleged numbers house said is now a part of our culture.  Now this is not the first Sunday where this has been noted, in fact this is the norm, but a dangerous one at that.
 
Alas our police are caught in a quandary as from personnel experience I have seen where the police presence cause some young lost youth to act out.  When the police are seen, in an effort to show themselves off they must now be louder and more vulgar as if to dare the police to take action. So what do you do, hopefully not stay away from such events and gathering, but rather yet develop new strategies of managing them without being seen as oppressive. Yes, I would be the first to say easier said than done, but it has to be done.
 
So if just by chance on one of these beautiful Sunday afternoons, the police select a rarely enforced item form the law books to enforce be ready. Never the less we will here the out cry form the arrested person, that they the  are being victimized, and unfairly targeted by the police. Go catch some real criminals!
 
 
 Gamal Newry is the President of Preventative Measures, a Loss Prevention and Asset Protection Training and Consulting Company, specializing in Policy and Procedure Development, Business Security Reviews and Audits, & Emergency and Crisis Management. Comments can be sent to P.O. Box N-3154 Nassau, Bahamas or, email gnewry@gmail.com or visit us at www.preventativemeasures.net or visit http://newrypreventativemeasures.blogspot.com/