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Why Stop the Crime?
A poetic historical kaleidoscope of crime in The Bahamas
By Barrington H. Brennen, 2001
(PDF Format, One page on 8.5 x 14)

 

Why stop the crime when aforetime our parents were sold to please the greed of some?
Why stop the crime when shipwreck looting blessed our islands homes?
Why stop the crime when bootlegging enriched stores and banks?
Why stop the crime when drug smuggling bought pools and tanks?
 
Why stop the crime when slapping a wife proves the status of manhood?
Why stop the crime when neglecting a child brings no shame to the neighborhood?
Why stop the crime when getting pregnant in school strengthens the status of youth?
Why stop the crime when aborting a baby is proof of womanhood?

 

Why think of values, companionship, and family?
These are not necessary in a land where people are lonely?

 

Why stop the crime when having sex with an infant is proof of a father’s authority?
Why stop the crime when a father getting his daughter pregnant is proof of his virility?
Why stop the crime when raping a girl is the joke in the schools corridors?
Why stop the crime when molesting a boy will never reach the courtroom doors?
 
Why stop the crime when cheating on your spouse is encouraged by people everywhere?
Why stop the crime when lying to your wife is not a shameful thought to bear?
Why stop the crime when disowning your husband is not a terrible idea?
Why stop the crime when having sex with the boss is not a shameful way to gain tenure?

 

Why think of integrity, honesty and trust?
These are not necessary in our land of lust.

 

Why stop the crime when lying to Customs and Immigration will only save money?
Why stop the crime when people in authority smuggle in their own machinery?
Why stop the crime when island economies are developed by the sale of illegal stuff?
Why stop the crime when you only get respect when you are acting ruff?
 
Why stop the crime when pastors steal church money and get away with it?
Why stop the crime when church members thrive on shady business?
Why stop the crime when it is a blessing not to give but to appeal?
Why stop the crime when it encourages the one who steals?

 

Why think of integrity, honesty and trust?
These are not necessary in our land of lust?

 

Why stop the crime when men claim scriptural authority for treating women with disdain?
Why stop the crime when Christian churches have said that women must suffer greater pain?
Why stop the crime when men get more power through the submission of women?
Why stop the crime when men insist that male leadership is always better for making a living?
 
Why stop the crime when it was not my child that random bullets hit?
Why stop the crime when the scream of a neighbors’ fright sounds like a movie clip?
Why stop the crime when stolen cars and appliances are not the responsibility of the culprits.
Why stop the crime when many who live in ivory towers seem not to care a bit?

 

What profits would we gain by stopping the crime when we have gained so much from it all the time?
Why think of pain, loneliness, and fear?
Why think of the tragedy our children bear?
Why think of life loss if life isn’t much?
Why think of dysfunctional families if family isn’t much?

 

Could it be that we were poisoned through generation in time
By the greed and lust of power hungry minds?
What is the antidote to the poison of passivity and greed?
It must be a mental metamorphosis to take the lead.

 

If we continue to be poised by the greed for power,
Our nation will die and we would not even realize it’s a goner;
Because a crime isn’t a crime to the unchanged mind,
Unless there is a re-creation of our lives and minds.
Then, and only then, will we find the power to stop the crime.
 
 
Send your response or questions to question@soencouragement.org
 

 

We are all perturbed about the crime level in our country. We have many questions for which we want answers. Why is the crime escalating? Why does there seem to be no solution to this national scourge? Why does it seem as though nobody cares? Is there really a solution to the dilemma? It is my belief that there are solutions to the problem. But I am not sure that we are truly ready as a nation to go beyond the questioning and start the doing.

Could we reduce the murder rate in our country? I believe we can. The painful truth is that we all are in someway contributing to the increasing crime level in our country. We ignore the cries for help from hurting people. We turn our heads and close our eyes when we know something is wrong. Maybe we should let the crime "roll on" since so many are "benefiting" from it. Why stop crime when it is putting money in our pockets and food on our tables?

[ DISCLAIMER:  Dear reader.  I have traveled several countries around the world and would have always check on tourist sites, crime, etc., before I travel.   One thing I have noticed is that it is easy to exaggerate in one's mind what you are reading or being told.   The Bahamas is truly a peaceful country and most would not even notice the violent crime that might be miles away from where you are staying.  Just be wise. Truthfully, there are more Bahamians that are attacked or robed in another nearby country than the amount of tourist that experience crime in The Bahamas. ]

Here are a few facts and information about crime in The Bahamas  (Updated June 13, 2024)

  1. The Nassau Guardian article on July 19, 2019:  "Bahamas murder rate sixth highest in the Americas"

  2. 2018 murder count lowest in nine years Nassau Guardian article

  3. Download the Police Report on Crime 2019 

  4. Murder count in 2023: 110

  5. Murder count in 2022: 128

  6. Murder count in 2021: 119

  7. Murder count in 2020: 73

  8. Murder count in 2019: 79

  9. Murder count in 2018: 90

  10. Murder count in 2017: 122

 

The poem above is an absurd poem I published in 2001 to help us to take a painful look at this problem of crime in our country.   Send your email response to:  info@soencouragement.org

 
 
 

Your email response/opinion:  question@soencouragement.org

 
 

 

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April 26, 2000, TAGnet/NetAserve / Network Solutions

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