Headlines

5 charged for drug possession at NIA estimated street value of $120,000.

Nassau, on New Providence Island, has a population of fewer than 180,000 people. And virtually every one of them can name a friend or relation who's been a victim of violent crime, all too often the crime of murder. The hosts of radio phone-in programmes struggle vainly to steer callers away from the subject of crime and punishment.

A culture of disrespect Sandy Comments: Not the entire culture but a few who are not held accountable for their actions. Their are many wonderful Bahamians but they are the silent majority. Where is the outrage? Why are they willing to live next door or in the same village with arsonist, murderers, thieves and drug dealers?

Bahamas should join CCJ The Bahamas, which has had seventy-plus murders for the past two consecutive years

Guardian "Letter to Editor" Slams Opinion of Nassau Tribune Editor calling him a "Work Permit Holder" and the Tribune a confused newspaper Sandy's Comments: Investor's beware this opinion is prevalent. The writer had every right to disagree with the Tribune Editor's opinion, however calling him a work permit holder indicates that he should not be having an opinion or business in the Bahamas.

http://www.bahamas-corruption.com/crime.html Crime in Nassau is out of control and is seriously threatening the business community and the very fabric of Bahamian society. It's not just the high profile crimes of murder and rape that are ruining the country, small crimes against persons and property are also extremely destructive to business and to the quality of life for all Bahamians.

http//www.travel.dk.com/wdr/BS/mBS_Crim.htm Two convicted murderers were hanged in 1998. Illegal weapons are readily available. Violent crime ranges from narcotics-related activity to serious vandalism. Two women tourists were murdered in 1998.

http://www.thenassauguardian.com/full_article.cfm?page_ID=906&newspaper_ID=1&category_ID=3

http//www.bragg.army.mil/sid/wwwthreat/CountriesABC/baham.htm Bahamas: The US Department of State has labeled the Bahamas a "high crime" country under a crime-rating system that ranks countries low, medium, high or critical.

Drug gangs at war? It is disturbing to frequently hear that this once tranquil Bahamas, population 298,000 (1999 estimate) has major rival drug gangs that are waging all out war among themselves and are constantly killing one another.

Something is foul in Long Island Cat Island is not alone with it's drug problem. Long Island is approx 20 miles south of Cat Island.

Roberts calls Long Island a hot drug spot

Former MP attacks Watson’s handling of crime crisis Long Island Residents continue complaints about drug operations. Where Are the Cat Island Voices?

Family Island policing

Rampant increase in crime in Long Island. “This spotlight came as a result of the rampant increase of criminal activity within this area,” he said.“One of the greatest contributing factors to this increase in criminal activity is directly related to the resurgence of the illicit drug trade.”

Another record year? It is time to put on the brakes, to stop and take stock. It is time to take a good look at where this country is headed in terms of criminal activity, especially serious crime such as trafficking in firearms and narcotics, armed robbery, rape and murder.

Exuma man set ablaze Sandy's Notes: Robby and I can be thankful that we were able to escape and only the clubhouse and hotel rooms were destroyed.

http://freedomhouse.org/survey/2000/reports/country/bahamas.html A battle for leadership of the ruling Free National Movement (FNM), to be decided at a party convention in April 2000, resulted in December 1999 in the resignation of the Bahamas’ attorney general and the firing of one of his key political allies by Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham. Ingraham, who has announced he will step down as party chief at the end of his second term in office, appeared to be attempting to maintain control of the party apparatus. A spiraling crime rate linked to illegal narcotics and gunrunning has left Bahamians questioning whether the islands were returning to the ways of the last decade, when the Bahamas earned the nickname “a nation for sale.”

Sandy's Note: 90+ are fighting extrication from the Bahamas to the U. S. on drug related charges. Will the U. S. be able to extradite Samuel Knowles, the alleged ring leader and the 9 other suspects?

New financial services and anti-crime bills now in force.
Sandy's Note: Prime Minster Ingraham's efforts have been successful. Prime Minister Ingraham should be commended for his fight to have this bill passed. Parliament has passed the bill, but will the law be enforced? Will wait to see if the two current convicted Cat Island Drug Dealers, who are appealing their conviction, are ultimately brought to justice. They can not justify their income. Will the files "Get Lost?" Robby has always believed the Prime Minister was anti-drug; however he has not done enough to weed out the corruption of police, the courts and government officials. How can incriminating files disappear? I am especially interested in those of the Russell Family on Cat Island. (The Office of Prime Minister Ingraham's answer to our letter concerning the situation at Cutlass Bay was that the letter had been received.)

Report from Offshore Alert, www.offshorebusiness.com Click HERE to view a 384-page US Senate report issued on February 5, 2001 entitled 'Correspondent Banking: A Gateway to Money Laundering'. The report is saved as a 'pdf' file and is 915 kb in size. (takes a few minutes to load)

Significant fall-off in IBCs since December Financial experts have reported that there has been a significant slow down in business since the package of financial services and anti-crime legislation was enacted by Parliament in December. The number of IBC’s, previously above 100,000, are declining at an alarming rate.

U. S. Citizens check out these dollar figures. I am looking for a budget for the DEA task force stationed in the Bahamas. http://www.ciponline.org/facts/ba.htm

AVIATION CRIME PREVENTION INSTITUTE, INC KING AIR OWNERS TAKE NOTE: Smugglers prefer using King Air Models. Maintain a high level of security, especially if traveling to the Bahamas. An attempted theft last year at Treasure Key, Bahamas was defeated because the King Air has the Smart Start system installed.

New Comment: 04/11/2001 Hopefully the threat by drug dealers against Mr. Ingraham will begin an effort to put a stop to the drug dealers and their associates in Cat Island also.

Prime Minister Ingraham says "Enough is Enough." Mr. Ingraham, you did not answer letters addressed to you before the August 1999 Arson and Attempted Murder at Cutlass Bay Club . Pleas for help.

Mr. Ingraham, Why are those guilty of the arson and attempted murder not in jail? Why is another Russell from Cat Island allowed to go free? I believe the Bahamian Police Department did their job. My husband was informed the day before the arson and attempted murder that Ezra Russell had put a contract out on his life. Letters were sent to the police and the American Embassy. The attack occurred and police did their job. They caught the two assailants. After confessing to their own guilt, the assailants named Ezra Russell as the person that hired them to kill my husband and burn Cutlass Bay Club.

You, Mr. Ingraham, are saying "Enough is Enough." Robby and I had been saying "Enough is Enough" since January 1999. That did not stop Ezra Russell from hiring the two assailants and burning Cutlass Bay Club and attempting to kill us. The Russells are known for getting away with "murder." It has happened again and they are just small time drug dealers. If they can buy the courts and police, how can one expect the "drug lords" in the Bahamas to be held accountable? I hope you have scheduled an investigation of the entire Russell Family under your recently passed Financial Legislation.

One Million Dollars Found in Grand Bahamas