ROTARY CLUB TOWN MEETING

March 2001 Table of Contents

ROTARY CLUB TOWN MEETING

The Rotary Club of Abaco held a town meeting on 19th January at the Anglican Church Hall in Marsh Harbour with Acting Commissioner of Police Paul Farquarson as the speaker. District Superintendant Jackson McIntosh was the MC for the evening and Senator Mike Bethel greeted Mr Farquarson on behalf of by ASP Russell, officer in charge of the Abaco division.

Crime was the subject of the evening and Mr Farquarson outlined steps the Royal Bahamas Police Force were taking to combat criminal activity. The force consisted of 2,133 officers, 474 reserves, 306 civilian support staff and over 400 vehicles. It operated on a budget for 2000 of $65.8 million.
Possession of firearms was of particular concern, said Mr Farquarson. In 2000 there were 172 guns seized and 265 people arrested for firearms. One of the guns seized was a grenade launcher capable of bringing down a large aircraft. Mr Farquarson said he had been to south Florida and discussed the problem with police chiefs there. He expected full cooperation from US forces to prevent the importation of firearms into The Bahamas.

There had been a record number of homicides (73) in The Bahamas in 2000, 21 attributable to domestic violence, another matter of grave concern to the force. Four homicides had occurred on Abaco and three of them could be attributed to domestic violence.

There were 76 deaths during the same time due to traffic accidents, including five on Abaco. Speeding was by far the major contributing factor, said Mr Farquarson. The public should always drive well within headlight range at night and obey speed limits which are 45 mph on the highway and 15 mph in school zones.

Mr Farquarson said he had noted that Abaco had long stretches of unlit highway and this meant that drivers should be even more careful. Even in built up areas lighting was very poor. Abaco was short of traffic signs and he asked local government to look into the matter. He also noticed that very few drivers dipped their headlights at night, creating a dangerous situation.

On the positive side, Abaco was the first Out Island to be linked to the force's IBM AS400 data base. This contains drivers licence and fingerprint information. It had already led to the apprehension of two suspects in criminal matters. There would also be six CID officers posted to Abaco under Sgt Cleophas Cooper. Mr Farquarson asked that the public assist Sgt Cooper and his men by providing information about crimes.

Mr Farquarson's presentation was comprehensive, urbane and occasionally witty. Several attendees expressed confidence that Mr Farquarson and the Royal Bahamas Police Force would appreciably reduce the crime figures for 2001.

A consultative was established to liaison with the Royal Bahamas Police Force on Abaco. The members are: Cecile Albury, Maurdee Albury, Robert Albury, Earlin Baillou, Keith Baseden, Nadeen Beneby, Charlie Cooke, Al Cooper, Clifford Henfield Jr, Al Key, Leiann Key-Kaighan, Randy Key, Robert Malone, V Gurth Russell. Rory Russell, Donna Sands, Claudia Sawyer, Don Sawyer, Faron Sawyer, Perry Sawyer, Keith Stratton, Royann Swain, Chris Thompson, Harcourt Thompson, Clay Wilthoyt, Lisa Wilthoyt, Jimmy Williams and Larry Williams.

March 2001 Table of Contents