The Bahamas Records 30 Per Cent Decline in Murders For 2025

NASSAU, Bahamas – National Security Minister, Wayne Munroe, says while he is pleased with a 30 per cent decline in the number of murders in The Bahamas so far this year, he remains dissatisfied at the level of crime in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)  country.

Police at a murder scene n The Bahamas this year (File Photo)Munroe told the Nassau Guardian newspaper that as of December 29, the country had recorded 83 as to compared with 120 murders in 2024 attributing the decrease to measures aimed at reducing crime.

“I’m still not satisfied with the numbers,” he said, adding “there’s still too much violent crime. Bearing in mind, I’m 57, and I remember what it was like when I was a child.

“To see it get to this over that period is what isn’t encouraging, even though the numbers are trending in the right direction. So I’ll never be happy with 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 Bahamians being murdered. I could never be satisfied with that.”

In 2023, the country recorded 110 murders and with 2020 being the year with the lowest number of murders in recent years when 73 people were killed.

Observers say that the low figure was due primarily to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic  which was marked by months of strict lockdowns and curfew measures to combat the spread of COVID.

Munroe yesterday said the Phillip Davis government has been “steadfast” with its five-pillar crime plan, which outlined initiatives in prevention, policing, prosecution, punishment and rehabilitation.

It included a focus on community policing, intervention programs, increasing policing manpower and improving technology on the force, measures to speed up the judicial process and reduce court backlogs, and the expansion of rehabilitation programs for offenders.

The National Security Minister also made reference to the continued investments for prevention, including in community centers and youth programmes as well as the legislative changes.

“We did some work with the courts in terms of the judge alone trial, in terms of the Bail Amendment Bill that may be bearing some fruit . You would remember a lot of the persons who were murdered used to be people on bail. I think that number has fallen.”

Munroe said that anti-gang legislation that increased penalties for gang activity.