MUNROE WORKING ON LEGISLATION TO CREATE FORCE INSPECTORATE

NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe said government is presently working on legislation to allow for a force inspectorate for all security forces in The Bahamas, saying its job will be to do audit checks of the organisations, among other things.

“Currently, we’re working on legislation for a force inspectorate for all of the security forces,” the minister told reporters before heading to a Cabinet meeting yesterday.

it could have been relocated. I don’t know what happened to it. I don’t know. I have no idea. I’ve asked for a report, because I know full well that the land was given for a multi-purpose facility. But what’s happened to it? I’m trying to find out. Once I do, I will let you know,” he said.

“The truth is we are now seeking new land and we’re seeking to help those who you referred (to),” Mr Wilchcombe said.

Mr Wilchcombe added:

“When I went to the annual Christmas event sponsored by Rotary (Club of Nassau) what I found incredibly amazing was the children who were having such a great time. They had a performance of Junkanoo and they asked for additional land.

Mr Wilchcombe continued: “I had spoken with the honourable prime minister about providing additional land for their expansion and we will certainly be doing so. We’re going to help those people the same way.”

“The force inspectorate would be somebody who would do audit checks of organisations to seek to help the head of the organisation understand what structural weaknesses may be.

“When you get to be commissioner, commodore, commissioner of corrections, director of immigration, it is often useful to have an independent person come and have a look. We are now considering that body to potentially be like in Jamaica, that can investigate also fully the matters of serious complaints.”

His comments came amid continued public outcry over alleged police brutality in the country.

Several videos have circulated online in recent months, showing purported law enforcement officers hitting civilians.

Yesterday, Mr Munroe said there are bad apples in every agency and stressed that this is why it’s so important for the public to file complaints on incidents of concern involving the police.

He was also clear that being a police officer will not stop a person from being prosecuted if they break the law.

“You have the Complaints and Corruption

Branch, and they have a cohort of inquiry for subordinate officers, contracted officers and if you don’t get satisfaction there, there’s a Police Complaints Inspectorate based in the Ministry of National Security which is civilian to whom you may complain if you say the system is not working properly,” he also said.