Bahamas Christian Council: We Were Not Consulted

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – One day after Parliament passed an Anti-Gang Bill, Bahamas Christian Council President Bishop Delton Fernander says the council was not consulted on the matter so he says they didn’t read it.

Parliament passed the bill Wednesday afternoon.

The bill levies a $100,000 fine and a 25-year prison term to anyone convicted of gang-related offenses.

The bill also issues fines and prison sentences for recruiting someone to join a gang; committing an offense for the financial benefit of a gang; instructing a gang member to commit a serious offense; threatening someone in retaliation in response to violence against a gang member or leader and for endangering someone or casing damage to property on behalf of gangs, among other things.

It also levies a 20-year sentence to anyone found guilty of harboring gang leaders or members.

The Free National Movement supported the bill, but according to Deputy Leader Shanendon Cartwright, the real question is how to prevent teens from joining gangs.