NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) – The Bahamas’ main Opposition party, Free National Movement (FNM) has called for the dismissal or resignation of National Security Minister, Wayne Munroe, amid fears that the country could break the record 145 murders this year.

“It is now abundantly clear that the current minister, Wayne Munroe, is out of his depth and out of ideas and it is time for him to resign or for the prime minister to remove him and put in place somebody who can provide better leadership,” said FNM chairman, Dr Duane Sands.

His comments follow last week’s murder of four people, pushing the toll so far this year to 94.

Sands said it seems as though the government of Prime Minister Phillip Davis has thrown its hands up in the air over the ongoing crime situation, after Prime Minister Davis last week told reporters young people needed a mind reset given “the senseless killing that’s going on.

“It’s unacceptable. We are doing our best to curb this vicious crime. It really requires a reset of our young people’s minds and to appreciate that there is a lot here, a lot of positive things that we can do, that they ought to be engaging themselves in.

“We have to ensure that we don’t have that many idle hands around because idle hands are the work of the devil. We are working assiduously to ensure that we have everyone engaged, particularly our young men and women,” Davis said.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Fred Mitchell, speaking in Parliament last week, defended the measures being put in place by the authorities to deal with the crime situation and asked the opposition to stat what more could the government do.

“I don’t want the public to be left with the impression that we think this is a joke. Every day we are just as bothered as you are about this crime situation. I’ve asked you privately, what more is it you expect us to do?”

But the FNM said that the comments by Prime Minister Davis and Mitchell indicate that they “have thrown up their hands,” adding “no wonder we in trouble”.

The opposition party said that there is a growing crisis in confidence in the police force due to serious allegations of corruption, repeating calls for a commission of inquiry to investigate these claims.

Sands urged the government to to establish an advisory group of experts to develop a better plan for social intervention and programs for at-risk youth.

“Our current intervention efforts are piecemeal and insufficient and we should be doing more. All of these plans will require significant resources and leadership by the prime minister. So far he has failed miserably to invest the necessary resources and to demonstrate the quality and consistency of leadership needed to keep us safe and secure. But every day our streets are flowing with blood,” Sands added.