NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC):

Vice-President of the Bahamas Christian Council (BCC), Rev. Patrick Paul has called on the government to do what is necessary to ensure that the justice system in the country is 'fixed'.

"The long delays of criminal cases, the backlog in the judiciary, resulting in some 112 persons who allegedly committed serious crimes after being given bail, it is unacceptable," he told the congregation at the annual law enforcement service on Sunday.

"If this compromise continues, there will be irreversible damage in our society," he warned.

The service was attended by Governor General Arthur Hanna, Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette and Court of Appeal president Dame Joan Sawyer.

Rev. Paul admonished the government to "fully exercise" its delegated power, given by God, to "carry out the laws that are on the books," saying it is the government's responsibility to correct the problems and face the challenges that exist in the judiciary.

Record murders last year

Last year, the Bahamas recorded 79 murders. On the weekend Avery Humes, became the country's first murder victim of the year when he was shot in front of friends and family members.

Police have made no arrests in the latest killing.

Rev. Paul called on the Hubert Ingraham government to bring to Parliament legislation to amend the Bail Act.

"I am saying to you to fix the Bail Act. Persons who have committed serious crimes, an infraction of the law, should not be given bail," Rev. Paul said, adding those first-time offenders, and those persons who have committed misdemeanours, should not be made to mix with those who have committed serious offences.

"Whatsoever you [government] need to do to fix the problem, do it.

Whatsoever it takes to fix it, fix it. Fix the court system. Whatever you need to do to fix it, do it, just keep the public informed. But for God's sake fix it."