The Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Philip Davis, has urged The Bahamian media to keep crime from the front pages of their news as a means to protect tourism.

He asserts that the media should be more mindful of maintaining the country’s reputation, and that there has been a significant shift in the numbers in the tourism sector, with hotels reporting that tourists are refusing to leave the resorts. Indicating a rippling effect of highlighting crime in this manner.

“What is happening in this country is not only happening here. If you go to Jamaica, they had over 70 murders in less than three and half weeks. Trinidad over 100 …,” Davis said in trying to detract from the problem confronting his government.

““I want to call upon the press to be sensitive. I think they should see their role as trying to help the country. I’m not saying not to report, but where you report, it may make a difference… Check Trinidad, check the United States, just check and see where it is. It’s never on the front page.”

“But every bullet that is fired appears to be front page news on all of our daily news. And what happens, AP picks it up, Reuters pick it up and what happens, and it’s continuing,” he lamented in a desperate appeal to the media.

The long-promised anti-gang legislation will be released next week, the Bahamas leader promised.

To date, The Bahamas has recorded 25 murders, many of the incidents being gang associated.