The Bahama Journal Editorial
We live in a time that seems to suggest that there is a war going on out there; with the police pitted against some of their fellow-Bahamians.
With this in mind, today we suggest that, the time has come [and perhaps, some of that same time might have already come and gone] for those in charge of the Royal Bahamas Police Force to be up and doing with coming clean with all they know concerning matters that now routinely lead to the death of this or that civilian.
And for sure, as one incident yields to another in what seems to be a spiral of criminal and police instigated violence – some Bahamians are beginning to tire of what they say happens to be high-handedness on the part of some police officers.
While we are certain that policing is peculiarly stressful in these very hard times; we are also quite sensitive to complaints coming in to the effect that, police officers sometimes do overstep their legal boundaries.
Indeed, such has been admitted by any number of law-makers and bureaucrats who speak knowledgeably about the so-called ‘bad apples’ in uniform.
Here reform is badly needed; and for sure, there is also some indication that, the time might be ripe for the high command in the police force to review its policies concerning who should or should not be armed while on routine patrol in our heartland communities.
And so today, [and like a host of other Bahamians]; we are all ears as the police make it their business to come forward with a fully plausible set of explanations as to how and why it came to be that a young Bain Town man who was said to be gambling on the side of a street now finds himself quite dead.
We need some answers.
Indeed, while we are not quite sure as to precisely what did go down in Bain Town this Saturday past, when a young man died [purportedly at the hands of a policeman]; we are nonetheless prepared to suggest that fear played a major part in skewing the perception of both the policeman and the man he allegedly killed.
As one man tried to run away from the police; he was felled by a bullet coming his way from the muzzle of a policeman’s service revolver.
In time, the rest of this story will be told.
But for now, take note that, something has gone so badly awry in this land that, police and the citizenry are seemingly locked in a mire of mutual incomprehension.
Evidence in support of this conclusion comes from any number of sources; some of these inclusive of reports attributed to the police and to some of our citizens, particularly from any number of people who live in our heartland communities.
On the one hand, we have situations and circumstances where police are convinced that this or that neighborhood is said to be infested with drug dealing, street-level prostitution and a host of other so-called ‘deviant’ activities.
And for sure, there are all those other reports that are proud to report that, while there are problems arising in some of our heartland communities; none of them reaches that level of panic as suggested by some observers who might have other ideas.
Here suffice it to say that, we are absolutely convinced that much that we hear about what is happening in these communities is comprised of a tissue of lies, some stereotyping and a host of gross generalizations.
Evidently, this juxtaposition neatly explains how –in case after bloody case – the police shoot someone or the other who – on examination – turns out to be somebody’s good child.
But for sure, in a situation where fear prevails, misperceptions will and do arise. And so today, we have a situation on our hands where fear, dread and criminality run rampant; with some of our adolescent youth little more than, rapists in the making; murderers in training and thieves in their infancy.
This they do when they are called to provide bail for this child or that child who is –as the saying goes – held in the protective custody of the state.
Something is dreadfully wrong with this picture.
Clearly, then, nothing real or good can come from this latest outrage so long as the police and the people are seemingly at loggerheads.
Here we go further as we note that, things can only go from bad to worse in this land of ours so long as some of our youth [particularly some of those young men who live in the so-called ghetto] see the police as part of an oppressive Babylon.
By the same token, our police officers must come to the realization that, things are not as bad in these heartland communities as some of the stereotypes surrounding them might, would or could suggest.
November 24, 2010
The Bahama Journal Editorial
A political blog about Bahamian politics in The Bahamas, Bahamian Politicans - and the entire Bahamas political lot. Bahamian Blogger Dennis Dames keeps you updated on the political news and views throughout the islands of The Bahamas without fear or favor. Bahamian Politicians and the Bahamian Political Arena: Updates one Post at a time on Bahamas Politics and Bahamas Politicans; and their local, regional and international policies and perspectives.
Showing posts with label Bain Town Bahamas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bain Town Bahamas. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Dr. Bernard Nottage has not done anything to better the inner city community say eight of nine constituents polled in the Bain and Grants Town area
Is Your MP Performing
By Kendea Jones:
Eight out of nine constituents polled in the Bain and Grants Town area yesterday said that Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Member of Parliament Dr. Bernard Nottage, who has represented them for the last three years, has not done anything to better the inner city community.
The Journal, which randomly polls constituencies each week, went out into the community yesterday to ask the residents if their MP was performing.
The Journal traveled through Dumping Ground Corner, which is just a stone’s throw away from Dr. Nottage’s constituency office.
The office was closed.
Lonard Davis, a four-year resident in the constituency said for many years he had hoped that sidewalks would be placed on the road to protect pedestrians.
"If you look at it, you can tell for yourself, people are still walking on the side of the street because there is no sidewalk. I have been gone for almost 30 years and when I came back it was still the same," he said.
When asked if Dr. Nottage’s presence is felt throughout the constituency, Mr. Davis said, "I’ve never really seen him."
Damian Poitier says he has been living in Bain and Grants Town all his life.
He said it seems like every Member of Parliament that has represented the constituency over the years has done a "poor job."
"[Dr. Nottage] is not performing at all because summer camps used to be going on in the area for children but that is not going on anymore and neither is the clean-up campaign. It just goes to show that he doesn’t care too much for the community because you can hardly see his face," he said.
Another resident, Kim Rolle, said on May 2, 2007 she proudly elected Dr. Nottage.
It’s a decision she says she now regrets.
"To be totally honest, I don’t see any performance at all," she said. "They say he probably has a handful of people that he deals with, but I have been here for about 19 years and I have not seen any results since he came in. Before him there was Bradley Roberts and it was the same thing – nothing."
Barbra Gibson said she has a particular gripe with Dr. Nottage.
She said that many of the youths are too idle in the community and that has led to a higher level of crime in the area.
"There is very little evidence as to whether or not the MP for this constituency is performing," Ms. Gibson said. "Who ever is seeking public office should make the decision to assist the people with new, creative ideas."
"You have a group of young men who are willing to work in Bain Town, but there is absolutely nothing there for them to do. The children are just roaming the streets now that there is no summer school. I am looking for an MP who will bring new ideas so that these children could get in some positive activities."
Tubby Johnson had similar sentiments.
He said that he only happens to see Dr. Nottage when there is a murder in the community.
"You only see him showing up so that they can be in front of the cameras. He doesn’t do anything for Bain Town. I want to know where is the $100,000 allowance he was given, because we don’t see it being used on this constituency," Mr. Johnson said.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Fisher claimed he barely knows what his MP looks like.
"I have a question, who is my MP? I don’t see him. I may see him on TV. I didn’t vote for him but at this time I feel that CB Moss [former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) senator] should be the MP for Bain Town because he does more for the community than Dr. Nottage," he said.
But a 44-year resident, who preferred to be called "Johnson" had an entirely different view.
"Dr. Nottage is doing well in my area. He was here last week and there was a good get-together outside of the church. He seems to always be around and he has meetings on Meadow Street," he said.
While many Bain and Grants Town residents say they are not pleased with Dr. Nottage’s performance, they say they will think harder before they decide who will represent them in the House of Assembly in the next general election.
July 29th, 2010
jonesbahamas
By Kendea Jones:
Eight out of nine constituents polled in the Bain and Grants Town area yesterday said that Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Member of Parliament Dr. Bernard Nottage, who has represented them for the last three years, has not done anything to better the inner city community.
The Journal, which randomly polls constituencies each week, went out into the community yesterday to ask the residents if their MP was performing.
The Journal traveled through Dumping Ground Corner, which is just a stone’s throw away from Dr. Nottage’s constituency office.
The office was closed.
Lonard Davis, a four-year resident in the constituency said for many years he had hoped that sidewalks would be placed on the road to protect pedestrians.
"If you look at it, you can tell for yourself, people are still walking on the side of the street because there is no sidewalk. I have been gone for almost 30 years and when I came back it was still the same," he said.
When asked if Dr. Nottage’s presence is felt throughout the constituency, Mr. Davis said, "I’ve never really seen him."
Damian Poitier says he has been living in Bain and Grants Town all his life.
He said it seems like every Member of Parliament that has represented the constituency over the years has done a "poor job."
"[Dr. Nottage] is not performing at all because summer camps used to be going on in the area for children but that is not going on anymore and neither is the clean-up campaign. It just goes to show that he doesn’t care too much for the community because you can hardly see his face," he said.
Another resident, Kim Rolle, said on May 2, 2007 she proudly elected Dr. Nottage.
It’s a decision she says she now regrets.
"To be totally honest, I don’t see any performance at all," she said. "They say he probably has a handful of people that he deals with, but I have been here for about 19 years and I have not seen any results since he came in. Before him there was Bradley Roberts and it was the same thing – nothing."
Barbra Gibson said she has a particular gripe with Dr. Nottage.
She said that many of the youths are too idle in the community and that has led to a higher level of crime in the area.
"There is very little evidence as to whether or not the MP for this constituency is performing," Ms. Gibson said. "Who ever is seeking public office should make the decision to assist the people with new, creative ideas."
"You have a group of young men who are willing to work in Bain Town, but there is absolutely nothing there for them to do. The children are just roaming the streets now that there is no summer school. I am looking for an MP who will bring new ideas so that these children could get in some positive activities."
Tubby Johnson had similar sentiments.
He said that he only happens to see Dr. Nottage when there is a murder in the community.
"You only see him showing up so that they can be in front of the cameras. He doesn’t do anything for Bain Town. I want to know where is the $100,000 allowance he was given, because we don’t see it being used on this constituency," Mr. Johnson said.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Fisher claimed he barely knows what his MP looks like.
"I have a question, who is my MP? I don’t see him. I may see him on TV. I didn’t vote for him but at this time I feel that CB Moss [former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) senator] should be the MP for Bain Town because he does more for the community than Dr. Nottage," he said.
But a 44-year resident, who preferred to be called "Johnson" had an entirely different view.
"Dr. Nottage is doing well in my area. He was here last week and there was a good get-together outside of the church. He seems to always be around and he has meetings on Meadow Street," he said.
While many Bain and Grants Town residents say they are not pleased with Dr. Nottage’s performance, they say they will think harder before they decide who will represent them in the House of Assembly in the next general election.
July 29th, 2010
jonesbahamas
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