The agony of abused Bahamian women in The Bahamas and Leslie Miller's domestic violence revelations

My daughter’s lesson on domestic violence

Every morning, on the way to school, my eldest daughter’s job is to read the newspaper’s headlines or top stories to me as I drive.

She always waits for my reaction to the news before moving to the next story. So it was when Leslie Miller made headlines with his offensive, tasteless and very harmful story told as a joke on the floor of Parliament. The first day my reaction was a “suck teet”. She did not react and we moved on to other news stories.

As the matter captured headlines for many days, I noticed that she continued to watch for my reaction. Still, and notwithstanding the anger boiling up in me, I made no comment.

By the time we got to the newspaper headline about the $1,000 check donation Miller presented to and which was refused by the Crisis Centre, I had reached my limit and made my displeasure known with a few choice words. I told her that Leslie Miller was a poor example of a member of Parliament. I told her that his behavior in telling the story about abusing a woman was wrong, demeaning to women and inexcusable.

Then came the million-dollar question: “Mummy why are you so angry if he said sorry?”

I had to determine how I was going to explain to an eight-year-old that when someone does something so bad, such as bragging about committing acts of domestic violence, “sorry” simply doesn’t cut it.

I wondered how best to impart that fact to her. I told her that unfortunately some women somewhere in our country are abused every day by their boyfriends and or husbands. I told her that often their abusers say “sorry” but then abuse them again. Sometimes, I told her abusers come home with flowers and candy or with gifts of jewelry or cloths. Many mouth poetic apologies and give promises to never again commit those disgraceful acts of aggression and hurt. And I told her that sometimes, in those terrible circumstances, sorry is not enough; gifts don’t mean anything and women must learn to protect themselves. I explained to her that in life she would learn that not every apology was genuine and that every apology did not have to be accepted.

As most trusting children do, she accepted what her mother told her and moved on.

I, on the other hand, began to really think about the lesson I was teaching her. As a mother, was I teaching my daughter that domestic violence is a joking matter? Was my original silence on this important issue tacit consent? Was I silently condoning what was most likely one of the more despicable commentaries ever uttered in the House of Assembly, where supposed honorable men and women gather to represent the interests of all Bahamians at the highest level in our society?

At that moment I determined, rightly or wrongly, that I would wait until I spoke in the Senate to express my disappointment in the member of Parliament for Tall Pines and to express my support for the great work being done by the Crisis Centre, and organizations like “Holla Back”, which seek to raise our consciences about the problem of abused women in The Bahamas, helping to create safe spaces for those persons escaping abuse.

I did not want any statement made by me to be interpreted as scoring political points and so I intended to reserve comment for the upper chamber. Unfortunately, the opportunity to discuss this very important matter in the Senate has not presented itself and I feel compelled to make my views on this subject public.

The messages we send

I believe that we have to be very careful about the messages we send to our young people by what we say and what we do in our lives.

We cannot tell them that abuse is a joking matter whether it is abuse of a woman by a man, of a child whether male or female by a woman or a man; indeed, abuse of one man by another man is not acceptable.

We cannot, and must not, tell the next generation that it is acceptable to brag about or to joke about or make light about beating down another human being, much less accept our men telling tales and joking about abusing a woman.

Such acts of abuse cannot go without a strong, strict rebuke.

I did not speak up right away. For that I apologize to my children and to every woman, man or child who has suffered abuse in our Bahamas.

Shamefully, others seated in both chambers of our Parliament also failed to speak up including our prime minister, the leader of our country and the leader of Miller’s political party.

As a young Bahamian woman, I thought it was important that we hear from Prime Minister Perry Christie on this matter. I thought this was especially important since he, when given the opportunity in 2002 to stand up for equality for women, voted first in support of constitutional amendments meant to remove the last forms of official discrimination against women from our constitution, but then came out of the House of Assembly and spearheaded the Vote No campaign to kill the amendment.

After successfully derailing the first opportunity for women to attain equality under our independent constitution in 2002, Christie promised that if elected to office he would bring back the same constitutional referendum concerning equality for women. He won an election in 2002 but that constitutional referendum never came back and Bahamian women continue to be discriminated against in our constitution.

Since returning to office again in 2012, Christie’s government has not found it convenient to bring the constitutional referendum to remove gender discrimination from our constitution.

Recently, Christie’s government made much ado about the 50th anniversary of the Bahamas’ women’s suffrage movement. At that time, he again promised to bring forward a constitutional referendum on women's rights; the same promise he made over 12 years ago.

We continue to wait; while the government finds the time for a referendum on numbers and gambling; while legislation is drafted and redrafted to accommodate stem cell research, always taking care of “da boys” out in front while Bahamian women continue to wait.

While I cry shame on the prime minister on his deafening silence on this critically important issue for women in our country, I express even more surprise that the usually vociferous (I would even dare say pit bull like) women of the PLP appear to have allowed the bite of a self-styled “political potcake” to get the better of them.

Shamefully these PLP women called a press conference to condemn and ridicule the member of Parliament for Long Island, Loretta Butler-Turner, for her stand against the abuse of women and the actions of Miller in trivializing this terrible issue that traumatizes far too many women in our country.

In fact, at that press conference the PLP female spokespersons said that no woman in public life who is a mother should be making those political statements. Well I say that no woman in public life should remain silent while a male MP brags and jokes about domestic violence, others squawk and cackle and others just remain silent.

Standing up for women

I want to teach my daughters a few valuable lessons about respect for the dignity of all human beings.

I call upon the leaders of this nation to help me to teach this lesson, not only to my children but to all the children of our country. Sometimes “sorry” is just not enough. Sometimes a monetary gift cannot erase the damage.

I call on the PM, my own leader, Dr. Hubert Minnis, and all public figures on all sides of the political divide, please stand up for women. Let us demonstrate that we can still be a country with moral and ethical standards.

Prime minister, your government has not been a bastion of hope for women’s issues. So many promises that were especially targeted to win you support of Bahamian women at the polls in 2012 have thus far proven to be little more than electioneering.

I ask that you not fail Bahamian women on this issue of standing up against abuse. Say something. Let us hear from you – loudly and repeatedly. Do something that will encourage the thousands of women – wives, mothers, daughters, sisters and girlfriends – who have either been abused or who have a tender loved one who has or is presently suffering abuse. Assure Bahamian women that you really do care, that you do not condone or excuse abusive behavior – verbal or physical from any person on your team.

Let us all stand up and support human dignity and respect for one another.

The time for this is now.

• Heather Hunt is an attorney and senator.

April 02, 2014

thenassauguardian.com

Domestic Violence is not a joke, Leslie Miller

 Why Domestic Violence Isn’t Funny Mr. Miller 

Author: Danelle Rolle - drolle@purdue.edu
 

As a Bahamian student studying abroad, I try to keep as updated as I can about what’s going on in my country. While having a down moment on Facebook I came across a video of one of my nation’s Members of Parliament (M.P.’s), the Hon. Leslie O. Miller, speaking in the House of Assembly during the mid-year budget debate. (For those of you that are unaware, the Bahamas still operates on the British parliamentary system).

In the video, which can be viewed here, Mr. Miller uses a domestic violence scenario to illustrate a point on “the idea of love”. I’ll admit that I am not aware of what was said prior to or post of this clip. However, as a young Bahamian woman of voting age, what I saw in that 1 minute and 13 seconds left me utterly appalled, ashamed and angry at my country’s representation. Mr. Miller claimed that what he said was just in “jest”, however due to the global extent of domestic violence there are many reasons why it is no laughing matter.

Domestic violence against women, especially by a partner, is a major public health issue and a violation of women’s human rights[1].  Worldwide, 35% of women have reported either “physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence”[1]. With over 3 billion women in the world, a billion of them have had their rights infringed upon specifically by someone they knew. Is it still funny now, Mr. Miller? Additionally, up to 38% of the world’s murders where the victims are women, occur at the hands of an intimate partner[1].  In the Caribbean region alone, 25% of the murders committed are a result of domestic violence/relational disputes[2]. With roughly 1200 cases of domestic violence being reported annually in the Bahamas[2], is it still funny now, Mr. Miller?

Aside from the obvious initial physical trauma, domestic violence can have other negative effects on a woman’s health. For example, women who have suffered intimate partner abuse can experience depression and post-traumatic stress disorder – the two most prevalent mental-health issues that arise post abuse[3]. Knowing that these women experience mental effects that are still present long after the bruises disappear, is it still funny now, Mr. Miller?

There are also economic repercussions to domestic violence against women. According to the World Health Organization, women may be unable to work post abuse, which can result in “ loss of wages, lack of participation in regular activities and limited ability to care for themselves and their children”[1].  As a member of the governing body who is responsible for our economic stability, is it still funny now, Mr. Miller?

I do not want to make it seem as if Mr. Miller was the only one wrong in the situation. Although he initially made the poor joke, every M. P. that found it funny is just as culpable as he is. I was especially disheartened to see the Hon. Cleola Hamilton, another M.P AND woman, laughing at what Mr. Miller said. Many women do not leave abusive relationships because of the shame they feel. By laughing at their situation, these M.P.’s could have possibly deterred many Bahamian women from seeking help. If their own leaders are making a mockery of their situation, why won’t others?  With elections only a few years away, many voters – especially female voters – won’t forget how a major issue that affects us was made “sport of” by our nation’s leaders. With the disrespect and insensitivity shown forever engrained in our memories, is it still funny now, Mr. Miller? 



[1] The World Health Organization (2013). Violence against women. A WHO publication. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs239/en/ (Accessed March 2014).


[2] Maura, M. (2012).  Domestic violence in The Bahamas accounts for 25 percent of regional murders. A TheBahamasWeekly.com publication. http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/bis-news-updates/Domestic_violence_in_The_Bahamas_accounts_for_25_percent_of_regional_murders24123.shtml (Accessed March 2014).


[3] Campbell, J.C. (2002). Health consequences of intimate partner violence. The Lancet. Vol 359, 1331-1336

March 06, 2014

purduepublichealth.weebly.com

Women of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) find Leslie Miller’s girlfriend beating remarks in Parliament extremely offensive and disturbing

Do Our Parliamentarians Condone Abuse Against Women?

Leslie Miller’s recent comments from the floor of Parliament last week speak to an issue that women in this country, and around the world, have faced for decades. The idea that any sort of violence against women has become laughable to the nation’s legislators is unfortunate, unacceptable but sadly unsurprising. Gender based violence in the Bahamas is real. It is a reality with which hundreds of women and girls face every day and everywhere.

Sadly, women who are being abused by their husbands or boyfriends continue to remain silent living in fear of their abusers, many of whom are high profile individuals not unlike Mr. Leslie Miller himself. It is disappointing to know the very people that should advocate for stronger laws to protect the rights of women are the ones making a mockery of women, especially those who are “victims”.

Mr. Leslie Miller has since attempted to back pedal from his comments. At the time, the Tall Pines Member of Parliament was attempting to draw a comparison between the FNM’s self-proclaimed love of the country’s fishermen while likening it to a husband who daily beats his wife as a way of demonstrating his love. Those comments, he says, were made in jest. As a father and a grandfather, I wonder if Mr. Leslie Miller would find the abuse of his own daughters at the hand of someone else equally as amusing.

What is even more shameful is the number of Parliamentarians who laughed along with him and others, while female members of government remained silent. As President of the DNA Women’s Alliance, I find these remarks extremely offensive and disturbing. The fact that Mr. Leslie Miller was not rebuked in that moment also gives me cause for great concern.

We do not elect Members of Parliament to be regaled with stories about their distorted sexual relationships. We do not elect them to be comedians at the expense of Bahamian women. We elect them to defend the rights of ALL BAHAMIANS and with women making up a large section of the voting public, we elect them to defend the rights of ALL WOMEN.

Are these the types of persons whom PM Perry Christie has deemed fit to lead? Does he himself condone the disrespect of Bahamian women, many of whom voted for him during the last general election? We demand that Mr. Christie offer an explanation for his silence on this very serious issue. He too, must answer for his apparent inability to curb the inappropriate behavior of members of his own government.

Just over a month ago, the DNA Women’s Alliance launched a campaign to “Break the cycle of abuse on women and children”. The forum encouraged men and women to break the cycle of abuse by breaking the silence and speaking out against violence and reporting their abusers.

Perhaps Mr. Leslie Miller would do well to attend one such forum. Perhaps then, his hands as he put it would become tired or hurt, not from physically assaulting a woman, but rather from helping to build up the country’s communities. Perhaps Mr. Leslie Miller would prefer that the voting public gave him the ‘break’ which he asked for by having him removed as the representative for Tall Pines.

This is a very serious matter, and we expect our Members of Parliament to be in our corner, and support us on this matter. The women of the Bahamas are owed an apology, immediately. Point, Blank, Period.

Prodesta Moore
DNA Women’s Alliance President

March 06, 2014

Democratic National Alliance (DNA) on Facebook

If Mr. Perry Christie was ever dumb enough to agree with Raynard Rigby, Philip Galanis, and George Smith to deny nominations to a number of his closest allies in the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) - he would in that same gesture prove that he is unfit to lead The Bahamas

Nixing Preemptive PLP Purge
The Bahama Journal Editorial


There is a sense we are getting that tells us that there may be forces and elements currently at work in the precincts of the Progressive Liberal Party that would [if given their chance] help their organization to a defeat.

There are occasions in life when the sure thing can become the very thing that is lost – having been sacrificed to greed, jealousy and a species of one-upmanship run amok.

One such occasion now seems to be upon the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie as some of his party’s more senior members seek to persuade him [and the Party hierarchy] to deny nominations to a number of his closest allies; inclusive of Leslie Miller, Obie Wilchcombe, Vincent Peet – and Shane Gibson.

If Mr. Christie was ever dumb enough to agree with these men, he would in that same gesture prove that he is unfit to lead this nation.

In addition, we seriously wonder if the men who are trying to advise the former prime minister that he should so purge his party really understand the true import of what they are suggesting.

We cut – as it were – to the chase: Mr. Christie would prove himself a hypocrite of the highest order were he to be perceived as being party to this kind of proposed back-stabbing.

Like others who are all for probity in public life, we are also realistic enough to know and appreciate – as fact – that the Bahamian people are smart enough and savvy enough to appreciate – again as fact – that they are voting for men and not angels.

It therefore follows that, if the people in a constituency; members in a party – and others concerned – are prepared to support a candidate, that should be their choice.

Furthermore, Mr. Christie would be well-advised to watch carefully as this or that self-serving crew tries to get him to second-guess his earlier notions that there should always be some second chance for this or that person.

In addition, the PLP’s party leader would also be well-advised to tune in to what the people are saying at the constituency level – this because this is going to be decisive whenever general elections are called.

Clearly, those men who would have the PLP’s leader divest him and his team of some of their most precious assets are jesting.

If they are not jesting, they must be on some mission or the other designed to help the PLP to a resounding defeat.

No political organization can ever hope to succeed if it allows itself to become little more than a mechanism designed to service the needs of the few.

Indeed, all who have succeeded have done so because they have kept close to the people whose voices matter most; namely the masses.

Put simply, winning a seat in parliament has all to do with being – as the saying goes – popular.

It therefore follows that the people can and should be allowed their choices of candidate, warts and all.

These people know better than anyone else that election to parliament is not about selection to sing in a heaven-bound choir.

Evidently, there will arise occasions when the people decide that they want this or that man or woman to represent them, regardless.

We remember some of Whitney Bastian’s travails when he sought [and did not get] a PLP nomination. As the record shows, he begged, he cajoled and he was denied.

He went on to win the seat in South Andros because he was the people’s choice.

Clearly, then, the same principle applies to all others who find favor with the Bahamian people. This list could well include the likes of Leslie Miller, Vincent Peet, Obie Wilchcombe and [yes!] Shane Gibson.

We are today bemused by those men who have decided that, among all others, they are uniquely qualified to stand in judgment of some other men and women.

Like others who make it their business to take stock of matters political, we are sometimes left bemused by some of the stuff that comes to our attention.

We are today bemused not only because we know a thing or two about the men who are said to advising PLP leader to deep-six a number of his parliamentary colleagues.

In addition, they would have "their leader" renounce giving his nod to the candidacy of a man who was once a Cabinet Minister under the leadership of none other than the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie.

These men – again as we understand the matter at hand – would have the former prime minister sever connection with some of his parliamentary colleagues – men who have been with him through thick and thin.

May 17th, 2011

The Bahama Journal Editorial

Bahamas Blog International

George Smith - former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) MP says that he hopes his party's supporters will see the wisdom in his words about the withdrawal of certain PLP candidates from the upcoming general election

Ex-PLP MP defends controversial letter


By PAUL G TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
pturnquest@tribunemedia.net



DEFENDING the letter he co-penned calling for the withdrawal of certain PLP candidates from the upcoming general election, former PLP MP George Smith said that in the passage of time he hopes his party's supporters will see the wisdom in his words.

Speaking with The Tribune yesterday, Mr Smith said he, with former PLP chairman Raynard Rigby and former campaign coordinator Philip Galanis, were not being critical of these particular candidates because they believed what was being said about them - but rather there is a "perception" that surrounds some of them.

"If the public perceives you to be something, that is what you are. I don't believe that anybody, principally the leader, can put affection for any individual above the good of the Bahamas, the good of the party, and I believe - since I believe the PLP is the best party in the Bahamas - we should remove as many stumbling blocks as possible. And it is not always easy to do that. Sometimes you have to ask your best friend to move aside," he said.

Mr Smith was referring to a letter that he, Mr Rigby and Mr Galanis wrote to PLP leader Perry Christie urging him to block the nominations of Shane Gibson, Vincent Peet, Obie Wilchcombe, V Alfred Gray, Leslie Miller, Anthony Moss and Picewell Forbes for fear that their nominations could hurt the party on a national scale if the varied pasts of some of them were once again highlighted during a general election campaign.

The PLP's leader went on record to express his disappointment that this "internal" letter had been leaked to the press.

However, Mr Christie said, he was not going to be distracted by this latest incident and that his party remains focused on supporting the "excellent candidates" and hardworking activists who comprise his party.

Vetting

"Each and every candidate is required to undergo a vigorous vetting process - a process that is open, fair and transparent. All voices are welcome, and the process is both balanced and inclusive," Mr Christie said.

While accepting this, Mr Smith said that a requirement not to run "tainted" candidates does not come from a fear that the FNM will gain some political mileage, but rather a belief that the people of the country ought to have faith that the people who represent them in Parliament will always put the welfare of the country above their own personal interests.

"That has to be obvious. If the public believes you are in there to enrich yourself, even if you don't, if the public believes it, they will question your activities.

"And, it's like if a fella' has a weakness in a particular area, if he is for instance a gambler, you have to be very careful how you expose him to the great temptation of money. That got one politician in trouble.

"Or if a fella' is a heavy womanizer, you have to be careful that you protect him from his own weakness.

"And some of us became victims and paid prices because of perception and that is how it is."

Mr Smith said that this advice is, of course, applicable to the FNM as well.

"They have people there who the people have had cause to question, Tommy Turnquest, and Dion Foulkes, and you have to recognise that my actions in this instance will do damage to my party," he said.

Mr Smith also highlighted, however, that he does believe in rehabilitation.

"If any wrong that I may have committed, if I was sentenced to a prison term, I would have been out long time. But I also believe that our society should be a forgiving society. So if some of these fella's would just step aside and acknowledge that my action in this particular thing was wrong, and not because it was legally wrong, it was perceived to be wrong. Step aside, and come back," he said.

Mr Smith gave the famous example of Jamaica's former Prime Minister, PJ Patterson, who was forced to resign as the Minister of Finance to later return as chairman of his party and then eventually become Prime Minister.

"I also believe that the problem we are facing in this country is, I am not sure if (Prime Minister) Ingraham and other people who call themselves leaders look at themselves and look and say am I a liability?" he laughed.

Having been roundly criticised on the talkshows for the now infamous letter, Mr Smith said people have a right to "cuss him."

But, at the end of the day he asked, "is my message right?"

May 18, 2011

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International

Raynard Rigby - former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) chairman resigned from a crucial party election committee

Rigby resigns from PLP committee

By CANDIA DAMES
Guardian News Editor
candia@nasguard.com

Many PLPs angered by letter to Christie


A day after The Nassau Guardian revealed that three influential members of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) were seeking to block the re-nomination of several PLP members of Parliament, former party chairman Raynard Rigby resigned from a crucial party election committee.

The Nassau Guardian confirmed that Rigby resigned yesterday as the coordinator of the southwest constituencies for the party in the upcoming general election.

It was considered a key position as the PLP oils its machinery for what some pundits think will shape up to be a bitterly fought battle at the polls.

Rigby told The Guardian he had no comment on the matter.

As the party has already gone into campaign mode, Rigby was selected to organize the party’s efforts in southwest New Providence.

As was reported exclusively by The Guardian Monday, Rigby was one of the authors of a letter written to PLP leader Perry Christie, urging him to make “bold decisions” with respect to party nominations.

The other authors of the letter were Philip Galanis, a former parliamentarian who organized the party’s re-election effort in 2007, and George Smith, a former parliamentarian and Cabinet minister.

The three men are against the nominations of Shane Gibson (Golden Gates); Vincent Peet (North Andros and the Berry Islands); Obie Wilchcombe (West End and Bimini); V. Alfred Gray (MICAL); Picewell Forbes (South Andros); Leslie Miller (Blue Hills) and Anthony Moss (Exuma).

They also said the party must be in a position to defend Arnold Forbes (Mount Moriah) in the event he faces any attacks over a reported challenge in his professional life.

Wilchcombe, Gray, Miller and Arnold Forbes have been ratified by the party’s National General Council.

Still, Rigby, Smith and Galanis suggested that these nominations ought to be reviewed if the party is to have a chance of winning the election.

They believe that the various controversies would hurt the party’s chances at the polls.

Christie has already expressed disappointment that someone leaked the letter to The Guardian and many within the party are calling for the heads of the three authors.

They have come under fire from PLPs angry that they would even suggest the men are not suited to run on the PLP’s ticket.

Rigby, Galanis and Smith are themselves no strangers to controversy. They are among the most outspoken men in the PLP. Rigby has made several candid comments since the 2007 election that have angered some PLPs.

In 2008, Rigby blasted the opposition for “failing to properly address national issues”.

At the time, he said: "I think the opposition has demonstrated a degree of strength, however, there appears to be a lack of coordination between what is being done in Parliament and what is required to be done outside of Parliament by the party and its broad-based membership."

Earlier, he said a number of things went wrong for the PLP in the last election.

"People were not connected to our message. People did not understand what the government was trying to achieve by these anchor development projects," he said.

"People didn’t get a sense that the government was close enough to them."

Rigby — who made the remarks after the last general election while he was still PLP chairman — said the party probably made some errors in judgment as it related to selecting candidates.

"And I think by and large people bought into this question of Mr. Christie that he was weak and indecisive and we allowed the FNM, to a very great extent, to determine the issues in the election, and they focused purely on issues of leadership," he said at the time.

In 2009, Rigby said publicly that it was inappropriate for Wilchcombe to serve as chairman of the approaching PLP convention and run for the deputy leadership post.

And on numerous occasions, Rigby has publicly criticized Christie’s leadership.

But the various controversies were set aside several months ago when the party’s leadership appointed Rigby coordinator for the southwest constituencies for the approaching election.

Some observers viewed it as a “kiss and make-up” between Rigby and Christie.

Christie has repeatedly talked about the importance of the party getting an early start as the campaign season approaches.

It announced candidates for the 2007 election just several weeks before voters went to the polls.

In addition to Wilchcombe, Gray, Miller and Arnold Forbes, the PLP has already made key selections for the upcoming election.

They are: Renardo Curry (North Abaco); Dr. Andre Rollins (Fort Charlotte); Alex Storr (Long Island and Ragged Island) Tanisha Tynes (Lucaya); Clay Sweeting (North Eleuthera); Dr. Bernard J. Nottage (Bain and Grants Town); Fred Mitchell (Fox Hill); Frank E. Smith (St. Thomas More); Melanie Griffin (Yamacraw); Glenys Hanna-Martin (Englerston); Cleola Hamilton (South Beach); Dion Smith (Kennedy); Gregory Moss (Marco City); Dr. Michael Darville (Pineridge); Jerome Gomez (Killarney); Dr. Daniel Johnson (Carmichael); Senator Jerome K. Fitzgerald (Marathon); Senator Michael Halkitis (Golden Isles); Senator C.V. Hope Strachan (Sea Breeze) and Dr. Kendal V.O. Major (Garden Hills).

5/18/2011

thenassauguardian

Bahamas Blog International

Leslie Miller - former cabinet minister and crime victim backs call for capital punishment to resume in The Bahamas in the face of a "severe crisis"

Former MP Strongly Backs Capital Punishment
By Macushla N. Pinder:



A former cabinet minister and victim of crime is strongly backing the call for capital punishment to resume in The Bahamas in the face of a "severe crisis" in the country.

According to businessman and former Blue Hills MP, Leslie Miller, Bahamians are being terrorised in their own country and something has to be done about it.

"The police do a fabulous job, so the problem isn’t the police, it’s the court system and those persons who are unafraid of the law…We must implement capital punishment and the cat o’nine tail and whatever other action is necessary to stem the flow of crime" Mr. Miller suggested when he appeared as a guest on Love 97’s daily talk show "Issues of the Day" with host Algernon Allen.

"…. It bothers me that we can allow 12 men to sit in London and decide the fate of people who are grappling with situations beyond the realm of what they face. A government is elected for and on behalf the people. So, if you cannot or are not prepared to do your job, you should resign as a Member of Parliament. I don’t see the Members of Parliament on both sides speaking out against crime or calling a special session of parliament to say we are going to deal with this once and for all."

Mr. Miller’s son Mario was found dead in a bushy area near Super Value Food Store in the Winton area on June 2002.

According to reports, he was stabbed 18 times about the body.

Evidence coming out of the case revealed that the official cause of death was a stab wound to the lungs and a chop to the neck, resulting in acute blood loss.

The Crown alleged that brothers Ricardo Miller, 30, also known as Tamar Lee, and his younger brother Ryan, 24, intentionally caused Miller’s death.

However, the first and second trials ended in a retrial.

Yet another retrial has been ordered.

So far this year, the country has recorded 55 homicides. The last two occurred over the holiday weekend.

On Friday, Slyvannus Williams, 45, was reportedly in an altercation with a woman believed to be his wife when she allegedly stabbed him in the parking lot of Green Parrot Restaurant and Bar on East Bay Street.

Just over 24 hours later, Exuma resident Cely Smith was killed.

According to police, four dreadlocked gunmen shot the 45-year-old Stuart Manor resident around 7:30 a.m. Sunday.

It is crimes like these that have made the call for the death penalty almost deafening at times.

"He who feels it, knows it. When you have to go to the hospital to identify your loved one or see them in the street murdered, then have someone talk foolishness around your head about hanging or any lethal injection, what about that person who would never take another breath? You would never see them get married. They would never have a grandson or granddaughter," he said.

"God gave us life and he is the one who is supposed to take us home. Anyone who interferes must be prepared to give their own [life]….This foolishness of going up to Fox Hill [Her Majesty’s Prison] and getting fat at the expense of the state is utter garbage."

But not everyone believes the death penalty is the solution. In fact, many argue that executing a convicted murderer would not cause crime to decrease.

But, Mr. Miller said the offender who kills would not kill again.

The country’s unabated crime wave has also driven up the cost of doing business.

In fact, Bahamas Chamber of Commerce President Khaalis Rolle recently told a local daily "many companies are scared to do business after dark."

Mr. Miller agreed.

"We have 10 police officers (at Mario’s Bowling and Entertainment Palace) on the weekends because we saw situations arising," he said.

"…This costs us between $8,000 and $10,000 per month….This is one of the drawbacks of operating in a society where crime is so prevalent... The criminals are getting bolder."

Earlier this year, Mr. Miller was robbed at gunpoint in broad daylight.

Two men reportedly exited a gold Chevy Impala, put two guns to his head and told him to hand over the money or he would be killed.

The two men reportedly got away with nearly $30,000.

"When a man has a gun pointed at you, you are not in charge. Don’t act as if you are in charge. You can make the money back. Think about your life, your loved ones, those who depend on you," he said.

"You can’t be the hero. In every movie, the hero normally dies at the end. I’m not trying to be the hero."

August 4th, 2010

jonesbahamas

Bahamas Blog International