After seeing all the damage caused by the recent Kemp Road Riot who do you think was in the wrong?

Was it the Police or was it the citizens?
Could this incident have been handled in a better way to prevent this from happening?
Do you think that the Kemp Road residents trust the Police anymore?
What do you think can be done to prevent something like this from ever happening again?

Feel free to post your opinions on the issue.

Delroy:

You have raised some good investigative questions which I hope those entrusted with National Security can answer.

However, I see Friday, December 6th as our day of infamy. First it was an infamous day because of the inappropriate remarks of The US Ambassador, J. Richard Blankenship. By Inappropriate, I mean that his remarks were made in the wrong forum and in the wrong manner. I think there is general agreement on this. However, I have no issues with the content of his remarks.

The second reason for December 6th being a day of infamy is the Kemp Road riot. In my view, the Kemp Road riot is a far more serious matter for us as a nation than the inappropriate remarks of the Ambassador. Yet, more press and discussion was given and continues to be given to the Abassador's comments

Here is my reasoning. It was very unfortunate that an unarmed young man from Kemp Road lost his life at the hands of the police. A thorough, transparent and fair investigation must go into what happened. Hopefully with civilians having been recently added to the Corruption unit of the Police Force, this will be done and be shown to have been done.

Having said that, and even before the investigation, we must all recognize that the police are human. Like ALL humans they have made and will make mistakes. Unfortunately, when they make mistakes they can be tragic, like the loss of life. Yet such is the reality of their job. We have to accept this. In such cases, the wronged parties or families can take them to court.

However, for the sake of making my point, lets just say that the police were wrong and intentionally shot the young man and took his life (now we don't know). Is is right to take matters in our own hands and attack the police and destroy national property of the Bahamas? Clearly it is not.

If the Ministry of National Security and the police see "making peace" with some of the people who were a part of the physical assault on officers and the damaging of public property as a higher priority than identyifying and charging as many of the riot participants as possible then they are making a serious mistake and setting a bad precedent. What will happen when the police make another mistake? Friends we don't have enough cars and fire engines to lose and officers to be demoralized.

A message must be sent to all and sundry that no matter what, public conduct of the likes of last week Friday will not be tolerated. So I pray that whomever the police can identify and bring present evidence on will all be charged before the courts. Additionally, I pray for a fair investigation of the police and if there is any breaching of the law by them last week that they too be charged before the courts like anyone else.

Then to the police and the public a loud message will ring out: we are a country of law and order and NOBODY is above the law or can justify breaking the law.

i heard it may have been revenge from the police officer involved against the individual. That is heresay though. That area is also grounded with drug dealing and people with guns, it is not a secret. Im sure the investigation will find the truth whereever it lay.

I do however feel that citizens attacking the police and firemen as was said is wrong, rioting is wrong. throwing bottles etc is wrong. I was in blair and it sounded like a warzone ,explosions etc.

Anyway, hopefull things will get better, riots happen everywhere, even in the so called civilzed countries. This is something new to the Bahamas. I am sure there IS coruption in every government and private enterprise, including police, armed forces, etc, as they are only human. Though there ARE those that are not corupt and ofcourse we should commend them for keeping in the right arms of the law (and the lord ;-) Cedric)

Looking at the Junior Junkanoo on TV I was surprised there was no evident violence as is normal in most junkanoo and we should commend the police, the government, the organisers, and the people that came to se the parade, AND those involved directly in the parade which includes the children themselves.

Rory

I have been told by a very wise person, numerous of time to read the news and keep up with whats going on. I have tried but it seems that it hasn't really taken effect as yet.

I heard about the riot by someone who lives in that area. They were totally displeased how that encounter turned out. She tried to give me the full story but when she explained in full how the young man died and how he looked on the ground i stopped her cause i couldn't take it no more. She still don't seem to grasp what started it.

I was really in awe when i heard about it.

What had happened?

Why was the police in that area?

What did the Abassador say about our Country?

Please inform me thanks.............

Until next time.....

why were the police in that area? Its an area full of drug dealers and guys with guns. Same as Okra Hill.

The recent St. James Road riot involving the Bahamian police and civilians of that area, is something that is rare in the city of Nassau, and the perception of it is distortedly mixed. It was a situation that resulted in the fatal shooting of a resident of that area by officers of the mobile patrol unit in the vicinity at the time.

That shooting lead to the much talked riot, where it was reported that the- off Kemp Road- community flipped. In the absence of evidence- and the ongoing inquiries that will hopefully reveal exactly what happened, the question remains- and that is: What went wrong?

Riots in The Bahamas are highly unusual, so it is in the public's interest to seek fully- the answers to that.In the interim, a nation must remember that what is heard and talked about in relation to this tragedy, in the public's domain- is primarily not facts or could not stand up in any court of law.

If anyone has first hand knowledge of the incident in question- they know where to go. A coroners inquest is imminent, therefore the opportunity will come for witnesses to give the courts of The Bahamas their FACTS regarding such an unfortunate incident.

Let us not have a trial on the internet, therefore.

©Dennis Dames2002
www.Bahamian.web.com

Dennis, your advice is wise and I trust heeded by all who would participate in this discussion.

We do not know whether the young man was accidentally or intentionally killed by the police and no one should try to speculate on that. Let that come out of the investigations and Coroners Inquest.

However, we do know that police officers were assaulted and 6 police vehicles and a fire engine damaged. The media showed photographs and video footage of the damaged vehicles. While we cannot put faces to who is guilty for the damage and assault, we can discuss the subject of the damage and assault. Both are wrong and unacceptable.

Hopefully, the discussion continues on those parts for which we do not need a Coroners Inquest to determine right and wrong.

Cedric: The matter of the riotous events in question, no doubt- have instigated an atmosphere of public curiosity, outrage and intrigue. It is only human for us therefore, to begin fragmenting the various events that followed- in the public domain- so that we may seek a public division, so to speak.

No matter how we cut it right now my brother Cedric, we are pre-empting the official inquiry. We cannot hide from that fact, in my opinion.

www.Bahamian.web.com

Dennis my brother:

I really understand your concern on one hand that we should be careful that our discussions do not prejudice the Coroners Inquest and other invesitigations. I believe that we might be saying the same thing, but I'm not sure.

Having said that, I will again state my concern and ask you and the others a quick question.

My concern is that there is NEVER any justifiable occasion for the wanton destruction of public property. This message needs to be reinforced now and those who are responsible and can be identified need to be charged before the courts in accordance with the law. To wait for the inquest to be finished might just be too late. As you have rightly said the other part (the death of the young man) should not be discussed because we really do not know.

My question is this: is the destruction of public propery like last week ever justified?

"My question is this: is the destruction of public propery like last week ever justified?"


Cedric: My answer to that is: like what last week? That question assumes that we know the FACTS... in it's absence- we are simply jerking with the issue.

Like you said, most of us saw the images of the night before. Although it is said that a picture tells a 1000 words, there is no way right now we could conclude on something that has not been manifested yet.

No doubt, this matter may have criminal and civil implications- as they relate to the laws of The Bahamas. We will not find many on the internet, who can tell us how those vehicles, and others came to be damaged.

Therein lies the irony of this discussion, in my humble view.

www.Bahamian.web.com

I have two concerns; first I hear everyone complaining about the US Ambassodor's remarks.If what the good gentleman said was without merit then fine.However if what he is saying has merit then there is nothing wrong with what he said.Remember folks our Prime Minister just attended the Funeral of a known Drug Lord in Bimini. Look at the countless delays with the case of another before the courts.A certain M.P.'s son was killled over an alleged drug deal.You misguided folks can watch the dillys ripe in the tree as much as you like ,I choose to look at my surroundings and face facts.The morales and standards of Bahamian People have changed so much that its is scary.It's not about right or wrong any more .Its all about making ourselves feel comfortable
. Second; Marines on the Defence Force are living in $250,000 homes ,driving $40,000 to $60,000 cars and wearing $10,000 to $15,000 watchs with a base salary of $26,000 a year .Anything strange there,or may be we just need to tranfer them to the Ministry of Finance because they can make their moneys work for them.Then to add insult to injury these are the very persons that are promoted and sent on courses offered by the US Government. WAKE UP BAHAMIANS!!!!!!!!! It is time to call a spade a spade . Where is our Prime Minister in all this, to state the view of the Government and not some gymnastic act of walking down the middle that he's so famous for now. Isn't a leader suppose to lead the way. ."Eagles and Chickens in a Barn".,my brothers and sisters .

Dennis:

On this one, lets agree to disagree! I understand your concern about unfactual trials over the internet. In my case, I will continue to raise the concern about lawlessness, be it by the police or the public, without trying to specualte on what the facts of the Kemp Road incident are. We cannot afford lawlessness if we are going to be a civilized society.

I will encourage other would be participants to do the same.

Uncle Bob:

Your analysis of the Ambassador's remarks and our general national reaction is very insightful. While I find the Ambassador's choice of forum and manner of communication unfortunate for a partnership, I am not nearly concered with the manner and method of his remarks as much as I am with the content.

We do have to look closely at both the ultimatims and suggestions. We would be nationally immature if we refuse to adopt those that are worthwhile simply because we did not like the way that he said them.

My view is that we need to choose the high ground and not match the Ambassador's inappropriate manner of communication by our own as we react to having our national feelings hurt.

Like you, I say lets get over it and look closely at our limp resolve to demonstrate our hate for drug trafficking and drug money and ALL illicit activities. We must not only say it, we must demonstrate it. Actions speak much lounder and words and obviously the USA have been "listening" to our actions and not our words.

Well said, Uncle Bob!

Its unfortunate what happened and I feel for the family, but lets wait for the investigation to be completed meanwhile voilence is not the answer, and destruction of public properrty those vehicles have to be paid for by the people of the Bahamas, why should they take bread out of their own mouth, maybe the funds allocated for Kemp rd should be used to pay for the equiptment, then next time they will learn. And the police already does say "aint no car available", Govt Wake up. Until next time Peace and Love.