The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

With each passing day, this tiny, archipelagic Caribbean nation known as the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, becomes more and more like its giant neighbour to the north, the United States. And if you’re paying attention to what’s going on in America as of late, you know that that’s not a compliment.

Mass shootings are becoming more and more common in America, so much so that it would seem to both Americans and the international community that these tragedies have a weekly occurrence. In fact, even as I write this very letter, America comes to grips with yet another mass shooting, this one taking place at a Fed Ex facility in Indianapolis, Indiana. An absolute massacre: eight people shot dead, dozens more injured, some critically, and the suspected gunman also dead, most likely from a self inflicted gunshot wound. Eight dead. Eight. Eight families that now have to mourn the senseless loss of their loved ones while making funeral arrangements. There’s also the family of the alleged shooter, who without a doubt will face the wrath of both the public and the family of the victims; they will have to deal with the many questions and harsh, unblinking eye of the Press and media.

Here, in the Bahamas, we’re dealing with the very same problem of mass shootings. Yesterday, we experienced our own mass shooting and massacre: Six young men in a car, ambushed and executed, on Jerome Avenue, in New Providence, their vehicle sprayed with gunfire, most likely from an automatic assault weapon, their blood splattered like paint. The RBPF were quick to state that this shooting was the result of “gang activity”, but really, is there ever a reason for such mindless violence? Gangs and gang activity have existed in the Bahamas for decades; mass shootings of this scale have not, the last mass shooting that Bahamians can remember is the Fox Hill drive by shooting from a few years ago. For a long time, this was the worst shooting to have ever occurred in the Bahamas, an act of absolute depravity that many continue to talk about to this day. And now, this shooting has been eclipsed by an even worse act.

This recent shooting on Jerome Avenue, as well as the Fox Hill shooting, is just another example of the Bahamas “following fashion” and “monkey see, monkey do.” If it happens or is “trendy” in America, you can almost certainly guarantee that it will happen and/or become a trend here. Americans eat too much junk food, suffer from obesity, Bahamians eat too much junk food and suffer from obesity. Americans excessively smoke cigarettes and die from cancer and heart disease, Bahamians excessively smoke cigarettes and die from cancer and heart disease; it is impossible to walk about on New Providence and not breathe in second hand smoke. Americans drink alcohol ad nauseum, Bahamians, ditto. And now, we have wholeheartedly adopted America’s “gun culture”. Gone are the days when disputes are settled with fistfights, where the worst thing that could happen to you was getting “burst” with a rock, beer bottle, or conch shell; or getting “lick” with a 2×4. This used to be a part of our Bahamian heritage and culture, an embarrassing part, yes, but it was indicative of the Bahamas. We don’t do mass shootings. At least, we didn’t, until we began to lose our identity, and now, slowly but surely, we are becoming America’s “clone”, an unrecognisable caricature of our neighbours to the north.

TRUTH

Nassau,

April 16, 2021.