By DANA SMITH
dsmith@tribunemedia.net
A WOMAN was targeted by gunmen who shot her seven times as she sat in a city park.
Santeria Smith was in a park near Fowler Street when she was approached by five men and repeatedly shot.
Her memories of the ordeal were brought vividly to life yesterday as residents in the area gathered outside their homes to watch derelict buildings being reduced to rubble as part of Urban Renewal 2.0.
A high-crime area, residents complained of being unable to get a night’s sleep because of crime levels and some said they had been crime targets in the past.
Among them, sitting on her porch, with her right leg encased in a cast, Santeria Smith recalled a night more than a month ago when she became a sitting target.
“On May 3, I was approached by five men what opened fire and shoot me twice in my leg, once in my belly, in my hip, in my back, and in my right arm, and right leg. I was sitting in the park,” she said.
“I don’t know what to say (about) Urban Renewal. It’s doing a good job and whatever else, but breaking down the house is one part of it, you got to do all the parts.”
Her mother, Sandra Smith, said she too was a crime victim, but of a different kind: She was unable to get to sleep, worrying about how crime had affected her daughter and her daughter’s friends.
“I ain’t sleep good yet. I just lay down and try to sleep but I can’t sleep,” she said. “Something needs to be done. I feel better now that the police are here, but I want the police to get them, then I can lay down and sleep in peace.”
One man watching the construction work yesterday, as the old buildings tumbled to the ground, was Carlos Smith, who said clearing the buildings would have a positive affect on the community.
He said: “Right now these abandoned places are harbouring criminals. People could get hurt – criminals could jump from around any dark corner at any time. Once the area is cleared up the community will be safer and it will be a more positive environment to live in, definitely – that’s how I feel.”
He said crime was a significant problem: “Plenty shootings been going on lately. I think there’s more guns than people on this island – more guns than food. It’s ridiculous. It ain’t necessary.”
Nica Sawyer also backed tearing down the old buildings in favour of Urban Renewal.
“I think it’s a positive thing what they’re doing,” she said. “They’re trying to clean up the community so that criminals don’t have any perimeter to hide. Sadly, yes there’s a lot of crime in this area.”
Speaking on site at the demolition, Superintendent Stephen Dean said: “This is our direct response to crime and criminal activity in the area.”
He said police had seen “a number of sporadic shootings” around the Fowler Street area and acknowledged residents would have differing views about Urban Renewal because they had been affected in some way by crime.
Supt Dean said police can now be seen in the area “permanently” and following the removal of abandoned buildings, police will establish a neighbourhood “crimewatch” association and will create programmes for young Bahamians.
“We can come and clean up but we have to engender that spirit and residents wanting to see that good environment,” he said.
Urban Renewal could not have come quickly enough for those in a government-owned senior citizen home in Lewis Street.
The complex has suffered a leaky ceiling and poor conditions for months, according to residents.
Yesterday the roof was finally repaired.
Comments
bookiedread 12 years, 4 months ago
I've said it once and i'll say it again. Tearing down abandon houses and cleaning down lots is not going to stop this crime problem. I don't give two hoots how the PM, Minister of National Security, or those officers in Urban Renewal try and mislead the Bahamian people. Take those same officers who are obviously reacting to incidents and have them to go back to active police duties where they will become proactive. I for one have never been a proponent of this initiative. I know instances where trained, specialized officers have been removed from specialized area and put into Urban Renewal. This has to be the greatest disservice to the Bahamian people. The police need to get back out there and police these streets. And secondly, the politicians need to stay out of the RBPF and allow them to do their jobs without interference.
MartGM 12 years, 4 months ago
This is simply amazing! When the man said, "Once the area is cleared up the community will be safer and it will be a more positive environment to live in, definitely" I thought, this man just drank the poison kool-aid this administration is giving away. I don't understand how one can instantly equate safety to removal of derelict buildings. We have become a society of mindless yes-men who question nothing and agree with everything the government throws our way. Yes, removal of old run-down buildings are a factor in crime reduction, but not the ONLY factor! You don't tear down buildings today and see crime reduce by 30% tomorrow.
I agree with the general ideology behind Urban Renewal, but I strongly disagree with the amount of police officers needed for this initiative. The same civilians Nottage wants to put in the station can work at the Urban Renewal offices. if you want to remove homes and clean up the neighborhoods, fine...but why do police officers (and soon defence force officers) need to do it??
Civilians would do a better job if only for the mere fact that people feel more comfortable around their own. They can go and speak freely to civilians working with Urban Renewal. I doubt the same will be felt with uniformed police officers. SMT...
bahamainabroad 12 years, 4 months ago
you have to start somewhere .So you start by taking away the criminal hideaway then, you go to the next stage.We would not have been in this mess when the late sir lynden try to introduced national service,some people said he wanted to make his private army and so-fort had we did this when hurricane hit our islands this is where the national service comes in.When good idea comes around we need to look at it regardless what you vote. That my 2 cent
spoitier 12 years, 4 months ago
spot on, good ideas shouldn't be talk down on because it comes out of the mouth of someone you don't like, I always say this to people" right and wrong isn't base on relationships" in order words it doesn't matter what you is to me, if you're wrong, you're wrong and if you're right, you're right.
concernedcitizen 12 years, 4 months ago
tearing down old buildings will help clean up ,,but our crime problem is a direct result of our sexual habits and morals..too many single moms and absent fathers ,until you address this ,and i don,t know if our people want to change ,the crime rate will continue to escalate ...everything else is an expensive band aid on a wound that needs major surgery..
really 12 years, 4 months ago
this why the country cant get no better now fools shooting down good deeds because they do not like the political party they are affiliated with ohh SHUT UP an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure atleast they trying to do something what u want the police walking around like robots just locking up everybody??? that make sense?? they have to press into communities and do things like this... grow up and put right where right is!
MartGM 12 years, 4 months ago
I don't think anyone here is "shooting down good deeds." The major point is you don't need a police to tear down a home. Most of these communities have community leaders. Through the Urban Renewal initiative, those community leaders can be in charge of that. Why remove police from where they're needed?
I have no political affiliation. I give right where I feel right is needed. Police Officers don't belong in Urban Renewal. Community leaders and other member of the civic society belong there! If you need to call in a police or two to help every so often, then fine...but they shouldn't be the central focus.
spoitier 12 years, 4 months ago
Police officers have authority and guns, community leaders don't, you said move them from where their needed. What is being accomplished by them staying where you think they are needed? See how it works out first because the other way around wasn't working.
really 12 years, 4 months ago
what?!? nobody scared of no community leaders, that wont help anything and any one they would get rolled over and pushed out so quick you live in lyford cay ay? because I don't think you in touch with reality lol
MartGM 12 years, 4 months ago
And police are needed to tear down dilapidated homes and play dominoes with the boys on the blocks. These same homes were here for years on end and only NOW they see a need to remove them. BS! You obviously don't live in an inner city community. A community leader could get through to some young gang banger faster than any police officer for the mere fact that they're RESPECTED...and in the inner city police get NO respect!
242 12 years, 4 months ago
Good point, imagine an officer who harassed a young man coming back in the future to give the same young man positive advice. It don't even have to be the same officer... And I know for a fact that police sometimes harass young men, whether they did something wrong or not... A Church leader or successful older person, or just an older wiser person as far as the community outreach part would be better than a gun totin officer... RIP Rodney King
242 12 years, 4 months ago
It ain't a matter of scaring people...it is a matter of reaching out
concernedcitizen 12 years, 4 months ago
its are morals and sexual habits ,single mothers and absent fathers ,,,,,tearing down the houses is good ,but untill we look at us as a people we are only putting pretty bandages on gaping infected wounds ,unless we get to the cause ,crime will continue to escalate ,,,with self rule comes responsability ,we got the first part on the second we are woefully inadequate
Concerned 12 years, 4 months ago
I commend the government for repairing the old lady's roof but I am also concerned that the ZNS news report showed the inside of her house plastered with more photos of the Perry Christie, Brave Davis and PLP paraphernalia that I saw at any rally. Also, the hired "contractor" just happen to be wearing a PLP wrist ban and the lady said she was proud of the hired people "Dey is my sons", she said. WOW! So the large contingent of police officers waiting the Urban Renewal beat just happened to stumbled across a diehard PLP's house that needed repair, hired her children to repair her roof and then made sure the media cameras were there to record the great things UR 2.0 is doing. The coincidence is amazing.
sexilexi 12 years, 4 months ago
I must say coincidence is a fact. You need to check and see who minister family or friend because that is all who would benefit. talking about help the poor and believe in the them words that went out the door from May 8,12:01am
242 12 years, 4 months ago
Anyone ever researched the definition of Urban Renewal?
Cc 12 years, 4 months ago
Tearing down derelict buildings is a good start. We have to start with the small things first. I am a proud FNM and will always be FNM, but kudos to the PLP to at least starting something. Who knows? If they continue on this wavelength, we may actually start to see some positive change in these communities. We have to crawl before we walk. We have to at least start somewhere.
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