The Tribune

FRESH CREEK – Psychologist Dr David Allen travelled to Central Andros, to meet with civic leaders and family members affected by the still unsolved case of a missing couple.

Immigration officer Sean Gardiner, 49, and Tishka Braynen, 28, went missing several weeks ago under what seemed to be suspicious circumstances. Police have announced no leads or suspects in the case.

Gardiner’s government issued vehicle was found but appeared to have been cleaned, leaving little evidence. Police also found a bullet in the washing machine of Gardiner’s home, where Braynen’s car was parked.

Central Andros administrator Cleola Pinder, invited Dr Allen, director of “The Family: People Helping People”, Project and members Harold Sweeting and Patrice Rose, to spearheaded a day of meetings as the community works to cope with their fears.

Dr Allen said his team came to “stand with them in the pain” and arrange for a free and confidential “Family” group therapy initiative to be established on the island.

“We are here to form a ‘communitas’, which is a group of diverse persons bonded together by a common spirit of vulnerability, empathy and compassion,” Dr Allen said.

The team first met with civic leaders to discuss the possibility of a group therapy initiative; but the meeting also transformed into a discussion group, as there were a number of persons affected by other tragedies, including violent events and murders that happened on New Providence.

The meeting afforded several of them the first opportunity to speak to others about how the tragedies affected them and their loved ones.

Next, Dr Allen’s team met with a number of family members and friends of the missing couple and most of them spoke about how they were coping with the lack of closure and the fears they have about what might have happened.

Finally, that evening, Dr Allen and his team spoke at a town meeting in Fresh Creek, where Central Androsians listened to testimonies and shared their fears, concerns and hopes about their community and the Bahamas in general.

“Our mission is to stand with our hurting brothers and sisters in their pain,” Dr Allen said.

“This creates an authentic bond called family or kinship, resulting in deep compassion manifested by mutual service to each other.”