The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

TWO alleged gang rapes of two young school girls – one of which reportedly occurred this weekend – were not reported by the relevant agencies for disclosure, according to FNM Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner.

Pointing to the daily crime reports released by police, Mrs Butler-Turner questioned why the latest, “heinous” alleged incident was not reported by police and called on the government to “deal with the matters” happening in Bahamian society.

In the face of her claims, three ministers – the Ministers of National Security, Education and Technology, and Social Services – indicated they were unaware of the alleged rapes.

Speaking in the House yesterday, Mrs Butler-Turner asked National Security Minister Bernard Nottage if he had any up-to-date crime statistics for the Family Islands. “I speak in particular to Long Island,” she said.

“Today a young, middle school student is here in Nassau – a female student – having been gang-raped this weekend by young men from her school – allegedly.

“She is currently being treated by various government agencies. I have heard nothing in the crime reports as it relates to this very heinous crime, as this child is going through types of counselling and examinations and so on and so forth.

“And while we make cries to help young people, the stigma that this young lady will have to live with for the rest of her life is beyond belief – my heart is so heavy to hear of this.”

The Long Island MP said she’s asking about her constituency in particular because there have been past crime incidents that have reportedly occurred and not been reported on – including an alleged armed robbery of a Long Island bank, last year.

Mrs Butler-Turner also pointed to another alleged gang-rape, which is said to have occurred on New Providence.

“Not to take away from what has happened this weekend to this young girl child who has been heinously raped, a few months ago I made inquiries to the necessary government agencies of reports of another young girl being gang raped by some 11 young men at a school in eastern New Providence and I have yet to get a response from those agencies responsible,” she said.

“I imagine if it did not happen, I would have gotten an unequivocal no. To this date, I still await a response.”

In response, Dr Nottage explained that if the incident had occurred on the weekend – “it would be in the weekend report” and noted: “I haven’t seen it.”

He also asked if Mrs Butler-Turner had made her inquiries on the alleged incidents to the “right people.”

In response to the alleged New Providence incident, Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald stated there are “clear instructions” in his Ministry that crimes or allegations of crime are reported directly to him, and said: “This is the first time I’m hearing about it.”

Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin also spoke on Mrs Butler-Turner’s claims and said if the party leader is “really interested in getting to the bottom of everything” she should be “a little more helpful” in terms of communicating with the right people.

No formal request was made to her, by Mrs Butler-Turner, concerning the incidents, Mrs Griffin said.

Ending the discussion after House Speaker Kendal Major noted that “three ministers have indicated they are unaware of the allegation” – Mrs Butler-Turner added: “I don’t want to trivialise what the young girl today is going through.

“There is in fact a young girl here in Nassau, today, from my constituency that is being treated for rape – that is alleged to have occurred by four young men.

“It did not happen during school hours so I do not know in this instance how it concerns the member for Marathon (Mr Fitzgerald). It did happen after school hours, this weekend, by young men of the same school as the young girl that is being treated.”