Minnis issues warning after US man killed

As of Tuesday, May 14, 2013

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

IN view of the recent shooting death of an American visitor over the weekend, opposition leader Hubert Minnis warned that the country’s crime rate could prove disastrous for the country’s tourism industry - and subsequently, the economy - if it is not addressed.

“When you cannot protect your own guests, that’s a problem,” he said, explaining that if tourists stop visiting the country, it could put the economy “under threat and in serious danger.”

Speaking at his office at FNM headquarters, Dr Minnis said the government is “paralysed” when it comes to crime and called on all Bahamians to mobilise in the fight against crime.

“They said they’re the solution to crime but in spite of all their energy and drive, they’ve not demonstrated it,” he said.

“We’ve had ships sending out a warning – cruise ships to their passengers, as a

result that would have great impact on our livelihood. Now a tourist has just been killed – just been shot and subsequently died – that’s going to have an impact, it’s just a matter of time before some advisory comes out in the United States.”

The Killarney MP said the government is not dealing effectively enough with the crime problem and the entire country must move to “offer assistance” to the government.

“If the Bahamian populace does not deal with this issue, then our entire livelihood will be threatened and compromised,” Dr Minnis said.

“Meaning that our unemployment rate will subsequently rise; our business sectors can crash. Because when you look at our employment status, 75 per cent of our employment is as a result of tourism – being it direct or indirect, and when your number one industry is under threat, it’s time for the whole country to recognize that the government is not doing their job, cannot do it, and the whole country must be mobilised to protect itself.”

If the United States decides to send out a travel advisory in the wake of the recent death of an American man, it can “cause some degree of problems,” Dr Minnis explained, adding that such an advisory is a “possibility”.

“When you cannot protect your own guests, that’s a problem. If you cannot protect your own visitors, that’s a problem. If somebody visits your house, then they are under your protection when they are in your home,” the opposition leader said.

“The same thing with the Bahamas. When they visit our shores they are under our protection. If we cannot protect them, the message goes out that the Bahamas cannot protect you as a visitor, as a guest.

“Our livelihood depends on them coming and buying and purchasing things. If they stop, then that means the entire Bahamas economy is under threat and in serious danger.”

Kyle Bruner, 34, a sailor from Chicago, was shot dead in the early hours of Sunday morning. He was in Nassau, working on a sail-boat that was passing through.

Police say that around 4:30am, Mr Bruner was walking north on Mackey Street – approaching East Bay Street – with another man and two women, when they were approached by two men dressed in dark clothing, demanding cash.

One of the men was armed with a handgun. Police say Mr Bruner was shot in his neck when he tried to stop the men from stealing jewellery from one of the women.

vinceP 11 years, 6 months ago

Once again Doc Minnis has missed the boat. As usual, he is consumed with just playing politics, just as the PLP did when the FNM was in power. What he is missing is that Mr. Bruner was killed while trying to stop a robbery. This is truly unfortunate, but lets not lose sight of the fact that many Bahamians are getting robbed, and murdered as well. Both the Government and the opposition need to spend less time playing the political game, and make a concerted effort in creating jobs fast! One of the top 10 reasons for crime is poverty, and until this is addressed, we can expect to see the crime levels increase. I wonder what will happen when if in fact the Government gets the number houses to shut down. That will mean additional people will be added to already high unemployment rate, and not to mention the many,many Bahamians that play numbers to supplement their incomes, or those that are already unemployed and simply have no other means but to gamble.

Stapedius 11 years, 6 months ago

@vincep. I agree he has missed the boat, but what's new about that with Minnis. Not the biggest Ingraham fan here, but jeez he was far better than this joker.

The economy is bad and it does contribute to crime. But things have to be viewed in context. Look at where and when this crime took place? In any city, it is simply not safe to be out on unfamiliar streets at this hour. Who were these women and where were they going at such an hour? Honestly, would most people go out in the strange parts of NYC, LA, Chicago, Detroit or even MIA for that matter? This is truly a sad situation to happen to visitors and Bahamians. The solution is multi-faceted and jobs alone won't stop crime. The social mindset and lack of good education has a lot to do with this mess we're in.

nationbuilder 11 years, 6 months ago

I agree. at the same time alot of these guys who are killing and robbin cant get a job anyway cuz they have no education and no skills. Opening up a bunch of new companies wont guarantee these guys get jobs, alot of dem dont even want to work, they want to make money da fast way

lazybor 11 years, 6 months ago

good point, our politicians must act before it's too late!http://tinyurl.com/c7l9ck6" width="1">

Guest2468 11 years, 6 months ago

This was a tragic incident indeed. I feel that the island of New Providence should be placed under a curfew until there is a better handle on the crime. This would show the Bahamian people as well as the United States Embassy that we are serious about decreasing crime and drastic measures will be taken to that end.

Ironvelvet 11 years, 6 months ago

Hmmm....interesting idea. Haven't thought of this, but I do believe it would work!

TalRussell 11 years, 6 months ago

Not to down play the murder of a tourist but the many hundreds of natives murdered under the regime which opposition leader Minnis served in as a senior minister of the Crown, didn't seem bother his cabinet colleagues, enough to find workable solutions to many hundreds of murders which took place during their regime's time in power? But why let their failed performance on crime as Bahamaland's government detour him and other red shirts from now pointing their cheap blame fingers at the doorsteps of PM Christie?

Not surprising that they would now think the natives are prepared to swallow anything they can ever say on crime, when they did nothing to solve the problems of crime when they held power. The natives are not go'in to be fooled into allowing this same failed on crime red shirts regime to use the senseless killing of a tourist as their opportunity for nothing more than their sick political mileage. And, these are the same people who raised all hell during the 2012 General Elections after the PLP nailed up a sign announcing the murder count under their regime.

Shame on you Comrade Minnis.. Let the record speak about how you were a senior member of a failed regime, which must be blamed for the role played in helping to take a once peaceful Bahamaland into a land of criminal thugs. Your regime left behind a bitter Bahamaland.

Maybe you red shirts are living in the same fantasy world as Ortland Jr., who suggests that the red shirts lost the election, all because Hubert had refused to appear as a guest on his talk radio show. The truth lies squarely between, out of control crime and the many thousands who lost their paycheques under your regime.

Ask Tommy T., what I am talk'in about? He more than anyone knows that by the time he left office, even the Church's were hiring private security guards to protect their collection plates?

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guyfawkes 11 years, 6 months ago

@Tal, tried to read your dripple, but after the Hubert Ingraham bashing and how Minnis was in Cabinet and did do nothing. Got bored and decided to just tell you to be quite.

At the end of the day, when this government also, can't handle crime we talk about real solutions.

audleymitchell 11 years, 6 months ago

Cannot protect our visitors? Are you serious, Dr. Minnis? Our first priority is to protect our own people. Our leaders seem to do everything in our power to lower the self image of our people. We make every effort to remind our people that we are less important than our visitors, because they bring money. The same concerns that visitors have - safety, security, etc - are the concerns that Bahamians have. If The Bahamas is safe for Bahamians, it is safe for visitors. If we empower our people; if we allow our people to feel ownership of our own land; if we invest in the future of our people; if we stop denying our qualified persons opportunities that now seem to automatically go to foreigners; if we engender hope in our people; then we will recognise a sense of hope, of accomplishment, of opportunity for all, not just a connected few. We will recognise and accept our ownership of our country and act accordingly.

Collin 11 years, 6 months ago

It is interesting to see in three of the above comments that seem to also "Miss the boat". Dr. Minnis stated a fact that the PLP claimed they were and had the solution to crime. Did this happen? If it did and we all know it did, what is wrong with him stating that is indeed what happen?

Dr. Minnis pointed out to the fact that the when we start killing tourist it may have a direct consequence with regard to the tourism industry. Which is the way the majority of us Bahamians feed ourselves. Did he say the tourist life is any more important than a Bahamian life? So why impute it in what your issue is with what he said.

Before I move on, if Dr. Minsis had stopped and only pointed out that the PLP led government despite their pronouncements that they were and had the solution to crime. If Dr. Minnis had stopped there I would have a problem, but did he. No he in fact called all Bahamians to get involved.

Really, that is more than PLP ever did in opposition. Yet some of you seem to not take note of that and make the amusing statement if he is serious. I appreciate your political biases, but please at least put forward a better argument - than picking and leaving.

Jobs will not stop murder! Why do we not get it in our heads? We have a much deeper problem and that is poor parenting and socialization. However, we as a people do not want to face that reality because we like to point to 'solutions' that do not show that we the people are the blame.

If the Government was to hire more people or cause there to be greater investment and job creation all of a sudden the murders would stop. Then others want to blame foreigners for everything. Are you serious? Look in the mirror and look at our children! As if the problems is not how we train our children. We have always been a violent people. However, we have moved from rock and bottle - to cutlass and knives to the more deadlier guns.

Let's stop trying to stop playing and become better parents and bring up our children properly. otherwise all we would do is have employed murderers.

Honeybun 11 years, 6 months ago

My sentiments exactly!

IloveBahamas 11 years, 6 months ago

Well said Collin. It is really unfortunate that many people here seem to always want to be blinded from reality and at every opportunity turn each issue into a political affair. Statistics shows that the majority of crimes are committed by our young men. Yes poverty is one contributing factor to crime among many others but like you said if everyone was given jobs and the economy shifted and there was now prosperity and growth, would there no longer be crime? In fact how many of these young men if given an opportunity to make an earnest hard living would actually choose to? Why do that when through a sense of entitlement, lack of respect for life and others property one can go and simply demand what one wants? So what if it there is a negative impact on the country at large, lives are lost, people are hurt! With more babies have babies, more and more illiterate students being churned out of schools, with more and more fatherless/parentless homes, with more and more stronger desires for material things, with more and more people not teaching the youth the meaning of life, hardwork, dedication, respect and love for others, the value of education, there will be more and more people being bred with no morale, no values, no ethics, no long term vision, no goals, no cares, and more and more people dying, suffering. The government can only do so much.

The government can not sit in your house and teach your child civility. The government can not sit in your house and teach your child right from wrong, respect, and love. The government can not teach your child the importance of a good education. We as citizens need to look at ourselves and make changes within ourselves and become more committed to being a part of the solution rather than looking at a chosen few to do miracles!

Guest2468 11 years, 6 months ago

I would have to disagree on the point that Bahamians have always been violent people. Granted in recent years violence has escalated,but so has the foreign influence on the Bahamian youth. The traditional culture of the Bahamian people is not violent. Bahamians have never fought in a war of their own, before or after independence and many countries in the word that are viewed as civilized and peaceful cannot say the same.

bookiedread 11 years, 6 months ago

I dont believe that Dr. Minnis missed anything. He is right on point and despite others opinion he has to state the facts. It was Mr. Christie and his people during the elections that put up all these murder stats at the various roundabouts and claimed they had the answers. But now to the country's dismay we see now that they were only a smoke screen. I admonish Dr Minnis to continue to speak out on the issues and hold the government accountable to the promises they made to the Bahamian people.

jt 11 years, 6 months ago

Planned parenthood. Sex education. Birth control. It was the introduction of the birth control pill that pulled NYC out of their crime spiral more or less 18 years later. The court system needs to be streamlined and training programmes implemented for persons leaving prison. Or we can all just chap up some bush and knock down buildings and call it "urban renewal",

TalRussell 11 years, 6 months ago

When you say that you don't believe Comrade Minnis missed anything, then why are they sitting as Liz's official opposition party with only about enough elected House members to fill a phone both?

Oh, I forgets. Didn't Abaco's Edison Key go missing from the opposition benches? Smart man that Edison is. So, with Edison gone missing and Hubert out fishing, as a political force what are they left with? Montagu's Richard? Then, may the good Lord Bless their Liz, and help them?

http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2013…

ThisIsOurs 11 years, 6 months ago

I wholeheartedly agree with ILoveTheBahamas but I want to take it a step further. When I saw the headlines yesterday I knew that all of the country's problems would be heaped on the perpatrators. I wondered myself why they had to kill this man for a gold chain, then I realized, in their minds they were probably doing "what they had to do": To survive; To put food in their babies mouth; To help their Mummy/Daddy out; To get ahead in life; To buy the things they see Mr Jones have; To live the lifestyle they dreamed of...

and then I realized this is Our problem as a whole. What's wrong with awarding a housing contract and adding a few thousand on to it for ourselves? What's wrong with approving an application for crown land for our family member/friend. What's wrong with profiting from the proceeds of illegal activity, after all the white bootleggers did it, why can't the black man? What's wrong with accepting money to process a fake passport or license a car that can't pass inspection? Whats wrong with loitering on every street corner blocking traffic to sell my phone cards? What's wrong with any of it? After all we are all just trying to get ahead.

Until we find the answers to these questions... Until leaders have the courage to lead, nothing will change. Be prepared to be collectively shocked when the next atrocity manifests itself. The government of whichever day it happens to be has a lot to do with it. Every person on this island has a lot to do with it.

hj 11 years, 6 months ago

@ Tal Russell.......Crime did not start in the Bahamas neither in 1992 nor 2002. So try to stop playing the blame game,because honestly there is plenty of blame to go around. Our education system is a mess,many young people really don't want to work,and many parents are failing their kids. Crime has been an issue for a long time,and unfortunately things will get worse,before they get any better.

ThisIsOurs 11 years, 6 months ago

It is hard to convey tone in this forum, but I am actually saying the reverse of what you took away. My basic premise is that "there is none good" we have all played a part in the degradation of our society, I am as guilty as the next man/woman. My examples touched both political parties and common non-political practices in the country. I referred to the govt of "whichever" day, that's 40 yrs prior, 2 yrs prior, today, 10yrs from now etc...My point is that when we collectively realize that these indiscretions for "me" to get ahead have just as damaging an effect as any major crime, then we will all move ahead together. But not before. Sadly I don't know what it would take for it to actually happen...it seems so ingrained in our culture.... (Forward Upward Onward Together weren't just a bunch of empty words...)

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