Monument in honour of Fox Hill shooting victims

As of Monday, January 27, 2014

A MONUMENT is set be created in honour of the victims of last month’s Freedom Park shootings, Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell announced.

Speaking at the funeral of one of the victims, Mr Mitchell said the design phase for the memorial will be launched in a matter of weeks, and the community’s input is being sought.

He said: “Once again it is my sad privilege and honour to address a funeral service. The funeral of Eric Morrison is the last of the four funerals that came out of the sad, senseless and tragic shooting of four people on December 27 2013 on the Freedom Park here in Fox Hill.

“We are all saddened by the events. I am happy however that the funerals have come to an end without incident and that we have all been able to bury our loved ones in peace. The death of these four people Shanique Sands, Eric Morrison, Claudzino Davis and Shaquille Demeritte is tragic. This has marked the community with an indelible sadness. The question is how to cope with grief.

“When you contrast the happiness and expectations of that night against the tragedy which occurred, you have to ask yourself the question why,” Mr Mitchell said.

A crowd of Fox Hillians had gathered that night in Freedom Park, the traditional community’s hub, to learn how their beloved Original Congoes had ranked in the Boxing Day Junkanoo Parade the night before.

Someone opened fire on the crowd, hitting 11, four of them fatally. Two men have been arraigned in connection with the incident.

The case is set to resume in March.

proudloudandfnm 10 years, 10 months ago

What is the purpose of this monument? This may be sensitive. But why?

TalRussell 10 years, 10 months ago

Comrade Freddy rethink, reload ya brain. How is erecting some monument next to some Fox Hill illegal numbers house going to make your Fox Hill constituents any safer. How is it going to keep our young from turning to crime, not self improvement. No monument is ever going to keep those intent on killing Bahamalanders, residents and our guests from getting their criminal hands on guns.

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 10 months ago

Wtf??? He is trying to ride a tragedy straight to the next election...come on man....

HolandObserver 10 years, 10 months ago

I think that this is not a good idea. Fred I am not sure if your motive is altruistic!

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 10 months ago

This whole ~two year period has been one colossal FAILED publicity campaign...

TalRussell 10 years, 10 months ago

I disagree with Minister Freddy on the monument but how do you turn this into some colossal failure of the government. Have they made missteps, of course but what government doesn't make missteps. We can have disagreements with government without advocating they be brought down.

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 10 months ago

I did not say FAILED government, although that is an equally fitting description.

I said colossal. FAILED. publicity stunt. Look no further than the BTC announcement last week and the Prime Minister's statement that the naysayers had been proven wrong. Publicity stunt. CWC's own press release refuted his claim. He would have done better to keep silent. Visit to the pope? Another publicity stunt. Freedom award or whatever it was...another publicity stunt, probably put together by Rudy King.

My point is, irrespective of what matter of import is going on at the time, they seem incapable of addressing real issues. It's like their primary goal is to bend headlines in their favour. If the country is crumbling around them they seem to either not know or not care.

Could the Perry Christie of today telling us we must implement VAT before mid year be the same Perry Christie who proudly told us he was going to fly his entire cabinet and support staff to every island just to hold a meeting?? Could the caring for the people Fred Mitchell of today be the same Fred Mitchell who told us we needed to spend 50million dollars because he felt to cramped working in the House of Assembly? Do you see what I'm getting at? What could have fundamentally changed in one year? Nothing. They are simply too busy putting all their effort into "looking good". Correction...creating a facade of looking good

Publicity stunt.

Emac 10 years, 10 months ago

Well put!!!

realfreethinker 10 years, 9 months ago

This one should be brought down though.

CommonSense 10 years, 10 months ago

Why waste money on that crap?! Monument? Were these people with criminal backgrounds? Are we just going to erect monuments for anyone that dies in a shooting that kills more than 2 people now?

Fred, use that money to promote anti-crime activities in your constituency. Use that money to feed the hungry people in your constituency.

What are you even thinking?!