Group to protest lack of action over Miller ‘jest’

As of Monday, March 17, 2014

Leslie Miller

A SILENT protest is planned for Rawson Square on Wednesday in a bid to spark a response and action from Prime Minister Perry Christie on domestic violence in the country.

Two groups - Hollaback! and Citizens For A Better Bahamas - are banding together to petition Prime Minister Perry Christie to address comments made by Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller in the House of Assembly on February 20.

Insisting that it is time for an official response from Mr Christie, the organisation through a press statement said the people of The Bahamas deserve an apology, acknowledgment of domestic violence issues and an action plan.

Supporters can sign an on-line petition at www.tinyurl.com/violenceisnotfunny and join the cause.

The statement said: “When the comments referencing the beating of a previous girlfriend, were made, other Members of Parliament either laughed or remained silent. We believe that violence against women is not funny, and ask the leaders of our country to officially respond to this incident and the laughter of those present.

“It has become clear that the representatives we voted into the House of Assembly would like this issue to simply go away, but reassurance of our safety should be the top priority on the government’s agenda.

“We are perplexed by the failure of all Members of Parliament to speak out against the cruel and inhumane ‘joke’ about domestic violence in the House of Assembly – where laws are made to protect the people in this country. We are further incensed that the Speaker of the House of Assembly attempted to qualify the statement made as a ‘joke’ rather than denounce it on the spot.”

The protest is scheduled to begin at 8:45am.

sheeprunner12 10 years, 9 months ago

Domestic violence is CRIMINAL. Is a 'jest" criminal??????????? This is typical bahamianese.............. why try make a mountain out of a molehill???? Do you really think Leslie is a woman beater?????? Will all the victims of Leslie Miller domestic violence come forward please??????????? And all of the the other domestic violence victims at the hands of our many politicians, pastors, teachers, managers, doctors, policemen,lawyers, plumbers, electricians, fishermen etc. This is endemic to our society. Leslie is just a public figure.

242in404 10 years, 9 months ago

Absolutely agree. His joke was rather untasteful, but people are acting like he actually smacked a woman in Parliament! Why not use this energy to actually protest or demonstrate at the courthouse while ACTUAL woman beaters/killers are being tried/charged??

It must be a slow news week.

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 9 months ago

In general victims might be afraid to. Say for example if someone left the island to escape a woman beater, how willing would they be to come back? Just an example...

Cobalt 10 years, 9 months ago

Listen... I understand why the above mentioned women's rights movement would want to protest on this matter. The flippant and careless manner in which Leslie Miller conducted himself was a disgrace and embarrassment to the nation. But maybe a lot of Bahamians should consider protesting against themselves for electing a "bush-league" government into office. Perry Christie and his organization of PLP cronies have always been known for lacking integrity, decency, and accountability. And in this case, nothing has changed. Once again an absentee Prime Minister Christie lacks the distinguishable ability to display leadership, while his party members run rouge. But considering that this has been the PLP's mode of operations for the past three decades, I'm really not surprised by Perry or Leslie Miller's action. Rather, I'm astonished by the fact that Bahamians continue to vote for these guys. I mean.... what do the Bahamian people expect when you vote for people lacking integrity??? When you vote for a "bush-league" government, you get a "bush-league" government.

blackcat 10 years, 9 months ago

They don't care about the policies and practices until it hits them home. Think about it, do bahamians really care about the crime levels? Because we have been taught to stay dumb and not think critically (because our education system has never been improved by either government party), we have never learnt to think outside of the box. The "not my good child" mentality will always prevail. Once I am not being directly hurt, I don't mind the crime. But as soon as my friend or relative is strung up in a crime, or shot or injured, then I care about crime. A lot of our people are not serious man, they are only thinking about the here and now. And by that I mean, who threw the best party before election and who gave out the most ham and turkey.

blackcat 10 years, 9 months ago

In regards to the topic of this article, a silent protest should be done, and I also agree with the organizations going through with it.

@sheeprunner, this protest is for you. You are a perfect example of what the purpose of the demonstration is. Unless I am misunderstanding your statement (and please correct me if I am ), you are saying that they need not go ahead with this protest because Leslie Miller was only joking and therefore his actions were not criminal. He may have never touched a woman in his life, but the fact remains that his comment was severely inappropriate ESPECIALLY coming from an MP. If we don't correct the people who represent the country, how can we correct and reprimand every Tom, Dick and Harry on the street? a message must be sent that this sort of behavior is NOT accepted and that appropriate action to correct WILL be taken as a result. I don't see how that's hard to understand or "making a mountain out of a mole hill". The truth is, it is not a mole hill, because it's affecting our children, women, both young and old and even young men who are also victims of domestic violence. If we don't correct these comments, whether in jest or seriousness, we miss another opportunity to educate the public and especially our youth on what is right and wrong.

thomas 10 years, 9 months ago

KUDOS to this group of people for not going along with the charade that Mr. Miler has made of his own folly.

TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago

Comrades get your checkbooks and pennies out to make a donation to The Crisis Centre, having announced they're rejecting Potcake's $1000 "niceties: check, stating that " so often when a victim is battered, this explosion is followed by a honeymoon period, which is to shower the victim with gifts, money, jewelery, flowers and other niceties."

Amen for common sense by an organization.

vinceP 10 years, 9 months ago

This is a bunch a s**t. Mr. Miller apologized for the joke he made and frankly, it takes a real man to do that. Its no secret that Mr. Miller is probably to most sympathetic politician there is, so y'all need to get over this BS. Those IDOTS at the CRISIS center trying to rail road Mr. Miller and i can say he is a better man than me, because after i would have apologized, that would have been IT!!! Those jackasses are not GOD, and so if my GOOD GOD can forgive me, then to hell with them, and anyone else that have a problem with it.

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 9 months ago

You don't know Mr Miller, don't swear for him

realfreethinker 10 years, 9 months ago

It only became a joke after he was called to account

sheeprunner12 10 years, 9 months ago

Blackcat, I donot condone domestic abuse. My point is this is not anything out of the ordinary for Leslie......... if I can recall, several 2002-07 PLP MPs had allegations of female abuse thrown at them........... nothing was done by Perry then, so do you think anything will be done now??????????? This is the m.o. of this group of guys. Remember, that these fellas come from a generation (over 55) that generally have a high tolerance for domestic abuse in our society. Comments welcomed on my commentary.................

B_I_D___ 10 years, 9 months ago

It's just ingrained in our culture...from the abuse to the fact that women are still second class citizens in their own country, we have pig headed and bigoted people out there that they would rather veto an equal rights bill out of spite and political agenda...and hey, not long now before they present it themselves and attempt to hail themselves as heroes of this generation. It all goes together hand in hand. Don't even get me started on marital rape!!

TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago

Comrades help me out cause I done forget, if Comrade Leader Bran does be for or against a law on martial rape? Too many things keep upstairs in me head over what this man does or does not stand for.

B_I_D___ 10 years, 9 months ago

I believe he made comments not necessarily against the law 100%, but that the law needed to be defined very carefully...either way, he was very wishy washy about coming out and saying marital rape should be against the law and people held accountable. Married or not, I'm sorry, if the gal...your wife says no, that's it. All you bible thumping freaks that think differently need to have your heads examined.

UserOne 10 years, 9 months ago

I seem to remember that he said there was no such thing as marital rape. When there was a backlash, he backpedalled. However, as far as I am concerned he showed his true colours with his first statement.

thomas 10 years, 9 months ago

There may be times when we are powerless to prevent an injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest. - Elie Wiesel

EasternGate 10 years, 9 months ago

Leslie has become an even bigger idiot than Perry

TheObjectiveVoice 10 years, 9 months ago

There are so many other things in our society that are in dire need of protesting. This is ridiculous and just another instance of our people playing politics with every thing. Everyone who knows Leslie Miller knows that sometimes he really doesn't know what to say and when to say it. I mean for goodness sake, the people have nicknamed him "potcake". If he really hit someone, why hasn't the woman come forward yet to say it was her and it's true and that joke wasn't funny. Who is spearheading this protest, really? By the end of May 2013, there were 288 reported cases of child abuse in Grand Bahama and New Providence. Thirty-two of those cases were of sexual abuse in GB and 36 in Nassau. The reported cases only represent one third of the cases that actually happen in Nassau and GB. Where is the protest for these little angels and for stiffer penalties for the perpetrators? Leslie Miller makes one dumb comment in the House and now everybody wants to bring Parliament down? Find something else to fight for please...

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 9 months ago

I do not understand these comments from men. I had a friend call me this week to repeat a joke about when it was ok to beat a "bad" woman. He saw nothing wrong with telling me that joke. I explained to him, that what he did was the same thing that the members in the house did. They don't see women as having any value. If he had replaced "woman" with "DAUGHTER" would the joke have been equally as funny? When would it be okay for a man to beat your daughter senseless or to make a joke about beating your daughter senseless? That is what you don't get, that is why women are up in arms. When it is acceptable to ridicule any group of people and to tell jokes about violence against that group, some knucklehead is 110% likely to take it to the next level because that group is now dehumanized, they are lower than him, and they deserve every lick they get. It happened to the Israelites, it happened to the Blacks, it happened to the Indians, it happened to the gays and for time immemorial it's been happening to women. This is not a "harmless" joke, it is not acceptable and it cannot be paid off with $1,000 dollars.

The woman (if she exists) would be afraid. Not only of retaliation from the attacker, but of the societal label of being a battered woman. This is not very hard to understand.

Bahamianpride 10 years, 9 months ago

Could not agree more, Beating women or abusing anyone is nothing Mr. Miller should be joking about on any level.. We have too much of this uncivilized behavior going on in our country. People that cannot resolve problems without violence or control tactics.. Remove him, he has no class and is a poor example of a leader... His conversation is that of a primtive savage..

TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago

I seem recollect when was asked his position on martial rape during most recent radio interview, Bran answered Comrade "talkie" Jeff with he own question, something like; man that is foolishness, tell me how you can rape your own wife? Ask Jeff play tapes back cause maybe I may have just misunderstood what he actually said.

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 9 months ago

Just remember that a woman was gang raped by 10 men a few weeks ago, I'm almost certain it started a "harmless" banter among a group of "good" guys who would never dream of hurting a woman. The tongue is a little member....

Bahamianpride 10 years, 9 months ago

Fire him for his uncivilized comments, this is 2014 time to get rid of dinasaurs with this method of thinking or the uncontrolled outburst.. What is the civilize world to think of our mentality if a high ranking member of our government is uttering such fooliness in any enviroment especially one in our country where there is an epidemic of violence..

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