The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

NASSAU Village MP Dion Smith said he will launch a new crime fighting initiative in his constituency, days after a young man was shot multiple times and killed in the area last Sunday.

In a statement released in response to crime in the area, Mr Smith, who is also the deputy speaker in the House of Assembly, said Nassau Village has had to endure unfortunate tragedies and violence “too often”.

He said he will create a programme called the Rebuilding Nassau Village Initiative (RNI), which will work in partnership with community-based organisations and residents on comprehensive strategies to reverse social isolation and disinvestment in low-income neighbourhoods.

On Sunday, a 23-year-old man was shot and killed in Nassau Village while on his way home from a barbershop around 9.30am.

Police have not yet identified the victim, but The Tribune understands he is Shannondor Seymour. His death pushed the country’s homicide count to 112 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.

Mr Smith expressed his “deep sorrow” to the family of the victim and vowed that Nassau Village “will not be a safe haven for criminals.”

“My thoughts and prayers are with the family and the community. I share in your heartache and sadness. I am empathetic in understanding the anger and discontent that my constituents feel towards the crime in our community. Nassau Village will not be a safe haven for criminals at the expense of my constituents’ safety. Any death that takes place in my constituency as a result of violence is a tragedy. There is something particularly heartbreaking about families having to deal with the reality of losing a husband, son, or father to gun violence,” Mr Smith said.

“As the member of Parliament, I will be in contact with the Royal Bahamas Police Force to ensure that we all restore a sense of a safety in Nassau Village and we remain attentive and vigilant as we respond to the level of violence that regrettably shapes our daily lives. The constituency of Nassau Village has had to endure unfortunate tragedies like this too often. At some point, we as a country must go through the healing process and engage ourselves in a meaningful discourse on ensuring the safety of our citizens.

“I will launch the Rebuilding Nassau Village Initiative (RNI). ‘Stronger Communities and Stronger Families’ is our first long-term investment designed to demonstrate we can transform troubled neighbourhoods into safe, supportive, productive environments for children, youth, and families. The initiative will work in partnership with community-based organisations and residents on comprehensive strategies to reverse social isolation and disinvestment in low-income neighbourhoods. This initiative is dedicated to helping build better futures for disadvantaged children in Nassau Village.”

Mr Smith said he takes “all shootings in Nassau Village very seriously” but in the meantime he asked for all Bahamians to pray for the area and the families who are affected the most by violence.

He added: “I want my constituents to understand that I will do everything to ensure that we respond to violence with the best our community has to offer through strength, love, and unity.”