A POLICE car passes by C I Gibson Senior High School on Marathon Road yesterday. PHOTO: Terrel W Carey/Tribune staff
By KHRISNA RUSSELL
Deputy Chief Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
FRIENDS of murdered 15-year-old Anthony Smith yesterday told The Tribune they will retaliate against the murder of the teenager.
The threats came amid an ongoing gang and turf war that is affecting some junior and senior high school campuses in New Providence.
“I’ll slaughter them, see what I saying,” one boy aged 15 said yesterday as he stood outside the gates of C I Gibson Senior High School on Marathon Road.
“We (are) retaliating for our boy.
“Some riding mad a, and some riding (one) orda (gang),” another boy, 16, chimed in as he demonstrated various gang hand signs.
Another said: “That’s our boy man. That’s sad man. Yeah man I drop tears. I think it wasn’t called for. I mean that’s a lil n.
“Dis ain’t going down like that,” someone else in the group of about 10 boys, shouted.
Asked whether fighting was common at their school, the boys agreed, one of them saying: “We just had two fights today.” As the victim’s friends gave this newspaper a glimpse into the violence plaguing the country’s educational system, scores of students ran toward a rock fight, which erupted several feet from a nearby tyre shop.
Somewhere in the midst of the commotion was the school’s principal Herbert Oembler. He followed the crowd of students and seemed to make attempts to find out the cause of the disruption.
Mr Oembler was on the defensive and refused to answer any questions when he was asked about his campus’ apparent violence problem.
The Tribune canvassed students, whose identities have been withheld because they are minors, at C I Gibson and D W Davis yesterday, following Anthony Smith’s death on Tuesday night.
Anthony’s father Wellington on Wednesday said he was in many fights while attending both schools, adding that when his son was enrolled at C I Gibson he knew the boy would most likely die.
According to police, shortly after 8pm Tuesday Anthony was standing in front of a home on Greenwick Street off Prison Lane when a man in a dark coloured Honda pulled up and shot him before speeding off.
The teenager was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival at hospital.
Mr Smith said he believes “Tony” was targeted because of the many fights he got into at school, stemming from a “gang war” between boys from Mason’s Addition and Kemp Road. He admitted Anthony was “not perfect”, but said “the system” set his son up to fail, when the Ministry of Education sent him to a school in a neighbourhood with rivals.
The distraught father said he knew the minute his son enrolled in C I Gibson Senior High School he would most likely die. Because of this, Mr Smith said Anthony was intentionally pulled out of school after only attending for three days since September.
At D W Davis Junior High School, Principal Nicolette Brown admitted that at its peak several years ago, gang and turf wars on the campus were a serious problem.
However, she said, rebranding and a change of culture at the Wilton Street school has brought major changes.
Several students, who spoke to this newspaper, agreed that “the campus is safe” and there were virtually no fights.
She said: “We went on a campaign to actually change the culture here and at present we are rebranding the school. About three years or so ago we decided to make some major changes. We began, firstly, by changing the uniform of our school. Secondly we looked at the mascot, which was the pit bull, and we were not happy with the representation of the pit bull as the mascot for our school.
“While initially it might have had positive influences in terms of strength we began to look at it in a negative way and we wanted to change that. So we took on the shield with the crown and the sceptre as our mascot so we are no longer pit bulls, but we are royals.
“We began to speak positively to our students. We address them as prince and princess and over the three (or) four year period we began to see some major changes. Academics began to take off. Our students began to perform exceptionally well at the BJC level. We began to get passes inclusive of many A’s. Five A‘s, six A’s, seven A’s and most recently last year our top student was awarded eight A’s and one B. Our second highest student actually received 10 subjects – seven A’s and three B’s.
“It didn’t happen overnight but incrementally we began to see the school turn around. It is a combined effort of administrators, teachers, clerical staff (and) custodial staff. We call it collective efficacy because all of us are working together for the same goal and ultimately it is to enhance the overall lives and academic achievement.”
Ms Brown said administrators also recognise demographics play a major role on violence on school campuses.
“If you look at we are in the inner city surrounded by Mason’s Addition, Peardale, Wulff Road, Kemp Road, Culmersville and some times that mix in itself can create problems.
“We all know that there is a gang problem in our country in the schools, but we have worked feverishly on it here and I am confident in saying that we have pretty much stamped out the majority of it.
“While it may still exist it’s very minimal and does not affect the teaching and learning process at D W Davis,” Ms Brown said.
Police have no suspects in custody for this case.
Comments
Sickened 7 years, 1 month ago
put all gang members of ALL gangs in the old sports centre at the same time and let them work out their differences. Let them take in any communication aids they like (i.e. no pat downs) and make sure to lock the gates behind them so the scared ones can't just leave at any time.
ohdrap4 7 years, 1 month ago
chrage a fee and call it a Gladiator Fight!!
Sickened 7 years, 1 month ago
Nice. HBO would certainly buy the rights. This could go global!
tell_it_like_it_is 7 years, 1 month ago
NO, but why the Tribune giving a voice to gang members now? Will they do anything to sell a story? I think it's in poor taste. Why are you trying to further stir the pot with these gangs? IMHO You should never give violence a platform to speak from!
killemwitdakno 7 years, 1 month ago
Don't blame Tribune. You ask for answers but then you dumbasses don't listen when they've been saying this forever. Listen for once. Sounding like white privilege when you won't acknowlege the obvious.
Something has to interrupt the kill or be killed trap.
tell_it_like_it_is 7 years, 1 month ago
Everyone has a right to their opinion. We should be able to conduct mature intellectual discourse without personal attacks.
proudloudandfnm 7 years, 1 month ago
And this is why I'd live in a tent on the beach in Freeport before I'd move my family to that shit hole Nassau....
ConcernedCitizen242BHS 7 years, 1 month ago
Solution for reducing crime & deterring criminal activity:
1) Create a new maximum security, Bahamas led and designed prison on one of our more isolated islands 2) Begin upskilling & training the current resources of able bodied Bahamian men held within the existing prisons to be able to work as skilled, building construction labour on the new prison site 3) Create new job opportunities for boatmen or aircrafts to be able to bring supplies to and from the new prison facilities
...
We really need to look at more effective and humane ways of preventing persons from wanting to stray off the straight and narrow path. And ideally we need to foster a better society based on togetherness where there are contributing members who believe in playing an active role role in our much better tomorrow.
Rise up Bahamaland!
Sickened 7 years, 1 month ago
The new prison I can agree with. However, it should be built with asbestos. This will ensure about a 10 year death penalty for the scum locked up within.
Hugs and gentle labour won't help just like the cat o' nine tails and harsh labour won't work. Not everyone will or deserves to live long. Innocent and good people get their lives ended early; criminals don't deserve any better.
joeblow 7 years, 1 month ago
Asbestos is a good idea, but you must ensure they have lead infused water for drinking and bathing!
infoseeker 7 years, 1 month ago
And just kill all the prison officers too I guess....
John 7 years, 1 month ago
How about efforts to PREVENT young men going to jail and PREVENT young men being killed...Why are you so obsessed with young (black) men going to jail. Are you a RACIST?
TheMadHatter 7 years, 1 month ago
What is amazing to me whenever these kinds of comments come up (like JoeBlow here) about prisoners - is that people seem to forget that every single one of these men (&women) in prison were once cute little babies. Just like Bob Marley said, "The biggest man I ever did see..." in the song Comin' In From The Cold.
The practice of Christianity in this country is very strange. It contains a loop-hole where we simply label someone as inhuman or unworthy of brotherly love anytime we feel like it. People are disposable. Of no value. Yet we wonder how teenagers (and others) can simply kill anybody anytime without any concern beforehand, nor remorse afterward. They do this because they learn that lives don't matter, and even if they do matter today - they can simply be labeled as "not mattering" tomorrow. This would happen, of course, if someone becomes a PRISONER. Then suddenly they don't matter anymore, and "anything that happens to them in there" is what what they deserve. Really? Is that what the Judge says in the court room at the end of the trial? "I hereby sentence you to 'anything that happens to you'."
In that case, why not make hanging the penalty for ALL crimes? This sick way of demeaning and trivializing prisoners to no longer being persons - is a true sickness of our society - and we are paying the price for it.
As long as we continue to say some lives don't matter - then no lives will matter - and every single one of us runs the risk of being murdered at any place on any day at any time. It is our choice to think this way.
banker 7 years, 1 month ago
The PLP taught us that. No other lives matter except our own. All for me baby.
John 7 years, 1 month ago
The Tribune has made everyone who knows the murdered students and all those who attended school with him a virtual target for murder. Whilst it may not have been the intention, the newspaper should never print that the students were planning revenge. Even if it is the case that information is more suited for the police. One must be careful so as not to be seen as fanning the fire for gang war fare and also sensitive to what is published after interviewing grieving young people.
guavaduff22 7 years, 1 month ago
Where the hell is the Minister of Education and National Security ? These young boys are being recruited on the campuses of the schools! Parents aren't even aware in most cases of how involved their kids are in gang related activities! I call on the Prime Minister along with the respective Ministers to act - NOW!
I understand that Marvin Dames was in the Netherlands recently for some conference on crime - well I'm a Bahamian residing in the Netherlands and gangs DO NOT exist here! The prisons are empty here to the point that we lease them out to neighboring countries!
There has to be an immediate solution and I say start in the schools!
TigerB 7 years, 1 month ago
Well the police have a heads-up this time, they need to further enquiry about this for it become a reality.
proudloudandfnm 7 years, 1 month ago
Time for our government to declare war on these gangs. Shoot first and ask questions later. I don't care how old these gang bangers are. Kill as many as you can as fast as you can. See how long gangs last...
bogart 7 years, 1 month ago
$300,000,000, three hundred million on the Education budget to educate 60,000 students works out to be some $1,666. Per student per term.
We are not getting value for money especially when compared to the Private School system.
An overhaul of the sustem along with the other government agencies is needed..
joeblow 7 years, 1 month ago
Single parent homes are a scourge to this country in so many ways. There are far too many unfit parents producing degenerate children. Maybe drive-by sterilization should be an option.
Sickened 7 years, 1 month ago
We can call it 'fogging for mosquitos'.
John 7 years, 1 month ago
We have lost over 1,000 to murder in a decade. Add up their ages and multiply by $25,000 what is how much it cost to maintain a person per year. Then subtract their ages from 65 and multiply by $25,000 That is the lost potential income of these murdered victims. Then add the two figures together ( the cost of raising them to the age where they were murdered plus the loss of their earning potential. That is just the tangible cost of murder. Not to include the emotional stress, the destruction to families and friends and the businesses that suffer and even have to close because of murders. Then add in the cost of emergency cars, of police investigations, funeral services and all the other ancillary costs. Murder is not cheap.
Sickened 7 years, 1 month ago
Somehow we need to get rid of them before they start murdering.
John 7 years, 1 month ago
Roughly $1/2 billion has been lost on rearing persons from birth to an average age of 20 when they are murdered. And with an average age of 20 getting killed the country will has lost $11/4 billion on lost income. And of course when you bring that to the present value Factoring in the accumulated interest over the years) it will be more than $3 billion.
bogart 7 years, 1 month ago
Actually on the point that all the men and women were once cute babies as the Mad hatter says is not entirely true. Some babies are ugly but mot to hurt the feelings of those concerned we tend to be nice and say they are cute.
The focus on efucation seems to be the big show about fixing up the schools, crooked contractors and the buildongs by the politicians...both sides. THRY NEED TO GROW UP AND REALIZE IT IS NOT THE SCHOOL BUIILDINGS THAT NEED FIXING ...ITS THE SYSTEM, STUDENTS, PARENTS, ILLEGALS, LOW PAID TEACHERS ETCETCETC
Really silly that the people can see teachers leaving, shortage of teachers, overcrowded classrooms, etc. Any employer in the private sector will have ulcers seeing their employees leaving, customers fighting, not having enough office supplies and having to have full time plice presemce to frish theor customers etc.
Not only the building need fixing.. Actually many Bahamians have been education under the tree and a google search will show their names and successes. Many Bahamians actually had no further education past the age of 14 years old.
The system is educating two nations childrens. Two values actually many kids are without parents anf for years the govt has deported parents and children are left behind, The system will actually do a darn good job at going over and above to make many do better but at the sacrifice of others. It can be a 1000% imprpvemtent for some students to come from a minus situation and get a D grade.
Bizzare for decades this j Has been going on.The aithorities need to see past the school buildongs and a coordinated effort involving social services, homeland security, immigration, education etc When thrre is the violence and the taxpayer is funding a govt school system where the per student education cost is more than private school..
sheeprunner12 7 years, 1 month ago
Lloyd is wrong on one front ......... The PLP did set out to "dumb down" the masses ....... once the Founding Fathers had benefited from GHS ........ they decided to close it down and create these "one size fits all" secondary schools that are glorified baby-sitting prisons ....... The system is not intended to develop human talent but just maintain the status quo (if you have money send your child to one of the elite private schools).
bogart 7 years, 1 month ago
Actually it was one of the founding Fathers of the FNM , Dir Wallace Whitgield who in 1067 created a massive education system building lots of schools to educate Bahamian children and anyone who showed up got an education. Fast forward to 2016 where Sir Wallace Whitfield wife Beverly in her 80s eas brutally beaten up and robbed. We have Cat o nine flogging and hanging as law but none of the 40 MP legislators seem to want to make it work.
Back then these guys were major thinkers not petty shop operators big thoughts like the university of the Americas, polytechnis School in Palmdale etc. Over the years these did not come to fruition as some say the nahionalist fever wanted things to be fully Bahamian..
All things must be taken according to present condiions. Present educators are going above and beyond. However for decades when the authorities have seen that the grades are low , teachers are leaving, foreign teachers with excellent level of training and education cannot raise the grade levels should have warrented immediate surgegy
National education has a direct impact on the economy in creating qualified employees..
Socrates 7 years, 1 month ago
i suggest gang members caught by police for breaking the law, get 6 months on Plana Cays or Samana Cay (furthest you can get from Nassau and still be in the Bahamas). let them live in barracks, grow their own food, etc. schooling from 7:30am - 4:30pm and no free time, structured schedule from wakeup til sleeping. see the results...
ConcernedCitizen242BHS 7 years, 1 month ago
Similarly to building a new prison on one of our farther outer islands, we really need to look at effectively removing these persons determined to disrupt our normal society until they can be socially conditioned, responsible and contributing members of the Bahamian civil society.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 1 month ago
Yep .......... I have been advocating for a Bahamian Alcatraz on this blog for three years ....... HMP needs to be a rehab prison, but we need an isolated supermax for the present and future serial murderers, armed robbers, rapists, traitors and gang-bangers ............. and the convicted corrupt politicians as well ..... Let them cut the rock, mix the cement and build the facility themselves.
bogart 7 years, 1 month ago
WHAT !!!
Impossible. Cannot snd will not happen to hav our lil darlings, our countrys future leaders, our Christiian children who go to church every Monday and twice on a Sunday, etc
What for goodness sakes what will some low life religeous leader going to do and not have the chance to go and suk up to some police on letting them go, the MP also will not be able to go round to ths suppprters and try and get their loving sweet child off.
Branville MacCartney pointed all the persons who go and impose themselves to get these persons off. He actually called a spade a spade. He even came up with the unthinkable point to hang murderers in Rawson Square.
Putting these criminals on some Cay will cause such a ruckus and the every human rights activists will show up. Not these sweet lil darlings and murderers who can be involved with 47 murders again....what.?....they can be reformed....they are entitled to another chance...while we pay millions to incarcerate them?.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 1 month ago
Stop writing BS ......... this is a DO or DIE period in our country.
bogart 7 years, 1 month ago
Sorry I am being facetious. I am fed up tired and disgusted at the amounts of crime curruption. I have been a victim of crime on a number of occasions and I am fed up at the nimber of excuses that are made to protect the wrongdoers. It is wrong of me to paint all the religeous leaders with the same brush when I say some low life religeous leader for which I truly apoligise. Really I am tired and fed up at what is going on in our beloved Bahamsland.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 1 month ago
I feel your pain ........ but we must continue to advocate, lobby and give good advice and counsel to the legislators who can change the laws, regulations and policies for the better ........... We have that responsibility to our children.
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