Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis with Kendera Woodside, mother of Eugene. Photo: Yontalay Bowe
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE hugs and comforting words of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and his wife Patricia Minnis couldn’t answer the questions that consumed Kendera Woodside yesterday as she grieved for her son, eight-year-old Eugene, who was killed four days ago.
“Why these people ain’t telling me they bringing my son right now?” she cried between screams as Dr Minnis tried to console the family at their Rosebud Road home where Eugene was shot by a stray bullet on Monday as he did his homework.
Three days after the murder that pushed the country’s struggle with violent crime into the national spotlight yet again, her pain remained acute.
“He ain’t even live a life, my God,” Mrs Woodside cried. “He’s a baby. I could give my breath right now just for my baby to be right here. They take my heart out my body.
“This my only son. They almost shoot my daughter too and they inside (the house) with me. What they do to my family? What they do to us?
“Why they ain’ carry me? I live 29 years, He’s a baby.”
Tonio Woodside, Eugene’s father, consoled his wife even as he struggled to maintain composure.
Dr Minnis said he felt the family’s pain. “What makes me feel even worse is that most of those we see in the yard, I, during my years as a medical doctor, would’ve delivered most of them so they are closer to me knowing they are my former patients,” Dr Minnis, a gynaecologist by profession, said. “The message we must send to the entire Bahamas is the police can’t fight this alone. Each citizen has a responsibility and whatever information one has we must bring that forward. These criminals live among us.”
Mrs Minnis, who emphasised to the family that her appearance before them was not a political move, called on women to wear black one day this week in mourning for murder victims.
“As a mother, I’m calling upon all mothers because I really believe mothers can stop this,” said Mrs Minnis, who was tearful at times. “We have our sons who we cradle from birth and as they become men we are still with them. We have to speak with them. I think all women should wear black one day this week and mourn what’s happening in our countries. Yes I feel for this mother more than I can say.”
Dr Minnis said he will ensure medical attention is provided to Mrs Woodside, who is pregnant.
“You can see the grieving and pain she’s going through,” he said. “I assured her that sometime today (Friday) we will have medical personnel come to look after her because she’s pregnant. I have to make sure that her and her unborn infant are both well and we will also make arrangements to make sure the necessary medical personnel look after her and see her on a regular basis to ensure the safety of her and her unborn infant.”
On Wednesday, police said they had found the getaway vehicle they believe was used by the person responsible for the senseless daylight shooting that left Eugene and a man dead.
The other victim was the gunman’s intended target, police have said.
The silver coloured Nissan minivan was found early Wednesday morning in bushes on Boyd Road, near a cemetery.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.
Investigations continue.
Comments
TalRussell 7 years, 1 month ago
Yes Comrades, do watch film's production- all directed by the PMO's press handlers!
The PM does not pull-off no Sidney Poitier performance in this PMO's amateur hour production film.
Just you watch how this film plays out, after the Clowns Bus pulls up and offloads the PM's press handlers - where the entire staging (terribly bad amateur directing) begins with the PM being signaled - PM, you stand over there.
I thinks the PM's press handlers (film's production team) - needs be "AXED ACED".... and did you knows there are over (20) media handlers working exclusively for the PM out the PMO - who were hired only since May 10,2017...and they're all being paid out the poor and near poor peoples pursers? ( Comrades, not making this up -most it was caught on film, and they were even idiotic enough to release the film starring the PM - for prime time viewing ).
UserOne 7 years, 1 month ago
Is that what you are worried about? Film production? Not the murder of an eight year old and the tremendous grief of a mother? No wonder we have such a huge crime problem; many people don't care.
Baha10 7 years, 1 month ago
This is awful inexcusable exploitation of a grief stricken Family, truly disgusting ... the PM should resign ... and Yes, I voted FNM.
Reality_Check 7 years, 1 month ago
Repost of @jackbnimble's earlier post:
"I admit this video affected my sleep because I made the mistake of watching it just before I went to bed but I woke up with these thoughts which I'll leave here for consideration.
We have a PM in office who has not given himself a portfolio so that he can be "free" to be PM. That is commendable. It leaves him free to visit ministries and the Family Iskands and this is all streamed live on Facebook on an almost daily basis. I know because I follow his page and the notifications constantly pop up on my smartphone.
In this case he has visited a mother who lost her 8-year-old son tragically as a result of crime, an issue that continues to plague our country year after year, administration after administration with no clear solutions in sight.
I don't know about you, but if I were PM I would not use these situations as a 'photo op'. In my opinion, a mother's pain IS NOT NEWS!!
I am the PM. I am the CHIEF LEGISLATOR with the right to pass laws that affect how my country is governed. The Bahamian people have elected me to make the necessary changes to those laws that would, among other things, put a serious dent in crime. Without a portfolio I am now free to focus on this.
I know that my citizens have a major issue with the fact that capital punishment is no longer enforced because of an out-of-touch privy council. What can I do to amend this? I know that the police force is frustrated with the in-and-out system that allows prolific offenders to repeatedly be let out on bail to reoffend. What can I do to fix this? I know that the streets are filled with illegal guns. What can I do to put a dent in that? So I'm not running around playing MP visiting a distraught mother who had lost her son to the crime that I have the ability (through legislation) to fix. Instead, I'm using my press conferences, live feeds and photo ops to demonstrate to my citizens that legislation is being passed to stop it. I may mention that I visited this mother but that her pain motivated me to do something about it.
We have had over 4 juveniles killed in the last 2 months. Did our PM visit any of the other mothers? And what's going to happen when the next child dies by violent crime? Will a visit to the parent be streamed live in social media? If that's the case then we may be getting weekly live feeds because it's getting worse and worse and further you're creating a precedent that may be difficult to follow because other mothers have lost their sons and you haven't visited them.
I say keep focused and do what we elected you to do. Get capital punishment entrenched in the constitution. If it's constitutionally correct to do so, anend the Bail Act to prevent persons charged with serious crimes from being granted bail to reoffend, and pass stiffer gun laws to make persons think twice about picking up a gun.
This is how Governments fight crime. We do not just see you. We FEEL you."
Reality_Check 7 years, 1 month ago
Repost: Minnis just doesn't get it! He values politically motivated 'optics' more than achievements that serve the best interests of the Bahamian people as a whole. This serious weakness of his no doubt resulted in his very short sighted 'shoot-from-the-hips' decision regarding the students from Dominica.
TalRussell 7 years, 1 month ago
Comrade Reality-Check, thinking the PM and the Governor General the Dame, should switch roles? A little break from all the royal pomp and pageantry for the GG, and more for the PM?
"ACE" done previously issued a press release describing a "meeting" with the PM as having an "audience" with the PM. { I bet you thinks I just made that "audience" one up? } Doesn't the GG have their own official colonial white uniform and matching hat?
tell_it_like_it_is 7 years, 1 month ago
You made some interesting points Reality_Check. Certainly worth thinking about. Couldn't watch the video though. I do pray for the family.
Reality_Check 7 years, 1 month ago
Credit for the interesting points in the second post above belongs entirely to @jackbnimble as indicated in the bold type at the beginning of the post.
licks2 7 years, 1 month ago
Hahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. . .sheriff out politicking yinna that bad. . .and the peanut gallery sings on. . . doc this . . doc that. . .doc making the sun hot. . .doc gern to the bathroom to nanny. . .I wonder if he wiped his hands after he finished because all strong leaders does wipe they hands after they nanny. . .bla bla bla bla! Chile yinna got a hard five years ahead of yinna if yall keep up this petty ways! This sheriff is a smart and savvy political animal. Lol!
John 7 years, 1 month ago
Is there any truth that this entire family was harassed, arrested and detained by police last night. And the father and uncle and siblings of the murdered victim threaten at gunpoint that they will be killed? Was it true that even the pregnant mother was taken into custody? What is going on in this country. This is what was reported live on national radio and if it is true the officer responsible must be made to answer for the actions of himself and his officers last night.
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 1 month ago
Are these optics intended to distract us from the 'Spy Bill' that was recently tabled in the HOA? See The Tribune's article recently posted on this most important subject.
OldFort2012 7 years, 1 month ago
This comment is unworthy of you.
birdiestrachan 7 years, 1 month ago
Roc wit doc his wife, the press and his propaganda machine. Could he not have gone there without making it political. without the cameras and without the press?? It is all about the politics. He had already wept for another Country. The Parker woman also put on a good
show. They have no tears for the Bahamas. I am not buying it they are free to sell their crap. But not to me.
I am very sorry for the young boy Family. Only God can help them in their sorrow.
CatIslandBoy 7 years, 1 month ago
In our fledging democracy, wherever the PM goes, the Press also goes! Get over it! That's how it works!
birdiestrachan 7 years, 1 month ago
Catislandboy you will be surprise where he goes and the press does not. The press can not read his mind. so he has to notify them. and bring them along for his show. Fox New for Donald Trump. The Bahamas own Donald Trump.
Baha10 7 years, 1 month ago
Not a good Week for the PM, resuscitating Spy Bill NOBODY wants, except those with sinister motives, and now this, EXPLOITING the death of an innocent 8 year old! Seems to have not only squandered more political capital than any other PM in history, but worse appears to have Lost the Plot in the process out of desperation. How about announcing a Project that will create Jobs and help to aliviate crime in the process? Please don't tell me he has forgotten that our Economy and basic well being is based upon foreign investment, as we produce literally nothing today!
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 1 month ago
Touché
sheeprunner12 7 years, 1 month ago
The PM has a heart for suffering people ....... He is doing it his way ....... Stop judging him by the other 3 PMs who went before him (or the US, Canadian or Australian PM) ......... He is the PM for all of the Bahamian people and all of the Bahamian islands ......... He has an awesome leadership task to dig this country out of the PLP hole ....... We must UNITE to assist the government in this task.
birdiestrachan 7 years, 1 month ago
doc has no heart for all of the Bahamian people he has put out of work. He has no heart For the people of Grand Bahama. He should invite them to swallow while he eats. Pray tell why are they taking the police on the job sites such as water and sewage??. Sorry doc has no heart and one must admit he is a masterful liar. remember toggie and the fish story. the VAT story and the Free university Story. Heart no. But lots of bowels. This FNM government is becoming very worrisome to me. Hitler like.
Would sheep runner know the difference NO . But sheep runner should Waite for that airport in Long Island. It coming next month.
ashley14 7 years, 1 month ago
Living in fear everyday of some senseless act is unimaginable. Your babies being killed sitting in his house doing homework. They better catch these people and they do deserve the death penalty. If they ever see the light of day again is too good for them.
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