Attorney General Carl Bethel.
By KHRISNA RUSSELL
Deputy Chief Reporter
krussell@tribunemedia.net
ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel yesterday said the circumstances surrounding the murder of Royal Bahamas Defence Force Petty Officer Philip Perpall at Government House are “disturbing”, adding people should pray that hateful anger and violence forever departs the country.
In the aftermath of the 52-year-old veteran officer’s killing, Mr Bethel told senators he was hopeful steps are taken to secure Government House if it is found there was a lapse in security.
Police Commissioner Anthony Ferguson said on Sunday that PO Perpall was in the guard room taking a break along with other marines when a lone assailant entered, and opened fire on all of them there. The incident happened at around 2.30am.
PO Perpall was shot multiple times in his upper body. The father of five and a one-time peacekeeper in Haiti died on the scene. The shooter, allegedly also a marine, fled the scene.
The commissioner said the perpetrator was pursued but escaped and a person of interest was said to be assisting police with their investigations.
Yesterday, police said they had no new updates to give on this active investigation.
“I rise on behalf of the government to express great distress and concern of the Bahamian people about the killing of RBDF Petty Officer Philip Perpall, and the circumstance attendant upon the tragic act,” Mr Bethel said in the Senate yesterday.
“It is especially shocking that the alleged assailant is a fellow RBDF member who would have all necessary training.
“The loss of any life due to any act of violence, no matter where it occurs is an inherent tragedy, and is to be deeply regretted.”
He continued: “The fact that the apparent murder took place on the hallowed ground of Government House, the historical and perpetual centre of our nation state and the official residence of Her Excellency the Governor General, our head of state, and also allegedly amongst members of her security detail – is also particularly disturbing.
“We trust that all relevant agencies will in due course take necessary steps to ensure that the law is upheld and that all necessary steps are taken to improve the security of Government House, if it is found that there was in fact any lapses in security.
“We as a people should pray that the spirit of irrational and hateful anger and violence will forever depart from our country,” he added.
“To the family of the late Petty Officer Perpall, we extend our deepest and most sincere sympathies, and I am sure that that family will be able to count upon the full support of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Ministry of National Security and every right-thinking Bahamian.”
Meanwhile, the Free National Movement issued a statement of condolences and called for unity.
The statement read: “The tragic event that took place Sunday morning has shocked our entire country and the FNM mourns for the victim of such a senseless crime.
“The FNM gives its deepest condolences to the family of Petty Officer Philip Perpall who served his country for over 30 years, gaining the respect of his peers for his character and his commitment to service.
“The FNM would like to thank all of our RBDF personnel, who put their lives on the line every waking moment. We are confident the current investigation will provide answers and ultimately justice. However, today is not a day for politics, and we encourage our friends on the other side of the political aisle to respect this time of mourning and withhold their political rhetoric and to honour the victim and his family.”
Democratic National Alliance Deputy Leader Buscheme Armbrister also released a statement voicing concern.
He said the party was deeply concerned by the news of what he called the gruesome murder of PO Perpall.
He said as Government House is the official residence of the head of our nation it should enjoy the highest level of security in the land.
Mr Armbrister said it was therefore troubling that the hallowed property became a crime scene early Sunday morning.
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- UPDATED: Defence Force Marine shot dead at Government House – Commodore says murder is ‘real blow’ to RBDF
- Brother of fallen marine delivers blistering attack on RBDF
- Brother of slain marine has the right to criticise, says minister
Comments
joeblow 5 years, 6 months ago
If you have the power why didn't you stop it from happening in the first place?
Godson 5 years, 6 months ago
Could I ask that we look back three days or so before this unfortunate incident?
Is it possible for us to ask the question as to 'why was the assailant so purposed to shoot Petty Officer Perpall'?
What caused the deterioration in the relationship between the two officers?
Can it be that the Senior of the two, Officer Perpall, pressed his weight of authority over the young man/gunman in such a way and to such an extent that he lost control and resolve to himself to take matters into his own hands?
That being said, the young man, as so many others might view their situations, might have felt that he cannot go to the other persons in authority to fairly resolve the conflict.
LET US STEP BACK AND TRY TO APPRECIATE WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES TO WHICH THE YOUNG MAN WAS MADE TO SUFFER AND ENDURE AS A RESULT OF SOME HIGH HANDEDNESS DEALT FROM HIS SENIOR OFFICER.
in any event, the young man was not of a develop mind to coop with the situation. His resolve was the annihilation of Officer Perpall.
Minister Bethel and all others in the present Cabinet are impotent to stop this from ever happening again. He, nor his Cabinet colleagues, possess the political will or moral fortitude to do any thing different than what is already in place.
They keep alienating the persons who can make a difference. Their pride precedes the fall.
Sickened 5 years, 6 months ago
Excellent points!
licks2 5 years, 6 months ago
A breath of fresh fresh air around here. . .SOME BODY IS THINKING. I just told a senior public services officer who is in charge for safety in government building that they must prepare for young public officers coming back to work and killing oppressive rogue senior officers who the their superiors nor the government would deal with. . .usually because they are political cronies! Young officers are getting their careers destroyed all over the place by those jealous and incompetent "placements" that reek havoc and jr officers have no place to get relief from those oppressive bosses!! We had that conversation just two months ago. I expect more of these "going postal" incidents to follow. . .if this government continues to ignore the problem and continue to act like them PLP who are famous for doing business like that!! Maybe now they will listen. . .THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING I AM AFRAID. . .THERE ARE MANY MORE CASES IN PUBLIC SERVICES WHERE GOOD PEOPLE ARE "CATCHING HELL" BECAUSE OF SOME SLIMY BOSS WHO IS NOT CORRECTED IN EMPLOYEE SUPPRESSION!!
These young people een like the older ones who just suffer in silence, get high blood pressure, ulcers, no promotions and retire broken people while them incompetent bosses get the lion share. These young turks will take things into their own hands because they cannot get justice through the system!!
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 6 months ago
I remember Bethel saying "We can't allow this ever again" after the nun was murdered, after the preacher was murdered, after the little boy was murdered, and on and on and on. Like most of our politicians today, he's all huff and puff for public consumption but can't do a damn meaningful thing about any problem facing the Bahamian people. And Bethel, being well past his time in politics, and loaded with fleas, is of course one of our loudest and most useless pontificating politicians.
jackbnimble 5 years, 6 months ago
I wonder when we are going to get it through our thick skulls that no one is safe anywhere in this country and Government House is no exception. If they want you, they will find you and kill you. My goodness, the GG"s aide was gunned down picking up his child from school and he was a trained police officer. We had a whole Angilcan bishop killed in a church, we have had a Deputy Prime Minister robbed in his home, a mother shot and killed while breastfeeding her baby, an 8-year old who took a stray bullet ... and the list goes on.
We have been playing with crime for far too long and only giving lip service to the subject when it appears to affect the hierarchy.
How much you wanna bet we get a regurgitation of these comments the next time something happens while the persons who hold the power to affect the change in law do nothing.
Y'all need to stop joking!
Godson 5 years, 6 months ago
BRAVO! BRAVO! WELL STATED!
Behold, an observing and realist is among the people. Notwithstanding he/she goes by the name Jacknimble.
John 5 years, 6 months ago
" A SMALL GROUP OF PROLIFIC OFFENDERS KILLING UP EACH OTHER"
and
"The Bahamian public is generally safe and can feel free to go about their normal business.'
How long have the public been fed these lines? Virtually after the murder of every young man in this country, Even while the family stood grieving and the body still lay warm in the street or even in a vehicle or on a doorstep or driveway. Yes, the murder count is down. Significantly. But what type of message this type of killing sends to the country and to the world? No one is safe. No one is off target, not even at the supposedly most secure compound in the land. Is this just a matter of 'an officer losing his head and attacking and killing another officer or is the devil in the details? As the young, grieving son of the slain officer put it, the last thing he expected to hear was that his father got killed at work. Especially when he was so close to retirement. The commissioner must dig deep on this now, as she should have been doing on every murder in the country. Make sure the killer is caught and also that it is the right person. Dig deep on this one! Along with the almost similutaneous killing of the businessman in Bimini.
TalRussell 5 years, 6 months ago
Yes, yes finallly some red shirts transparency cause sounds likes someone's heart overcome sense guilt sufficiently so self abstract confession spoken out mouth comrade AG Carl Wilshire, one the most substantive members Imperial red shirts cabinet, for being the only governing political party ever in the Colony of Out Islands political parties history to brungs murder atop Mount Fitzwilliam, yes, no?
sheeprunner12 5 years, 6 months ago
Bethell shoots off his mouth ......... despite Dames saying he has to do an independent investigation to get to the root of this RBDF situation ........... SMH
John 5 years, 6 months ago
Everyone panicking now. They didn’t heed the warnings. They didn’t hear the cry’s of distraught and heartbroken mothers when their sons were shot down like dogs. In fact they more than suggested that ‘he had to do something to deserve what he got.’ And so families had to grieve in silence and alone why the rumor mill and gossip mongers worked overtime and then some. Do not let this man’s life who has served this country well for three plus decades go in vain. You have heard the cries of his children and the calls for all Bahamians for justice.
birdiestrachan 5 years, 6 months ago
First and foremost. Did Mr: Symonette give Mr: Bethel permission to speak.
Now Bethel and No Games are just spilling from their mouths. . It is a very unfortunate incident that no mortal expected to occur.
bogart 5 years, 6 months ago
THANK GOODNESS DA TOURISTS......AINT BEEN OVER DA HILL....AN ENCOUNTERED ANY ..PERSOM(S)......EXECUTING THE CRIME IN THAT AREA.....AN COULDDA GET HURT ALSO....INNOCENT BYSTANDER(S).....THANK GOODNESS...NOBODY MORE GET HURT.....!!!!!!!!!!
John 5 years, 6 months ago
This may not be a good time to say it , but you have to do what the spirit leads you. maybe this is the time for Dames to rethink his decision to send the grandfathers of the armed forces home. NO..it may not have stopped this unprecedented and unfortunate tragedy. But YES them being there would have added depth to the forces and reassurances to the younger officers. We gat your back! Human beings are not robots and when you treat them as such, without only productive value, they become zombies or even killers. and if it was a case of someone losing his head (if that is what they want you to believe) then maybe he would have opened up and vented to someone. But when JFK got murdered the doctors had to disfigure the body so that the wounds lined up with where the agents said the bullets came from. And when the old folks home burned in Jamaica, all the telephone wires were cut.
Godson 5 years, 6 months ago
Those so called "grandfathers of the armed forces" were a huge part of and very much involved with instigating the problem.
Those men were just 'Tell'... No show...
John 5 years, 6 months ago
Who knows,maybe te Red necks at the State Department are angry because Hubert Minnis complained to Donald Trump about the way they have been treating us. Helicopters flying. Double murder God is not pleased
John 5 years, 6 months ago
Well when you live in a culture of murder no one is off target. In fact no place is sacred ground. The country must now rethink its policies on all murders and all illegal killings... but as everyone waits to see who will be charged and if they acted alone
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 6 months ago
That U.S. State Department travel ban on Americans coming to The Bahamas is not too far off. The Bahamas rolling out of 5G technology and equipment from Red China will be the icing on the cake. LMAO
John 5 years, 6 months ago
Ain’t surprised you are the one to bring this up. Maybe you works for the CIA
John 5 years, 6 months ago
The US State department creates its own news and headlines...go to www.watnextinthebahamas.com
John 5 years, 6 months ago
So why did the family of the slain officer have to be informed about his tragic death some six hours after the fact. What if the killer(s) had also planned to go after the family
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