PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis. Photo: Dante Carrer
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday condemned the alleged attack on a transgender woman at a club on West Bay Street over the weekend. The US Embassy in Nassau said it expects a full investigation into the claims.
Mr Davis told reporters violence in any form will not be tolerated in The Bahamas.
“So far as the single incident is concerned,” he said, “I want to express my concern to the victim and let that person know that we would be supporting her in whichever way we can to help her through that traumatic experience.”
“In addition, the perpetrator ought to be held to account.”
The embassy’s statement to The Tribune yesterday came after Mr Davis’ comments.
“No person –– regardless of their gender identity,” it said, “should fear for their safety in The Bahamas. The US embassy expects a full investigation in accordance with the law.”
Owners and managers of the club in question have been difficult to reach to give their side of the story and have not publicly addressed the claims.
Mr Davis, meanwhile, said while the incident was worrying, he did not believe it would negatively affect the country’s tourism industry, calling it “a single incident”.
“This is not the norm as we all know in this country,” he added.
“It’s a singular incident that is not consistent with the conduct of our Bahamian people, particularly towards our visitors and guests, so I don’t expect this to have any negative impact anywhere.”
Attorney Mark Rolle Symonette said the woman, China Diamond, 26, claimed she was attacked by five or six men on Saturday in what she called a “hate crime”.
He claimed his client was stomped and had her wig torn off her head. He said she was beaten “black and blue”.
She was later arrested for causing harm. She was taken to court, where she was warned before being discharged. The people involved in the altercation did not attend the hearing.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Leamond Deleveaux said yesterday that when the woman was in custody, she did not make a complaint.
He could not say if she declined to make a complaint, but noted she is no longer in the country.
“I have ordered a full and immediate investigation to get to the bottom of this matter,” he said. “Again, we do not condone disrespecting any human being. We fully support human rights.”
Asked if police will question the people involved, he said: “Wherever the investigation takes us, it goes, so obviously that would mean seeing the persons concerned.”
LGBTI activists reacted bitterly to the incident yesterday.
Transgender activist Alexus D’Marco said in a Facebook post: “Every year, trans, intersex and other gender non-conforming individuals experience violence at the hands of individuals who wilfully ignore the fact that all individuals in any jurisdiction have rights and freedoms, chief among which are the right not to be discriminated on the basis of who they are –– that includes sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression and to be free from violence.”
Comments
John 11 months ago
Brave Davis so lost . How does this get to be a hate crime when the man who was dressed like a woman, popped the security guard with a broken cologne bottle? What happens if someone is being ejected from the House of Assembly and they not only resist, but PHYSICALLY ATTACK the honor guard or even other police officers who are ejecting him? From BRAVE started referring to the MAN who was dressed like a WOMAN , you could tell BRAVE is CONFUSED!
John 11 months ago
From he started referring to the man dressed up like a woman as ‘her’ you know y’all PM was lost!
LastManStanding 11 months ago
This is a "hate crime" because transsexuals are one of the most revered deities of the American pantheon, and being bought and owned Davis has to appease his masters.
mandela 11 months ago
There are three sides to a story, the accuser, the defendant, and the truth. I don't think that it was a hate crime. Bahamians and hospitality establishments owners are very tolerant to differences. I am sure this club owner has had trans people in his establishment before and this is not the first time. Web and internet influencers would do anything for attention, views, likes, and followers. In the end he/she win big by accomplishing all of the above.
bahamianson 11 months ago
So , if the owner/owners have not been reached for comment, why are politicians commenting on this? If the investigation has not been completed, politicians should not comment. Nassau guardian's radio host whom replaces strachan had an entire show on speculation. Urca needs to set laws against these situations. How can everyone speculation and talk about something that is alleged until an investigation has been completed? This is baffling and confusing.
Sickened 11 months ago
I wonder if the dude threw the broken perfume bottle like a man or if he threw it from the elbow and made a squealing sound while exherting effort?
FreeportFreddy 11 months ago
You suck!!
Sickened 11 months ago
Lordy. Me thinks I struck a nerve. Sorry buddy!
stillwaters 11 months ago
LOL.....oh man....too graphic
birdiestrachan 11 months ago
Investigation needed how was she able to throw a bottle with all of those men holding her. She could have injured that man she could have gone to that club and no one would notice her at all
whatsup 11 months ago
Can't help but wonder if the PM would have commented if it was a 'real woman' beatened up. Don't recall him doing that before as politicians like to say they can't comment on anything before The Courts.
IslandWarrior 11 months ago
Or what, you will 'flatten' The Bahamas
The concern is the presence of this entity in our community that poses a risk if a Bahamian male approaches it, mistakenly thinking it is a female, leading to unintended and violent consequences. A warning of approach should be made before having unrestricted movement in our community. The Bahamas has a tiny 'Gay' community, and our men would not hesitate to approach an entity if that entity appears to be female. Furthermore, Americans visiting the Bahamas should also be conscious of the sensitivity of their lifestyle and understand that being an American doesn't absorb them from their responsibility to our community and sensitivities, ensuring that we all live in peaceful but separate coexistence.
When asking for an opinion on this matter, here is the response:
My assessment of the situation is nuanced and does not definitively place responsibility solely on any one party. Here's a breakdown:
Arguments for trans person's responsibility:
Potential for unintended harm: In situations like the one described, the lack of prior disclosure could lead to situations of surprise, confusion, or even fear for the person encountering the trans individual.
Arguments against solely blaming the trans person:
Unfair burden: Placing the responsibility for avoiding violence solely on the trans individual creates an unfair burden and reinforces harmful stereotypes.
Individual responsibility: Everyone has a responsibility to act respectfully and non-violently, regardless of the situation or the other person's identity.
Unnecessary disclosure: Trans people should not be obligated to disclose their gender identity in every situation, especially when it doesn't feel safe or necessary.
concernedcitizen 11 months ago
A tiny gay community , no we just hypocritical about it .WE had gay people in the church ,shhh bro , protesting the gay cruises .We have had people of alternative lifestyles close to the highest office in the land and perhaps the highest .Now we have gay people in very high positions ,and lets not even get into the church ,,lmao
IslandWarrior 11 months ago
Still, 'A tiny gay community, Bro' ...pull 500 you're good.
John 11 months ago
In Bahamian lingo: the fight didn’t start because the dude gone to the club wearing he ma clothes. The dude refused to leave the club when he was asked to do so and burst the bouncer with a perfume bottle ( glass) and told the bouncer ‘u wouldn’t dare hit a woman!’ The bouncer say ‘ no I wouldn’t,’ So other guys got involved and beat the dude like a man’. Now the dude still looking for live and affection and MONEY!
John 11 months ago
So what should be the compensation to the leader of an opposing party when he is arrested ( abducted (kidnapped) by police held in custody for extended period then released. Will this matter ever make it to the courts?
concernedcitizen 11 months ago
Whats that about John ??
John 11 months ago
When the police arrested Lincoln Bain a few months ago during the was it ChOGM I think..
concernedcitizen 11 months ago
Yeah now I remember
Porcupine 11 months ago
Let's just speak about justice. Do woman who get raped by their husbands get justice here? Oh yeah, that's allowed by the bible. How about those who were assaulted by Peter Nygard? Where, according to his son most of his crimes occurred? Police can't find the file? Ha ha. How about Sarkis? Did he get justice here? How about those who get beaten by the police? Make me laugh about justice. What we really care about is damage control.
concernedcitizen 11 months ago
The wicked witch and the bag man them robbed Sarkis
John 11 months ago
You know and I know the issues and allegations with Nygard was more about his relationship with his neigh, who wowed to wipe him off the face of the earth. They are doing the same to Nygard that they did to Bill Cosby and OJ Simpson and R Kelly and thousands of Black men during slavery. It’s called ‘Lynchburg, no lynching’. And NO the incidences of Bahamian men raping their wives is not an issue in The BaHAMAS. The issue there is woman ( many with the hyphenated last name like ‘Jean-Paul, who want to be married (for status) but don’t want to be wives ( some gate men, some hate submitting) And the biggest issue with crime in this country is not those who are being by police but those who are being Murdered and not receiving justice. There are 90 plus police involved killings before the coroner’s court. AND hundreds of young men murdered and accused of murder but never make it before a judge. The Bible says the earth cries out for the innocent blood that had been spilled in her. And God said ‘ I will put a ruler in the earth’. And the angels responded ‘ there will be lots of bloodshed’. Which parts of those statements were false?
ted4bz 11 months ago
Anyone who attacked the bouncer, gets bounce. But, when your not in charge of your country you get you are bullied around by the big bad bully. What do all nations need to be in charge of their nation the way the Russians, Chinese and Iranians are in charge of their nation? Oh yeah, missiles, fighter planes, drones and of course nukes. Until then bouncers cannot do their jobs and neither can the leaders of nations, they will always have to satisfy the bully by saying and doing immoral things and unlawful rules to satisfy who is really in charge. Make haste Russia and China, make haste.
buddah17 11 months ago
The PM is correct in his comments.
ExposedU2C 11 months ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
Sign in to comment
OpenID