MINISTER of National Security Wayne Munroe. Photo: Dante Carrer
By JADE RUSSELL
Tribune Staff Reporter
jrussell@tribunemedia.net
THE police officer who accused Transport Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis of hitting him with his vehicle in 2022 attempted suicide last week, according to National Security Minister Wayne Munroe, who also said the officer had recently faced drug-related charges.
On November 4, police reported an attempted suicide involving a 38-year-old man off Lady Slipper Avenue. Before 7am family members found the victim hanging from a cord inside a home on Pink Cassia Avenue and quickly cut him down. The victim was then taken to hospital.
Mr Munroe could not confirm the officer’s current employment status, but said he is facing trial on drug charges.
“There are pressures,” he said. “What people have to understand is you have a responsibility if you have a loved one and they are subjected to things that could cause pressure; they’re having money problems, they’re having legal problems, they’re having relationship problems. You have to be aware that these things create stress.”
In May 2022, Mrs Coleby-Davis was accused of assaulting an RBPF officer with her vehicle during a Carnival event.
The Police Staff Association released a statement saying the officer involved retained an attorney as he had to seek medical attention for his injuries and was then discharged.
While the PSA did not name the MP in its statement, which was posted on its Facebook page, it was alleged that a female driver of a silver coloured SUV struck a police officer with her vehicle after he informed her that he was instructed not to let any vehicles through.
PSA executive chairman Ricardo Walkes in May said: “This officer also said that she shouted at him ‘Do you know who I am!’ as she attempted to drive around the barricades and hit him another two times before he moved from her path being in fear for his safety and she sped away.”
Mrs Coleby-Davis has repeatedly denied the claims.
The trend in attempted suicides has been a major concern. Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville in September told reporters he was concerned about the state of mental health in The Bahamas following several attempted suicides.
Mr Munroe also expressed concern about the numerous attempted suicide reports, saying the growing number shows people are struggling. He urged the public to be more caring and mindful of those facing hardships.
Comments
TalRussell 1 day, 20 hours ago
Minister needs to book several visits with the gov't's clinical psychologist as to how not to go public with his suicide talk. -- Yes?
birdiestrachan 1 day, 19 hours ago
If she had hit any one with her car there are cameras all over the place some one would have pictures. Lots of people were around
Dawes 1 day, 18 hours ago
If she didn't hit anyone with her car there are cameras all over the place and some one would have pictures. Lots of people were around. See works both ways.
Sickened 1 day ago
I'm surprised many more officers don't attempt suicide. I remember growing up wanting to be an officer hoping to save people and protect people and do all things good and righteous. Here we recruit the same wide eyed youth and then once they become an officer they are told to ignore this and that, to misplace evidence, to pick up an envelope from gang leader 1 and give it to so and so who happens to drive a car with red plates or even white plates. And when they see a man with a knife in his back and must write down anything just leave out the word 'murder', it must make one think about leaving the upside down. But with the information that these officers have you can't just walk away. Too many people know what they know. All speculation of course.
DWW 1 day ago
Where there is smoke there is fire. This Job woman appears to be as corrupt at they come a d getting worse daily.
rosiepi 19 hours, 37 minutes ago
So we have two Cabinet Ministers bemoaning the high rate of suicides in the Bahamas however despite their corresponding portfolios public health and so called ‘national security’ neither presented a single resource available to Bahamians to turn to help their loved ones or themselves! Wouldn’t being in charge of our public health and security include developing solutions and resources to combat such a scourge?
Think of the stress amongst healthcare staff, EMT, police and fire dept personnel burnt out by their challenging work environment here working under a governance that willfully, studiously ignores stress applied from staff shortages, lab, bed and equipment shortages, poor wages. faulty equipment. Worse they work while their bosses preen before the press, lauding themselves as they attempt to make silk purses from their schemes wrought from their pig trough, ie. purchasing cheap ambulances useless for health emergencies that involve any one of the Bahamians who make up 50% of the population suffering obesity and/or heart disease! And how would tourists react to the release of statistics of harm they risk on their vacation??
Then there’s our Mr Munroe, he’s spent his entire career railing against and making millions taking advantage of the corrupt justice system, the police services in particular, now he’s 3 years into the mandate for reform he demanded and he’s remained hands off… Why is he so determined to preserve the ongoing corruption? Is it because he’s now Boss Hog and he knows he’ll resort to the same playbook as before when he’s in private practice?
I’ve worked with firefighters and police officers, they have the highest rates of depression and ennui manifested in domestic violence, substance abuse and suicide.
What does one call a loud mouth who bewails poor governance but when handed the power to do something about it refuses? Who acts deliberately to ensure those who clean up horrific scenes after we drive recklessly and let our emotions direct acts of heinous violence have no place to turn for spiritual, physical support and no money to seek that care elsewhere? And above knowing that one’s privacy is sacrosanct.
What do we call such people beyond hypocrites? Why PLP of course!
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