The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I would be most grateful if you would give me space in your prestigious newspaper to express myself as a Bahamian citizen. I have chosen your newspaper because I know that you are not a biased newspaper and that my voice will truly be heard.

Does the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) truly believe in Bahamians? I am from Harbour Island and I would like to know exactly what did Harbour Island do to the Progressive Liberal Party? I know that the North Eleuthera constituency did not put in a PLP representative, but Harbour Island has always been predominantely PLP all the way. I also know that the PLP claims that they inherited an enormous crime problem and a tremendous debt problem; therefore, I know they need time to get things in order before anything can be done for Harbour Island.

I seriously doubt that anything will be done for Harbour Island because we are like the bastard island of The Bahamas. The PLP made their promises but just because we did not put a PLP representative in Parliament we have suffered despite the fact Harbour Island is predominately PLP. I voted PLP my entire life and never saw any wrong in them, if they were wrong they were right with me, but I will never vote for the Progressive Liberal Party again, they only care about being in power and “showing off” (in Bahamian vernacular).

I know that Urban Renewal has been put forth by the PLP to decrease crime, but who are these Police Officers that they have sent here to Harbour Island in charge of the programme? I must have the wrong concept of Urban Renewal because I had assumed that the Officers are supposed to walk around the neighbourhood interact with the neighbours and become like one in an effort to build a certain level of trust, so that the neighbours could co-operate and make the community a better place.

In my opinion the PLP has sent some of the worst Police Officers in this country. Some of these officers are rude, disrespectful and mean. If some are rejected and they know you are in a relationship, they harass your husband/boyfriend by searching their houses for drugs and having them put in jail without any evidence to incarcerate them because they have the authority and are untouchable. One of the officers used profanity towards the Methodist Church Minister and when told about it he said that the Minister should not have been on the scene.

A young man was found with marijuana but because he was in a certain Lodge and the arresting Officer was in the same Lodge he was released and not charged but other persons who were arrested with little pieces already smoked to the bud were charged and had to get bail. Do you think this is fair? Where are we? Is this still The Bahamas? There are only a particular set being targeted and harassed daily who can’t go anywhere without the Police harassing them, while there are those who sell cocaine and live in the suburbs of Harbour Island and not being bothered, houses are not being searched or anything and they are the main ones doing it and have the lifestyles to prove it.

One of the Officers in particular keeps saying “Perry Christie and Bernard Nottage sent us”, but in my opinion they are not doing their job, they are bothering the wrong people. There is no need to go to the ASP for Eleuthera or the Inspector because they all march to the beat of one drum and see no wrong in their Officers.

It is a feeling that I cannot explain when you cannot contact anyone to let them know what is going on because no one cares and no one will listen. I do not know what the outcome of this letter will be, but I once read that evil prevails when good men do nothing. I am that one voice crying out in the wilderness, will any one hear us, does anyone care, and will anyone come to our rescue? I know for a for fact if nothing is done about some of these Officers the young men in particular will not be supporting the PLP next election. How could you treat one set good and the other bad when all are doing the same thing?

I would once again like to thank you in advance for allowing me space to express my voice in your prestigious paper. May God continue to bless The Tribune.

A PLP SUPPORTER LOST

Harbour Island,

October 22, 2012.

(Much of this letter cannot be published, but we recommend that Police Commissioner Greenslade investigate these allegations to discover whether there might be a serious problem at Harbour Island— Ed).