Deputy speaker in racism claim

As of Wednesday, September 12, 2012

THE Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly has been accused of launching into a “tirade” at the building where he lives, tearing down notices, using racial slurs and leaving several fellow tenants fearing for their safety.

According to documents filed with the Supreme Court, it is claimed that Nassau Village MP Dion Smith also directed obscene language at residents of the condominium and expressed “some demeaning views on white human beings and foreigners to the Bahamas.”

“Witnesses to the said display have expressed shock at the very public nature of the alleged tirade, especially in view of Mr Smith’s status as a Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker of the Honourable House of Assembly,” the Supreme Court document stated.

And, it is claimed, this behaviour on July 4, was followed by an incident two months later, in which the building’s security guard was assaulted by a man accompanying Mr Smith when the pair were denied access to the premises.

The allegations arose as part of a legal action by five tenants against the Pilot House Condominium Association over maintenance woes and access to basic amenities.

The plaintiffs, Duke Smith, Philip Smith, Karen Miller, Shawn Smith, and Keva Smith, claim the association wrongfully denied or restricted their access to certain amenities on the premises – including water, the gym and rest rooms.

In response, the Association claimed the action was taken because of the tenants’ repeated failure to pay maintenance fees for the complex.

According to an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court yesterday, the restrictions began in July and the plaintiffs, through the law firm Munroe & Associates, wrote a letter to the association concerning a resolution to the issue of maintenance fees and access to amenities.

The July 6 letter, also filed with the court, claimed the plaintiffs were entitled to the amenities.

It said: “My clients have taken the position that they will not pay any further maintenance until they have a key and/or card to access the gym, both common bathrooms, and the storage facility.”

The letter also warned that the association’s intention to “tamper” with the water supply was illegal.

In response, Seymour and Co claimed its client, the association, enforced the restrictions over one issue alone – maintenance fees.

A letter from this law firm on July 17 referred to the alleged actions of a tenant, Dion Smith, who it said happens to room with plaintiff Duke Smith.

It continued: “We are instructed that on July 4, 2012, on or around 11am, that one of the residents of Unit No. 201, Mr Dion Smith MP, engaged in behaviour that has caused grave concern and discomfort. Where fear for personal safety was expressed on the part of several residents of the complex. We wish to put you on notice that this behaviour may be in breach of the by-laws, rules and regulations of the condominiums development.”

The letter claimed Mr Smith “directed comments which included racial slurs and obscene language at residents of the condominium which included Ms Barbara Sunderland, Secretary of the Association. As well it is said, some demeaning views on white human beings and foreigners to the Bahamas. Further it is believed that Dion Smith tore down notices furnished by the association and placed for the information of residents. That those notices were scattered and debris left on the elevator floor and elsewhere.”

It also said: “We are instructed to advise you that the matter has been reported to the police and it is the intention of the association to assist with the investigation.”

Munroe & Associates responded two weeks later, claiming that the association was in breach of Chapter 139 of the Law of Property and Conveyancing (Condominium) Act and the Declaration of Condominium for the Pilot House.

The clients claimed damages of $15,000 and upward, and demanded their clients be given access to a storage room in two days or face legal action.

Attached to the affidavit, and also filed with the court, the security incident report described what occurred between the Nassau Village MP, his companion, and a security guard at the complex (see story HERE).

Yesterday, both parties were in the Supreme Court, where an injunction against the Pilot House management, stopping them from restricting amenity access to the tenants, was lifted by Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett.

ubentook 11 years, 7 months ago

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242352 11 years, 7 months ago

Honourable House of Assembly

The above term no longer an acurte discription of 'that place'.

It hasn't been for a long time, possible never!

This is not a political opinion against either PLP or FNM or independent.

Well, then again it is - against all of them.

Very few are honourable. A few sprinkled on each side.

Few and far between!

nationbuilder 11 years, 7 months ago

Disgrace...again

getrightbahamas 11 years, 7 months ago

WRONG AS IT MAY BE, THERE ARE SOME UNDERLYING ISSUES THAT WE ARE NOW BEING MADE AWARE OF. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE "ASSOCIATION" IN WILLED WITH FOREIGN AND OCCASION PERSONS THAT HAVE INDICATED THROUGH THEIR ACTIONS THAT THEY WANT PILOT HOUSE TO BE "LOCAL FREE". IN THE BAHAMAS? DION MAY HAVE DEALT WITH IT WRONGLY. HE WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT, IM SURE HIS CONSTITUENTS WILL SYMPATHIZE WITH HIM. AND THIS WILL HIGHLIGHT SOME REAL AND SERIOUS ISSUES OF SEPARATISM AND FOREIGN FIRST IN THE BAHAMAS. WE SHAL SEE

concernedcitizen 11 years, 7 months ago

there is no underlying issues ,money is green ,not black or white ,,,if Mr Smith had paid his bill and not been a loud mouth creep there would be no story

242352 11 years, 7 months ago

OK, Let me see if I can 'GETITRIGHTBAHAMAS'.

We are going to TAKE BACK BTC and scare away any new FDI.

And now we are going to scare away all the 'foreign and occasion persons' as well.

Oh, I think that I understand this new way of thinking....

We don't need an foreign persons anyways.

Believe in Bahamas!

John 11 years, 7 months ago

I do not know Dion Smith personally, but I have had my experiences with certain foreigners and a class of white Bahamians who have a problem with economically empowered Bahamians and those of color who have attained some social status. They will use these persons to bring out their own prejudices and portray the Bahamian in the public as being racist or anti-foreigner. They have no problem with Bahamians whom they can employ and have a comfortable master-servant relationship with (they being master of couse), but they are uncomfortable with or jealous of, and feel the need to pull down and destroy, if only in the public domain, Bahamians, whom they feel have achieved status.close to or above their own. I have a townhouse next to a naturalised Bahamian that i had on lease. At first this neighbour was very nice, cordial and even friendly. Then I found out that everytime I had workmen come to my place he would talk to them behind my back telling then how run down my place was and that i needed to move out of the area. Then he went to work on my tenants. befriending them, inviting them over for dinner, out for drinks and then inviting them to move out of my townhouse, going even to the extent of helping thm to find somewhere else to live. When he trimmed thetrees that were common between out properes, he would thro the clippings ono my property. Then as faith would have it, I rented the place to someone who knew of this neighbours tainted pastand qieter than a church mose during Sunday mass. Now those two are living side happily after.. or at least for over 3 years. I know of a situation that is going on in Sandyport where a Bahamian is virtually being forced off his property. The developers of that project are using every avenue possible to discourage this man from completing his house and moving in to the area. Simply because they want to keep the property as non-Bahamian and as white (yes racism still exists) as possible. Thy claim that Baamians bring down the value of the property. (Wonder how much the white house is discounted after four years of Obama). They took Paradise Island from us and now Cable Beach is changing its characteristcs. The big project in the south-west of the island is not Bahamian orientated and Bahamians cannot setfoot onmany slands and cays in this Bahamas. We are being pushed and squeezed from all angles and all ends. If this continues, the indigeneous Bahamain wil be no more.

C_MonMan 11 years, 7 months ago

What utter nonsense! Shame on you John.

concernedcitizen 11 years, 7 months ago

blah blah blah ,stop with the anti foriegn nonsense ,,Dion Smith appears to be a bill ducking ,loudmouth creep ,,it has nothing to do with foriegn or white bahamians ,if Mr Smith had paid his bills he would not be in this mess .come on we have had self rule for 38 years ,take responsibilty and pay your bills Mr Smith ,money is green not black or white ..i get so tired of a black man doing crap and blaming it on some long dead white boogey man ..put on your big boy pants M R Smith ,whitey didn,t do this to you ,you did !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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