By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
SEVERAL tourists and Bahamians were robbed at a popular downtown bar on Navy Lion Road, The Tribune has learned.
According to sources, two masked men entered 25 North Tuesday night and robbed the visitors as well as several Bahamians of their cash and other personal items.
A man who witnessed the robbery, but did not want to be identified, told The Tribune that the experience made him question whether he would ever return to the Bahamas.
“I was just passing through actually,” he said. “I work on a boat and because of the severe weather we had to stay because the sea was too rough. So we all decided to go downtown and get a few drinks and wait for the storm to be over and enjoy our time here. We went into the bar and was having a pretty good time. Then around 11:30 two men stormed the place and made all of us get on the floor,” he said.
“There were about 20 people in there, mostly visitors. We just did what we were told and the men robbed us of money and cell phones and other personal items we had. It was so invasive. I love the Bahamas and enjoy coming here from time to time, but that is something I would not like to experience again. I was truly terrified.”
According to police reports, two men, one wearing a red and black hooded jacket and the other in a black hooded jacket robbed the bar and its patrons around 11:50pm. The men then fled the area in a red jeep east along Bay Street.
Police say they are actively investigating the incident and are appealing to anyone who might have information about this incident to contact them at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 328-TIPS or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.
This latest incident comes two weeks after American visitor Kyle Bruner was killed on East Bay Street and a week after the US issued a statement warning its citizens about travel to the Bahamas.
The US Embassy statement advised Americans living in and travelling to the Bahamas to remain on alert in an effort to avoid becoming a victim of crime.
The Embassy said several US citizens have been robbed at gunpoint this year, and some have suffered serious injury.
“The Royal Bahamas Police Force website reports that for January 1 to April 15 there have been 328 armed robberies, 111 robberies, and 660 house break-ins,” the warning said.
“Review your personal security plans; remain aware of your surroundings, including local events; and monitor local news stations for updates. Maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security,” it told US citizens.
Meanwhile, amid fears that such warnings could severely affect tourism arrivals, Kyle Bruner’s father Rick Bruner said he does not blame the people of the Bahamas for his son’s death.
“This sort of thing can and does happen in many cities around the world. My son was killed by a person and some will say he shouldn’t have been in that area or he shouldn’t have become involved in the struggle between the woman being robbed and her assailant, but he was not a person who would stand by and watch someone being victimised,” said Mr Bruner in a message on www.tribune242.com.
He said Kyle’s death has created a whirlwind of talk, warnings and suggestions, and that he hopes the incident will in some small way remind people that to create change, they must have the will to change.
“This doesn’t mean relying on government to create that change, after all government is merely a reflection of a country’s citizens. It means that ordinary people have to make the commitment to change what is happening and work together to achieve their goals.
“Some might say that I have no business telling Bahamians how to conduct their affairs and they would be right, I am not telling you what to do. I am merely saying that no family wants to be notified that their child has been senselessly murdered, whether they are American or Bahamian,” Mr Bruner said.
Last Friday, four men were charged in the magistrate’s court with Kyle Bruner’s murder.
Twenty-year-old Craig Johnson, of Clarke’s Alley; Anton Bastian, 19, of Abraham Street; Jamaal Dorfevil, 28, of St James Road and Marcellus Williams, 21, of Culmer’s Alley, all appeared before Chief Magistrate Roger Gomez.
They are also accused of robbing a woman of her handbag valued at $30 and an Iphone valued at $900; robbing another person of a handbag valued at $20, a black Iphone valued at $300, and $30 cash.
Comments
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 11 months ago
Commissioner. INCREASE PATROLS ON BAY STREET AT NIGHT. DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THEM NOW.
Fedup 10 years, 11 months ago
Move ALL night spots that caters to locals from the tourist district. Send them back over the hill, cause some of them dont know how to damn act. Sad to say but anyone found lerking or (loafing) around lock them up. some are going to complain about not being able to enjoy our own country, but who cares anymore.
Kolasis85 10 years, 11 months ago
Please lets make some examples, PLEASE!!! This is ridiculous!
While this can occur anywhere in the world, we can't allow these morons to continue to diminish the Bahamas' once positive reputation.
These idiots won't stop on their own.
There needs to be new regulations for establishments catering to consumers beyond sunset.
USAhelp 10 years, 11 months ago
Same song different dance. These idiots will destroy our land ,business and tourists will flee. Won't miss it till it is gone.
MonkeeDoo 10 years, 11 months ago
The time is now for the police to go block by block, constituency by constituency. No one comes in, no one goes out and they just go door to door questioning, and where necessary searching for guns weapons and drugs.
And if the law needs to be changed then the government has to change it. If not take a judge along to get instant authority to search and seize.
When the 8,000 + people at Atlantis are out of work because Americans are going somewhere safe, we will know about tough times.
Nassau needs a big dose of castor oil chased by milk of magnesia.
Interesting 10 years, 11 months ago
As as frequent visitor of the Bahamas, it breaks my heart every time I read about crime like this. True, crime happens everywhere. Maybe it is the awful truth about crime today. For years, people who were traveling to the Bahamas would always ask me where to stay and what to do. Those were the ‘good old days’. Now, I have to honestly tell those who ask that things have changed and crime is a big problem.
Years ago when one would take a cruise to Jamaica, they would warn all of the guests disembarking the ship that you do so at your own risk. They would advise us not to get into taxis without the red government license plates. (Red Flag)
Those arriving by air would be warned by travel agents not leave the resort.( Red Flag)
Reading the Guardian and Tribune on line daily and checking the reports and updates put out by the U.S. Embassy makes it quite clear that a hard-earned vacation could be a disaster.
I can’t imagine visiting the Bahamas and have to be confined to Paradise Island or the new Bahamar. I like traveling all around the island to see how things have changed. I like going to shops over the hill. I like eating over the hill. I like going to church over the hill. I’m saddened and should not be afraid to do these things anymore.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 11 months ago
Police need to start enforcing the small stuff. Who knows what illegal activity is going on on every street corner in the country due to the violation of the law against loitering
I remember ~20 yrs ago when policeman wouldn't allow a man to just stand up on Bay St or wherever, you had to be seen to be there for a reason. Now they'd probably want to know who the policeman tink he is askin them to move, dis a free country.
SP 10 years, 11 months ago
Now comes’ the usual smoke and mirror routines.
1) Commissioner Greenslade will now announce stepped up police patrols..... How many times can they get away with saying this?
2) The PLP will tell us they have a plan......Which never materializes.
3) Police will begin harassing everyday law abiding citizens at every turn for small traffic offences and increase stop & searches for about 10 days.
None of this will have any effect on criminals who will simply take a few days off and absolutely nothing will change as we continue down the road to ruin.
If the police consistently had routine road blocks in strategic locations these types of incidents could not so easily be pulled off.
But we are in no position to advise the all knowing Commissioner and politicians.
lazybor 10 years, 11 months ago
nothing new, everything as usual...
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bismark 10 years, 11 months ago
The police has three shifts,from 8 to 4 search,4 to 12 search ,12 to 8 search,make it uneasy for these lowlife bums to operate,they are not hard to find they are on our corners,bars,young men not working,get them off the blocks the police need to bring back the house of pain [echo unit] we should see some immediate results,the commissioner has to go all out,make those khakis work if they will stop sittin on their asses and carrying cane,probably we could see some more results,they are the managers,the commissioner needs their help in order for him to succeed.
SP 10 years, 11 months ago
From one group of clowns in red shirts to another group of clowns in yellow shirts. Neither has a bloody clue of how to go about resolving this growing crime epidemic.
Why not start with the immediate construction of cost effective wooden low security facilities at Fox Hill Prison to house low risk inmate making room for hard core serious repeat offenders in main cell blocks and cancel bail for these low life rats that are destroying our country and way of life.
Followed by carrying out the law with hangings for these jackass's that commit serious crimes. Hang ten or twenty daily until death row is depleted of these animals.
A great number of serious crimes and criminal activity can also be attributed to illegal immigrants who are involved in EVERYTHING ILLEGAL.
The PLP needs to stop pussyfooting around and aggressively address the job at hand or get the hell out of the way and allow others to get the job done.
bismark 10 years, 11 months ago
we need floggings,you act like an animal,we treat you like one,when those idiots come with this human rights bull,flog them!i don't hear them speaking up for the victims.couple of years back they was thinking about the cat,well they need no more thinking,one hit with that,you would not have to worry about those youngsters doing foolishness again.
John 10 years, 11 months ago
DO YOU KNOW that the robbery of a tourist in this town gets more news coverage and public outcry than the senseless killing of our own young men? Why so and How so? Why have we started to brush off cold blooded, daring, family destroying, community wrecking murders with the, 'o das jes another one of dem gang boys get kill, dey should hurry up and kill up all a dem (so we could get some peace)?" Do you know the long- term consequences to a country of 350,000 citizens that loses in excess of 100 of its young men year after year. A country that is already being over trodden by aliens, on all fronts to say the least. Never ever to suggest that the robbery of a tourist is not a shameful and economy threatening act, especially when one loses his life coming to the rescue of another victim, but unless and until we learn to protect our own, and to preserve the right to life for every citizen, the criminal element will only be 'polite' to the tourist for so long. Then how can those in authority say they are serious about crime when you sit in a court and watch a case where a man is charged with maiming another individual, dismembering him even drag on for over two years. And the magistrate, alone was responsible for postponing the case no less than seven times? And family members and persons and persons associated with the matter had to traverse back and forth to court only to have the magistrate give the accused man a suspended sentence. A suspended sentence to a man who forced his way into the victim's home, chases him thru the streets with a cutlass, chopping him like a dog and leaving him in the streets to die..and gets a suspended sentence. Welcome to the baamas where crime does pay!
crabman 10 years, 11 months ago
we lives and dies by the tourists, problem is too many tourists is dying say good-bye to it's better in the bahamas and say hello to your deader in the bahamas
concernedcitizen 10 years, 11 months ago
Nobody talks about the cause of the problem ,,Do we honestly believe we can have an illegitimacy rate of 75% , have babies having babies , live completey irresponsabably sexually ,make babies faster then our economic growth can provide jobs and not have an ever increasing crime rate ,,We have examples all through our region of where that leads ,ie Haiti ,Jamaica ...
Guest2468 10 years, 11 months ago
This really is disturbing news. Would jut like to say that I don't necessarily agree with the individual who was robbed. Its like going to New York and getting robbed and saying that you will never visit the United States again. While crime in Nassau or even New Providence at this point is out of control, I would not say that this reflects on the entire country. You never hear any negative news from many family islands so lets not cast a negative light on the entire country when it is the misconduct of a number of the citizens of Nassau that is to blame.
With that being said, I am still of the belief that a curfew should be implemented in New Providence until the crime is under control. Curfews have proven effective in other West Indian countries such as Trinidad and Tobago and I believe it could be a step in the right direction with this issue.
Guest2468 10 years, 11 months ago
http://www.news.gov.tt/index.php?news...">http://www.news.gov.tt/index.php?news...
What will it take for us to realize that this crime issue is serious and should be addressed as such. We cannot treat this as business as usual and expect a different result.
USAhelp 10 years, 11 months ago
We need money for numbers.
SP 10 years, 11 months ago
One day the moron "concernedcitizen" that continually harps on the irresponsible sexually of blacks will learn he has succumbed hook, line and sinker to brainwashing and simply parroting white racist sentiments of long ago.
In a nutshell, the problem here stems from 40 years of neglect by successive governments to address our failed educational system complicated by stifled domestic growth and virtually no economic diversification.
This combination, resulted in the "perfect storm" for criminality growth as great numbers of individuals are not mentally prepared to positively contribute to society due to the lack of education, skills and most of all opportunity.
Cuba and many other countries as examples with virtually zero illiteracy but less opportunity have comparative birth rates but substantially less crime due to individuals ability to use knowledge, reasoning ability and skills.
Education or the lack thereof seconded only by the nonexistence of opportunity is the main driving force of increased crime in any culture.
So please shut your ignorant pie hole about the root cause of crime being caused by babies having babies, which is a global phenomenon that have been with us and will continue to be with us and the whole world until the end of time.
concernedcitizen 10 years, 11 months ago
one , i commented on the sexual irresponsability of us as Bahamians ,never did i mention colour ,,two, as long as the least able to afford children have the most children ,and expect the goverment to educate ,raise and police them crime will rise ...my, you are so angry and so quick to call people names . I saw a great sentence by @ johndoe on another subject ,," WE AS BAHAMIANS ARE SO IMBUED WITH UNEARNED PRIDE THAT EVERY TIME SOMEONE I DENTIFIES A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WE PERCEIVE IT AS AN ATTACK ON THE VERY CORE OF OUR IDENTITY .. i find your anger and name calling and racism both unnerving and immature ,, Birth rates and facts don,t lie ,,,do you honestly believe we can continue w/ a 75% illegitimacy rate ,large numbers of absantee fathers and expect crime not to continue ??..3/4 of the courts time on the island i live is spent dealing w/ dead beat dads ,the rest of the time is theft and robbery or grevious harm ,,do you think there is a correlation ??
concernedcitizen 10 years, 11 months ago
your last statement is not true ,many first world countries birth rate has been stagnent for years ,including the U/S and quite a few European countries as people have less children ..Name calling does not make things fact or change GDP growth rates compared to birth rates ,,we have the labratory evidence of runaway birth rates right in our back yard ,,HAITI AND JAMAICA ,,Somethings rub me the wrong way too ,but name calling and a total adversion to facts don,t make them any less so ,,
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 11 months ago
@SP We are a country of some 350,000 people, its unreasonable to assume that everyone will think like "me". Attack the real enemy.
The problems we face are numerous, no doubt illegitimacy plays some factor, I don't think it's the root cause either. I know many people the product of single family homes who are intelligent hard working and upstanding citizens. Something was built into their character that is missing from the criminal mind. Some of the biggest criminals in our country grew up in a 2-parent home and today have really expensive trappings. We tend to overlook how they contribute to the problem.
How are so many guns getting into the country anyway? Who is running the operation? Who is looking th other way?
concernedcitizen 10 years, 11 months ago
illegitimacy may be the wrong term ,because many unmarried or single people raise good kids ,however when 45 great grand parents are becoming the norm ,something is wrong ,,another factor that i see everyday is we discpline our children with anger and force , this teaches violence as a form of conflict resolution ,,how many times in your travels do you see parents losing their temper and threatening and hitting small children in their face ??
spoitier 10 years, 11 months ago
I'm with you with the whole illlegitimacy thing, however, spanking is needed and in most cases it works.
concernedcitizen 10 years, 11 months ago
spanking yes , i was spanked and even got a few beatings ,however i am talking about parents losing their temper and doing it in anger and frustration ,and slapping children in the face
concernedcitizen 10 years, 11 months ago
@thisisours , take a married or unmarried couple raising 2 to 3 children and compare it to a single mother of 5 with three different childrens fathers ,which situation is more likely to produce productive members of society ??
spoitier 10 years, 11 months ago
Dude, if you don't see a co-relation between kids with no father in the home and crime, something is wrong with you
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 11 months ago
If comment is directed at me, I'm a Dudette:)
Anyway, I specifically said "no doubt illegitimacy plays some factor...", so i'm acknowledging that problem but I dont think if we suddenly got 100% 2-parent homes our problems would be solved.
In the best of all worlds you will have a 2 parent loving home, but the presence of 2 parents does not a loving, supportive home make. You can have parents who are abusive to each other and/or the kids, parents who are absent, parents who are addicts, I can think of any number of scenarios.
The point I will agree on is trying to increase the number of responsibly parented homes is definitely a good thing to do.
If we're talking social dynamics, i think the solution is to change hearts and minds. I 'm talking real change. The other objectives will follow naturally
TalRussell 10 years, 11 months ago
PM Christie's PLP's are back as the governing party and they must demonstrate that they do indeed have a handle on dealing with the ever present crime consequence, left behind by the Hubert regime.
Regardless whether you want to call the red shirts cruel policies intentional or not, there is no denying that they were aimed chiefly at the thousands of disadvantaged and vulnerable Bahamians, left in the path of the economic storm of the Hubert regime.
concernedcitizen 10 years, 11 months ago
just once defend the PLP with out bringing up Hubert ,,its been a year , defend Shane ,Koed ,B Bethel , Oswald Brown , what about the #boys getting casino and thing ,what you think about that ?? with out bringing up Hubert
USAhelp 10 years, 11 months ago
At the end of the day our livelihood will be gone the tourist will not come.. our government is responsible to fix the problem and this is not happening all talk no action. Number houses is a crime operating right in front of everyone no attempt to stop it. Won't miss it till it is gone !!!!!
TalRussell 10 years, 11 months ago
Comrades we all have every right to be concerned but what I fear, maybe even more than the thugs, is Bahamaland's training and arming of our policeman's, to shoot her own people, and yes, the tourist caught in the crossfire. Will you want this after a member of your own family is shot. Does it really mater if the bullets come out of the barrel of a policeman's or thugs gun?
Whatever force the policeman's use against the thugs, they will have the resources to respond in kind. Do we really think the way to deal with the thugs is through fire power? Not this Comrade.
Careful what you call for as the simple solution to what is a much more complex problem.
USAhelp 10 years, 11 months ago
No easy solutions but something needs to happen. It is unfortunate that the leaders look the other way on such issues as number houses ect this sends the wrong messages.
hnhanna 10 years, 11 months ago
We need a new commissioner of police; the current one was lost under the FNM and now more lost under the PLP
Goodbye 10 years, 11 months ago
Unfortunately, having experienced a run in at the end of the law enforcement gun, I can say with authority that there are issues with those trusted for enforcement of the law.
We felt the corruption, we experienced the BS of the cops, & the legal SYSTEM. I think its institutional.
Bahamas, you got a problem....
TalRussell 10 years, 11 months ago
When the policeman's are dedicating their resources and manpower to major crimes, it is the women on the street who has her purse snatched who is ignored. Yet, having $40 stolen on your way to buy groceries or school supplies, is no lesser of a crime. Today's petty purse snatchers left untouched is a breeding ground for tomorrows armed thugs, that in the wee-hours of the morning shows up in your bedroom pointing a loaded gun in the faces of loved-ones,
by TalRussell
TheObjectiveVoice 10 years, 11 months ago
I am so ashamed. This is a disgrace
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