Marchers including Dr Duane Sands and Branville McCartney took to the streets on Saturday.
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemdia.net
HUNDREDS of Bahamians, during a pro-hanging march on Saturday, called for the “removal of impediments” that prevent capital punishment from being carried out.
The event featured a live demonstration of a straw man being hanged as protestors waved placards and posters urging the government to start hanging.
Some family members of victims of recent murders participated in the march as did Democratic National Alliance (DNA) leader Branville McCartney and other senior members of the DNA.
Former FNM candidate for Elizabeth, Dr Duane Sands, was one of the co-marshals of the event.
Speaking to The Tribune, he said: “The number (of participants) I don’t think speaks to the success as much as the enthusiasm of the participants and the reception of the public. I thought this was a resounding success. Obviously the issue of capital punishment is very controversial, but we all agree that the status quo in the country need not apply. We have an unacceptably high rate of crime, an inappropriate number of people out on bail and a judicial system that’s unfortunately out of touch with the needs of the community. The way we manage crime is broke; there is far too much inertia to solve it.
“Saturday’s statement was a very important one: that business as usual is not acceptable. The lawlessness that we see is in part because we all interpret what the laws should be, ought to be, might be, could be, why we don’t enforce moratorium on gambling and so forth.”
Despite the success of the march, Dr Sands said he doesn’t expect it to move the government to action.
“I’m not sure this government is terribly responsive to much of anything that the public says or does,” he said, adding: “The march will impact the people of the country and they will ultimately force the government into action or punish them for inaction. I don’t expect this government to do anything other than window dressing.”
The march began at the Golden Gates Shopping Centre on Carmichael Road and continued onto Bay Street where hundreds of tourists stopped to take pictures and video-tape the march and hanging demonstration.
Calling the event a “tremendous success,” Mr Moncur said Bahamians will never cease from calling for the removal of impediments to capital punishment and for something to be done to prevent granting bail to persons accused of murder.
Comments
John 10 years, 2 months ago
We now have police executing crime suspects and setting their bodies on fire...WHEN IS ENOUGH REALLY ENOUGH??????
TalRussell 10 years, 2 months ago
Do you publicly flog them before or after you hang them? How is it Comrade Rodney with his red shirts "Sheriff Johnston" co-marshal Duane and Bran the "public flogging of citizens in front of tourists in Rawson Square " leader are calling for something to be done to prevent granting bail to persons accused of murder, being Comrade Rodney's own ridiculously high bail was set at a whopping $7,500, while he sat up in Fox Hill Prison awaiting raise funds to post bail for his release. A 7,500 bail and even if found guilty of the alleged charge, it carries no prison sentence and a maximum of $150 fine. Yet, you are willing to trust this same broken Bahamaland justice system? Many a poor soul not yet convicted of anything sits in his/her Fox Hill cell cause they are incapable of raising their bail money.
bettyann 10 years, 2 months ago
no bring back the cat nine tail, and those bible pounding people out there needs to shut the hell up and let gov do their work. because they only making things worse in the bahamas am talking about those bible pounding preacher's and the so called christains.
TheMadHatter 10 years, 2 months ago
Thank goodness I'm not the only one who see that the church is the greatest enemy to civilization we have in this country. The more money people put in the "plate" the more they are digging their own graves.
It's their choice.
TheMadHatter
bettyann 10 years, 2 months ago
you think prison is goin to do it Hell NO it's not bring back the cat nine tail and you will see how fast crime will go down in the bahamas.
bettyann 10 years, 2 months ago
No because gov is listening to those wicked bible pounding preacher's out there that is why gov cannot get things done,if they would only go sit down and stop keeping sweetheart life then the gov would listern to the people and get the job done,remember it's the people who put gov in power so gov needs to listern to the people of the nation,not those bible pounding people most of them are just like the criminals out there.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 2 months ago
Weird the bible pounding pastors I've heard are generally for corporal punishment...
TalRussell 10 years, 2 months ago
If we no longer live in da bushes why we still thinking like bush-liv'in wackos does? Comrades think of the number of potential entrepreneurs, lawyers, doctors, teachers, artists, musicians and poets and other creative Bahamalander's we continue to imprison. Each time we imprison we are denying Bahamalander's the opportunity to create and do things for the betterment of their Bahamaland. is it not better to keep them learning than flog with straps and whips them in front of tourists in Rawson Square? Isn't bad enough we left them few dozen wackos free on the streets to me marching alongside Comrade Rodney, causing traffic jams.
cherry 10 years, 2 months ago
No we never did live in the bushes but on the rock called the Bahamas where life is suppose to be better for the natives and tourist a evil man brings forth evil things and a good man brings forth good things.Ask me do I care how well he plays an instrument after he steals the life of your loved ones.What about the victims contribution or are we suppose to forget about them?
SP 10 years, 2 months ago
This peaceful march is proven step 1 to the downfall of several governments recently.
Step 2 is the government ignoring the will of the people and lack of response.
Step 3 is the electorate showing outrage to governments non action and contempt
Step 4 is protesters demanding removal of the government
Step 5 is a prolonged violent clash between government and the electorate
Step 6 is the government being either kicked out or forced to step down from power
PLP has been warned!
Appease the will of the electorate or face the consequences.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 2 months ago
SP, do you foresee a coup in The Bahamas............... led by Bahamians???????
The only coup will happen is if KFC closes down
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 2 months ago
It will never happen..... as long as we are all comfortable...
SP 10 years, 2 months ago
Bahamians were reminded last Month that we rose to majority rule only by mass protest........ And we will only move forward by mass protest!
History proves governments around the world only change and or listen to the electorate when civil unrest or civil strife brings pressure to bear on governments.
"HUNDREDS of Bahamians, during a pro-hanging march on Saturday, called for the “removal of impediments” that prevent capital punishment from being carried out".
Every single Bahamian that attended literally represent several hundred more that may not have shown up but are in full agreement with the marchers.
In reality THOUSANDS of Bahamians were their "IN HEART"!
Including all of you posting on this blog are sympathizers with the marchers and GREATLY APPRECIATE those that did attend.
Talking to politicians has NEVER produced any results anywhere.
Hubert Ingraham was well on the way to mass civil unrest, only the 2012 election saved him.
” Mr Moncur said Bahamians will never cease from calling for the removal of impediments to capital punishment and for something to be done to prevent granting bail to persons accused of murder ".
This can only escalate as the PLP as all recently fallen governments have done nothing in decades except talk.
Their heads are so far up their asses they cannot hear the will of the people.
My prediction is the PLP will not survive to 2017!
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