The scene of the crash. Photo: Terrel W Carey
By KHRISNA RUSSELL
Deputy Chief Reporter
krussell@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis says he plans to meet with the families of the victims who died in Friday’s tragic Labour Day events.
He was previously scheduled to visit Eleuthera and Long Island this weekend. However, Dr Minnis said he will return to the capital because of the incident.
As he extended condolences, Dr Minnis pledged the government’s commitment in doing all it could to assist the family members of the deceased victims along with those injured and their families.
The statement came as scores of relatives waited at the Princess Margaret Hospital in anticipation of news on the status of loved ones and friends injured.
Labour Day celebrations were plunged into tragedy when a truck mowed through a crowd of people Friday morning, killing four and injuring 21. It was the first time in the country’s 56-year Labour Day celebration an event like this occurred.
“Today's national holiday, marking the celebration of Bahamian workers, took a tragic turn leaving four people dead and a significant number of people injured during the Labour Day March,” Dr Minnis said in a statement issued by state agency Bahamas Information Services.
“March participants, first responders, onlookers and the professional teams at the Princess Margaret Hospital worked with great compassion and urgency to care for the dead and injured. We commend all those who came to the aid of those affected by this tragedy.
“Government ministers and other officials will continue to offer immediate support and ongoing assistance.
“We are committed to doing all that we can to assist the family members of the deceased, and those injured and their families.
“On behalf of the people and government of the Bahamas, and on my own behalf, and that of my wife, Patricia, I extend heartfelt condolences to the families, colleagues and friends of those who lost their lives today. “
He continued: “Our prayers and thoughts remain with the deceased and all those affected by today’s terrible tragedy.
“I was previously scheduled to visit Eleuthera and Long Island over the holiday weekend but because of this tragedy I will return to New Providence tomorrow.
“I will visit the families of those who lost loved ones and those who were injured. Later, I will give a national address.
“As our union leaders and workers demonstrated during this morning's march, we will be united in this time of tragedy and suffering.
“May God bring consolation to the bereaved at this time, and may He continue to bless our Bahamas.”
SENATOR Jamal Moss posted a statement on Facebook in response to the tragedy. “As a unionist, I am deeply saddened by today’s tragic events,” he said.
“My brothers and sisters were injured today and others have lost their lives due to an unfortunate mishap. My prayers go to all family members during this difficult time.”
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 10 months ago
Our treacherous PM jacks up VAT and then jet sets off to the family islands to party over the Labour Day holiday weekend so he doesn't have to face the masses of angry voters in Nassau. What a pathetic coward......spare us your crocodile tears for the victims of the Labour Day tragedy!
realfreethinker 5 years, 10 months ago
well mudda you are a very angry and bitter person.
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 10 months ago
No, not at all.
sheeprunner12 5 years, 10 months ago
Will he cry????????? ........... Like he did for the Dominicans????????
sheeprunner12 5 years, 10 months ago
Minnis did the right thing .......... and he did appear quite genuine ......... This is really a hard pill to swallow ........ especially on a day that celebrates the working-class Bahamian, and how the BFL fought so hard for what workers were celebrating .........and with so much grassroots significance as we reflect on the 1958 General Strike.
bogart 5 years, 10 months ago
It brings comfort to his nation that the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas meets with the families of the deceased.
This is a natonal cathostrophe, where on a National holiday celebrating workers so many trajically died and manj injured.
This is a most hurtful time that so many celebrating Workers in the Financial Services Industry which is the second largest sector trajically died and many injured.
This is a most hurtful time where so many belonging to one banks workers have trajically perished and many injured.
This is a most hurtful tome where so many workers belonging to a nations Financial Services Labour Unoon have ever trajically lost their lives and so many injured.
This is a most hurtful time for so many workers affiliated and a part of the international labour community worldwide to have perished and many injured in a recent internationally recognised workers labour event...
This is most hurtful to many Bahamians whose lives have been touched by the countless numbers of Bahamian and foreign customers who lives have been touched by these Financial Services professionals, wonderful, darn hardworking, get the problems customers have resolved, friendly, professional, helpful, highly skilled, backbone of the Banking sector.
This is a most hurtful time for their families, friends, many organizations, communities and others whose lives are touched.
Heart breaking grief that a nation lost so much by so many.
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 10 months ago
Minnis and Turnquest should just think for a moment about the number of Bahamians who are going to die sooner rather than later as a result of the recent hike in VAT to 12%. There are already way too many struggling Bahamians who simply cannot afford any additional increase in their cost of living. The "Have Not" Bahamians with already poor diets must now endure an even greater proportion of meals consisting of VAT-free unhealthy foods. Disadvantaged elderly Bahamians will now have to forego buying even more of their own prescribed medications in order to help buy unhealthy VAT-free foods to feed their poor hungry children and grandchildren. Down and out Bahamians must now do without so many things necessary for a healthier and longer life just to be able to afford to buy a few gallons of gas each week to try keep their jobs in an over-taxed shrinking private sector, where employers are being forced to cut their payrolls or go out of business. We are all going to pay a dear price (some of us the ultimate price) as a result of Minnis and Turnquest taking the easier road of additional VAT rather than the much more politically unpopular road of austerity measures. Austerity measures were the only way for our nation to go for numerous sound financial reasons. But no, Minnis and Turnquest just could not resist taking the easy road of additional taxation, just as corrupt politicians before them have done. The additional 4.5% VAT will most assuredly go the way of the initial 7.5% VAT, i.e. it will be squandered in growing the size of the public sector. Minnis and Turnquest have betrayed their solemn promises made time and time again on the campaign trail. They repeatedly promised no new taxes and serious austerity measures to reduce the size of our grossly over-bloated and non-productive public services sector. Their betrayal of the voters is tantamount to treachery of the highest order and is guaranteed to cause hell on earth for many "Have Not" Bahamians despite all of the lip stick they tried to put on the lips of their "Tax Hog"!
DDK 5 years, 10 months ago
I am not quite sure that this is the right spot for your comments but I am sure they are quite correct!!
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 10 months ago
We have way too many of the elderly and very young in our society being sent to their graves prematurely each and every year because of government incompetence that inflicts on us social and economic policies of the worst kind - the kind that kills. Let's not forget to weep too for all of them and their families.
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