By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

HOUSE Speaker Kendal Major criticised the recent shootings of police officers, saying the Bahamas has become a country where no one is safe and where we “eat our own”.

He said leaders must set a better example and the entire nation must come together to “stop the madness” of crime and violence.

Addressing Parliamentarians in the House of Assembly yesterday, the Speaker said crime will continue to destroy the nation unless the leaders come together and be the change they are asking to see.

“The recent shooting of Garden Hills born and bred Sergeant Andrew Sweeting brought mixed emotions. I visited him yesterday in hospital and was comforted by his tenacity, but more importantly by the grace that God extended his life. He sends his best wishes to all, but on the other hand we must ask ourselves in this country, what would it take to stop the madness?”

“Animals are born with no conscience, no will, no objectivity or intelligence, so they are accustomed to kill their own and eat their young.

“Yet we as intelligent human beings, members of the human race, who throw away the gift of life and the rule of law, and yet we too are eating our own,” he said.

“The madness must stop and the experiences of Superintendent Clayton Fernander and now Sergeant Sweeting demonstrates to us that we are all vulnerable and it will continue until we say enough is enough. So my appeal is and will always be to firstly the leaders.

“We will always be seen as we are, in the seat of power. We must become the change we seek and that change must come from our lips in debate and from our hearts to affect change. The children are watching and our actions are speaking much louder than our words. We must come together.”

Mr Major’s comments came one day after Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis told members of the media that “no one is safe” from crime.

Mr Davis’ personal aide, Sergeant Andrew Sweeting, was shot in front of a residence behind Prince Charles Shopping Centre, early Monday morning.

Sweeting was shot in the lower abdomen and left palm, during an armed robbery by two assailants.

Police have confirmed they are questioning three men in connection with the shooting. The men, ages 23, 36 and 18, all of Nassau Village were taken into custody around noon on Monday.

They are also on the hunt for another suspect, 20-year-old Ervin Moxey, aka “Hot Boy”, of Nassau Village. Moxey is described as being of dark brown complexion, of slim build and about 5’9” tall.

Mr Sweeting is expected to make a full recovery. Investigations continue.