‘POLICE NEED SUPPORT AT JUNKANOO’

By KYLE WALKINE

Tribune Staff Reporter

kwalkine@tribunemedia.net

HEARING gunshots and seeing people running for their lives was a frightening experience for choreographed dancers of the Valley Boys shortly after they finished rushing on Independence morning. 

The shootings at the Junkanoo parade on Bay Street that left three men in hospital brought calls yesterday for added security and support for the police.

Co-Director of the Valley Boys choreographed dancers Kishlane O’Brien said that while the police are doing an excellent job during Junkanoo parades, Thursday’s incident is a clear sign that they could use more help and more technology to ensure weapons like guns are knives don’t make it to Bay Street. 

“We were the first group out,” Ms O’Brien said. “When the shots were fired I saw mothers literally picking up their children and running away. Now Junkanoo has always been a family event. But I saw mothers holding their young children like a bundle of flowers and running for their life. Could you imagine that?” 

“It was extremely frightening. In fact the dancers have communicated and everyone expressed concerns whether or not our safety would be of some importance. We’re choreographed dancers. We’re moving all the time and focusing on our moves. So we can’t be looking over shoulders in the crowds.”

Police were forced to shut down the 41st Independence Day People’s Love and Unity Junkanoo Rush Out in the early hours of Thursday following a shooting incident that left three males in hospital. They were 39-year-old Roland Cunningham, who was shot once on the right side; Emile Sweeting,15, of Palm Avenue who was shot once to the upper right thigh; and Cordero Mcdonald, 21, of Whylly Close, who was shot twice to the left hand.

The parade was shut down just before 5am as police could not immediately find the men responsible for the shooting. A 21-year-old man from Pyfrom Road was arrested and is being questioned regarding the matter.

Ms O’Brien said she could not criticise the police because there were many officers working the parade and that they were doing a great job. However, she added that new security measures need to be put in place so that participants and spectators, especially tourists, are protected and can enjoy the parade with peace of mind. 

Chairman of the Parade Management Committee Douglas Hanna said when it comes to Junkanoo parades, he believes police are “stretched to their limit” and need assistance. 

“These parades stretch the police to the max,” he told The Tribune yesterday. “You know the thousands of people that come to Bay Street for Junkanoo. They not only have to provide security for Bay Street, but the whole of Nassau. Like everything else, incidents happen and police have changed their strategy over and over. But they just need some help.”

“Whichever organisation is responsible for putting the parade together, whether it be New Year’s, Boxing Day or Independence, they should get other security to assist the police. Based on my research, when other countries have their major events like this they get assistance for their police.”

According to Mr Hanna, despite how unsafe some people think attending Junkanoo is now, it was much worse in 1998 and 1999, when he was serving  as a superintendent on the police force.

“In 1999 there was this whole issue of people coming to Bay Street, just walking or sitting, and they would be robbed of their chains and money. You even had some people that would walk along Baillou Hill Road and smash the windows of every car they saw. So in 2000 we changed the strategy and put barricades and stopped people from walking behind and under bleachers. Ever since then things were better.”

With Thursday morning’s parade being cut short, some groups were unable to participate, angering a few who may have spent hundreds of dollars constructing their costume. 

Ms O’Brien said while she understands their pain of spending money on their costume, safety for her is most important.

“Safety is paramount,” she said. “The initial impact would at first create an atmosphere where people feel irritated. But safety should always be first.”

“We love Junkanoo and I share the sentiments of my fellow junkanooers where I know it is expensive. But I also share the views of the public where your safety is first.”

Comments

John says...

So if citizens are willing to risk their lives and support the police 1. Will they give us guns to protect ourselves. 2 WILL we get a full military funeral in the event we are killed in the line of duty?. What benefits will our families receive in the event of our demise? Also what will happen in the event we have to shoot or even kill someone? Will we be treated as citizens or deputised police officers COPs Citizens On Patrol?

Posted 13 July 2014, 3:30 p.m. Suggest removal

ChaosObserver says...

No, you'll be chastised and labeled as "traitors" to your own people for upholding the law....as well as forgotten, underpaid, under appreciated and brushed to the curb by politicians and citizens.....bahamians.... peculiar people for sure!

Posted 13 July 2014, 5:23 p.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

Could it be..., "Stand Your Ground in the Bahamas"?. The problem I have with these call to arms is that the proponents always give a Happy Ever After argument. "Good People" get guns and "Bad People" are prevented from doing harm. Treyvon Martin, Jordan Davis, Renisha McBride. With the mounting evidence that we have that Bahamians are horrible at non-violent conflict resolution, what could possibly go wrong at a party/Arawak cay/Junkanoo/movies/highway/long frustrating lines, where possibly people are drinking and everyone is armed? Yes I know there's violence now that needs to be curtailed but is the answer more violence?

Posted 14 July 2014, 9:19 a.m. Suggest removal

sweetbac1 says...

Good morning Bahamas. We in the Caribbean can learn a few things from each other's experience. St. Vincent and the Grenadines had a similar challenge during a number of their carnivals.The police have implemented two major strategies, which have immensely curtail this problem. The first was to establish check points in and around capital Kingstown so that almost every vehicle that enters the city are stopped and search. In some cases passengers are even frisk search. Second we have establish a no bottle policy at all carnival related events. During these festivities drinks ( beers, Guinness etc) are only served in plastic or paper cups to prevent persons from injuring each other if there is a possible fight. It is has now become a criminal offense to serve drinks in bottles on those days. As unwelcome as this May be, you may have to start using Marines to work alongside the Police during these large festivals. This would help bolster the law enforcement presence. I am sure you have provisions in your law to hire special constables. You can use these provisions to deputize the Marines for this occasion. It might be quite possible that Royal Bahamas Police Force already have some of these strategies in place.

You have a beautiful country continue to preserve and protect it.

Posted 14 July 2014, 8:04 a.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

Good points. From what I noticed at the Junkanoo parades last week, they didn't have anywhere near the security levels implemented for the December and New Years festivals. These summer parades are recent inventions, maybe they didn't warrant the level of concern as the main end of year festivals where crowds are larger and groups are judged for prize money etc. For the record, the security at the December festivals is very tight. Police and Defence Force are everywhere. Not saying that they are fool proof it's just seems to be taken more seriously. The planners are probably reassessing as we write.

Posted 14 July 2014, 9:31 a.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

So what happens when Carnival comes in May? If these is a serious crime incident are they going to shut it down after persons have spent hundreds of dollars, maybe thousands to come here? Carnivals are known to be freak shows. They attract pimps, prostitutes, perverts and pickpockets. Is the Bahamas ready for that? What about our young females? Teenage pregnancy is on a decline for the first time in a long time. Will Carnival reverse that trend?

As quoted from "John" in another post.

QUESTION: Will PLP issue a multi million contract to a PLP connected security firm to provide additional Carnival security?????????

Posted 14 July 2014, 10:07 a.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

God only knows sheeprunner. I really fear for this country with the visionless money grabbing cabal we have leading us.

Posted 14 July 2014, 10:14 a.m. Suggest removal

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