I still don't understand it. Years ago I asked why the Tribune would report the name of someone who was killed before a reasonable time had passed for family members to be notified. Today the window of disrespect has been shortened to hours. Just because the whole world is doing it doesn't make it decent or orderly. What is wrong with Bahamians, why is the need for gossip so great??? The irresponsible postings on FB are so sad, We've let this thing get completely out of control. What did it add to your life by knowing a name "tonight"? Nothing, you heard it and went back to your tv show. These are people's lives.

Why don't you use your real name to do postings?

How would that help you?

I agree @thisisours

If he was killed at home, evidently his family is well aware.

This is a very sad story indeed.

From what I understand, the daughter of the deceased who is also the guilty party, has psychological issues that have gone unattended. On many occasions she had been reported to have been experiencing psychotic episodes. Why her loved ones did not have her commitment to a rehabilitation center, I don't know. Very sad.

*committed

What is going on to our beloved Homeland?

I Note... the weapon of choice was not a gun; nor was the accused an intruder or a stranger to the victim; also, the area where the crime scene is not located, is not in the 'ghetto'. This should be of help to show that the root of this scourge (crime/murders) is more intrinsic than we care to or are willing to admit.

The USA's Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is not intrinsically a part, or an institution within our society; and therefore, they can lend little outside help to us resolving this scourge. The solutions lies among us Bahamas... and among us only, as a people.

Yes.... I agree.
But in this case, the burden of responsibility rests with the immediate family members. This young lady has a mental disorder and is in desperate need of psychological help. All of the clinical signs are present, yet no one is getting her the help she needs. This young lady should be on Clozapine, Zyprexa, or some other antipsychotic prescription drug. This is so sad.

If we are going to change the Bahamas we must first start with the smallest and most important component of society, which is the family. Too many of us see our family members in need of help, yet we don't do enough to help. I am aware that everyone has their own personal issues to deal with. But when we observe family members contending with mental problems, we MUST get them proper medical attention. Someone's life may be depending on it. And in this case, it did. Very sad.

Cobalt, we need to promote a more healthy understanding and a mature outlook of mental illness. In which case, the suffering persons and their families won't feel so embarrassed at the prospect of having to get help for what is a natural factor in the lives of every human being. Too long our society has shown in-compassion and have instead ridiculed persons for what is a natural sickness capable of being address.

I don't want to rain on your comment, but it is exactly your mindset that drives me up the wall. The number of affluent, non criminal background murderers last year can be counted on one hand, compared to the hundreds of drug/criminal background/gang related killers. Bahamians look for any excuse to return to their position of helplessness. We can't identify the murderers, so we can't prevent them from killing, you appear to be saying. It's about the breakdown of the family and deterioration of social values blah, blah, blah. At long last, the FBI is involved. Finally, some sense and intelligence can be inserted into our crime problem. The solution does not lie in Bahamians. Clearly, we have shown that it is beyond our threshold of knowledge and expertise. I am not yet sure whether Nottage sought the assistance of the FBI or whether he was summoned by them, due to the recent tourist rapes, which is more likely. All I do know is that Bahamians have proven that they do not have a snowball in the sun's chance of solving this crime mess without external assistance. We can chose to put our heads in the sand and say it's mental illness, the economy, poor upbringing, discrimination what have you, or we can face up to the situation and admit that we need help and need it fast.

The fact of the FBI now becoming involve in our domestic problem is now a reality. This law institution is itself a domestic branch of law enforcement in the USA. BahamaPundit, your response is a constructive response, however, the solution for this scourge is indeed right here among us Bahamians. Now I would agree with you that those were and are responsible to resolve the problem, and who are at the forefront of leadership, do not possess the vision, nor will nor competency to do the job... but THE SOLUTION & ANSWER TO ADDRESS OUR PROBLEM IS RIGHT HERE AMONG US... That is an empirical fact. The arrogance and pride of the present and previous leaders won't allow them to accept the advice from persons not within their click or lope. Their very persona don't resonate with younger generations to themselves so as to be able to speak with authority. Humans are not all that complicated as we sometime make them out to be. It is their greed and selfishness that has cause the marginalizing and disenfranchisement of those who are now lost and have no sense of right belonging. Hence, the marginalize are apt to give themselves over to reckless abandonment, i.e. criminal acts and personal retaliation for wrongs done to them. It's a mess... but it may still worth some of us putting up a fight to regain Our Bahamaland out the hands of incompetent leaders. With this said, I am moved in my heart to put my pen to paper and draft my vision of what I feel is needed in the first instant to be done. Thanks.

At the end of the day, the people with the guns have the power, right now it's unclear who really has the guns, the gangs? the govt? or the US?

Let's hope it's the US because the gangs and the govt are the same thing.

Comrade Bloggers so puzzling when your posts are a wild free for all ranging from; Why the Tribune would report the name someone killed before a reasonable time had passed for family members to be notified to way far field about how; The daughter of the deceased has psychological issues that have gone unattended - moving on to; The weapon of choice was not a gun; nor was the accused an intruder or a stranger to the victim - skipping over to; The FBI is not intrinsically a part, or an institution within our society; and therefore, they can lend little outside help to us resolving this scourge and then adding; The burden of responsibility rests with the immediate family members.
So much said about things you know absolutely nothing factual about, lack any compassion, or plain out reckless, yet still you are the very same people constantly complaining about the poor judgment of others.
I highly recommend you all take a break to celebrate our great and wonderful nation's "hard fought for and won" Majority Rule Day, because our national holiday day, truly symbolizes the promise of equality, a level playing field and fair play for all Bahamalander's - something you sure as hell are not extending to the deceased, nor his grieving family members.

I am saying none of us needed to know his name before his family did. His family extends beyond the people who live in his house. It's called empathy

Everyone who has sense understands your point, ThisisOurs.
Don't waste your time answering that fool, TalRussell.
We all simply ignore the rubbish he posts.

As I have stated in another forum... the present view of 'Majority Rule' serves more to divide The Bahamas than unite it. The History of The Bahamas began long before the 10th of January, 1967, or for that fact, the 10th of July, 1973. There are persons and families who have, long before these dates, contributed and laid a solid foundation to what was once a Great Country. No attempts to write over what is the real and and most lasting history of The Bahamas will change this, i.e. the visionary and founding father, Sir Stafford Sands, to what is now the Countries Tourism and Financial sectors. Yet, there is not one single substantive memorial set up in his honor. Like I say, the whole celebration appears more divisive and prejudicial than a celebration meant to brings us together as One Country.

Another unfortunate event in our country. Let us keep praying and act to change the way we live. Amongst other things I pray for the guidance and protection this country needs.

Try calling for assistance when someone with a mental disorder. The police don't want to respond (some of the dispatchers need training on this type of emergency. The ambulance drivers say they are not supposed to respond without a police escort, and even after that patient gets to the hospital it may be hours before they see a doctor. If a patient is sent to Sandilands they will be released once their condition is stabilized and the attending doctors deem they are no threat to themselves or society. That institution is overburdened due to extensive drug abuse by young men. There are hundreds of them who can snap in a minute when they stop taking their medication. Most of the murders in this country are committed by persons known to the victims. Persons who live in close quarters with each other. Regardless of their mental state. That is why it is so difficult to prevent this type of murder. You must change the mindset of the people. That life is valuable. That murder is wrong. The need and ability to exercise tolerance and forgiveness. And the penalty for murder has to be swift and severe. Today many view toting a gun as a fashion statement and killing as a means to earning stripes.

True dat. I lived in an condo complex with semi-detached houses, and one of the residents was a female teacher who was financially stable (family money), and she was in dire need of mental health treatment.

For the most part, she was an amiable, agreeable neighbour, but when she suffered a psychotic episode, you never knew what to expect, at what hour of the day or night. A call to the local police station did nothing. The ambulance did not come. It was within walking distance of a police station, and once I walked to the police station -- waited at the counter for a good 5 minutes, and a sleepy cop told me that he would send someone and never did. The poor woman would fluctuate between wanting to kill you or being intensely amorous. During some episodes there would be a parade young men - tourists all - who were satisfying her psychotic lust urges - until they were loudly kicked out, running with their clothes and shoes in hand -- which could come at any moment. It was a real circus at times, and no authority was willing to help unless there was a Sandilands committal order.

I think more mental health training is in order for emergency responders like police and ambulance.

I have twice had to call police for neighbours in psychotic episodes (one was drug induced). Both times the police came and calmly and compassionately dealt with the situation and persuaded the person to go to hospital (an ambulance had also come). I was impressed with the professional way they handled both situations.

John, your expression is agreeably indicative of the issues and does not represent in much way the approach or solutions. All that you've said with respect to what persons suffering from mental illness has to confront and deal with environmentally and institutionally is true; however, I invite you to look closer at the double tribe of what you've said with respect to crime. Canada has a criminal system that never loses sight of the valuabilities, if that's a word, of the criminal as apart from the criminal act. In one mouth your cry "exercise tolerance and forgiveness", and in the same mouth you say, "penalty for murder has to be swift and severe". I say the response to crime should at all times, and in all instances, be calculated and rational. As to "toting a gun as a fashion statement... etc"... We should fight the battles which we know that we can win... and in assessing this, we can then realize, calculate and be able to make decision as to appropriately allocate resources to confront those battles which we are more doubtful of the outcome. Inevitably, we will lose some battles, but, this should be on our terms... and not due to the present level of backward, ignorant and incompetent leaderships.

Comrade Banker responding to domestic disputes and to deal with the mentally disturbed are high on the list as having the greater potential for unpredictably turning into the most dangerous responses policeman's are called out to deal with. One minute they can appear be talkative or tearful, mute and docile - yet at blink eye they can from acting all friendly and understanding become angry and violent.
What you sure as hell don't want to do is make their medical on the spot diagnosis to become the concern responding policeman's.
But we have to make damn sure to train our policeman's to recognize and guard against their doing harm themselves, others and turning on policeman's.
A policeman's only job is to attempt to deflate the problem and prevent physical harm to all. It can turn into an inflammable - even deadly - mistake rush to arrest but smart know when and how to handcuff while the conversation takes place.

Surely someone in the world (Germans, Swiss, Canadians, Norwegians ..) has developed a first responder protocol for handler psychotic situations. There must be training somewhere available. I would think that the police would have to be present due to legal issues involving restraint and constraint, but someone surely has given some thought to methods and protocols.

"A policeman's only job is to attempt to deflate the problem and prevent physical harm to all." ... ? really ?

Comrade is that it, not going tell readers how you see role policeman's?

One thing that I have noticed is missing from this discussion, and it is not deliberate but probably just a matter of knowledge. It is the employment of PSYCHOANALYSIS. Now... there is a social danger in employing of this type of treatment in a smal society like The Bahamas; notwithstanding, it has been proven to be the most effective and advanced treatment for mental illness. And I suppose that is why the governing interests in The Bahamas never push hard for it to be employed in the public health system.

Psychoanalysis is a process whereby the patient is diagnosed as to whether or not their ailment is neurological, or, the result of a mental or psychological trauma. Often it can be the result of latter... which is deemed curable by creating conditions similar to that which existed at the time the patient became ill. The patient, psychologically, revisits, and in a sense, relives the moment of the trauma. He/she is then carefully guided psychologically to cope or in a manner overcome mentally the traumatic experience.

Why is this a scary prospect for The Bahamas socially??? It is because the result of such cure would bring to light a whole lot of 'folly' which affluent persons of the societies' higher echelon and persons in high office would have done to the persons for them to be in the mental state that they are in. We rather protect the noble but false opinions of those persons rather than for the person to be healed and for the cause of the trauma to become known. It won't matter what one would say happened to them as a child, we rather the bastard go crazy and then we get to say, "he's a fool, don't listen to him/her... dey is go-and-come".

Remember some years ago the young man who was tried and convicted for the rape and serial murders of young boys in Freeport, Grand Bahama? Which of us wanted to hear him when he said that his elder sister often sexually molested him as a child??? During the trial, this same sister of his, it was noted, was a high ranking police officer. But never mind that... let's just "throw his ass in jail for raping and killing them boys". Alright??? Nonetheless Bahamas, remember... "HURT PEOPLE, HURT PEOPLE", Robert K. Greenleaf. How many of us curled in from wanting to get help after that rebuff???

Good points Godson... very good points.

There are to many barriers to people receiving the proper mental health treatment in the Bahamas. First we live in a very superstitious culture where persons see ailments as the result of voodoo leaving many untreated or even worse abused as a result of just pure ignorance. Our early identification systems is a family member with some intelligence recognizing the problem and proactively seeking out help. Otherwise people don't give a damn and just want the problem gone from in front of them. The police are not trained in Crisis intervention or to properly identified certain disorders, their primitive mentality is if u disobey me, beat that ass or shoot. Our medical response teams, are not going to take anyone for crisis screening unless they show definite signs of being a threat to themselves or others, or the police presses the issue. Social services is unresponsive, useless, I have called the emergency lines many times to report abusive situation that I have observed and the case workers are a no show. All this is the result of hiring so many political cronies over the years many who are unqualified and neglect most of the basic responsibilities of their jobs. Its very difficult to address mental illness in a society with limited accountability and ignorant flawed mentality from most of the population that's lost in the dark ages of witchcraft.

basically our country is bungy-backwards......

I have always been of the opinion that there are far more mentally ill people than we care to imagine. Just like the body gets sick the mental part of us also experience illnesses. No one wants to be identified as crazy so we self medicate by drinking, smoking or some other way to relieve the illness that exist in our mind. Some mental problems are chronic and others are as simple as the common cold. If you never had the common cold then you can rule yourself from the number of those who never experience some form of mental illness.