By MORGAN ADDERLEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

madderley@tribunemedia.net

A DAY after he visited the victims of the Labour Day Parade tragedy, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis told The Tribune yesterday that Cabinet will discuss the level of government involvement needed in the wake of a national tragedy with the aim of developing a policy.

However, he said on Friday that the government is committed to doing "all that we can to assist the family members of the deceased and those injured and their families".

Referring to both the tragic traffic accident at Friday's Labour Day Parade and the fatal January North Andros plane crash, Dr Minnis said yesterday whatever Cabinet decides will be "policy moving forward."

The annual Labour Day Parade turned calamitous when an unmanned truck struck a crowd of people Friday morning, leaving four women dead and two dozen people injured.

On Saturday, Dr Minnis visited victims in hospital and the families of the deceased. The deceased are Dianne Elizabeth Gray-Ferguson, 55; Kathleen Augusta Fernander, 51; Tabitha Charlene Haye, 41; and Tami Patrice Gibson, 48.

The prime minister also delivered a national address that aired on Saturday night on ZNS.

During his televised remarks, he offered condolences, called for national unity, and promised support to the families of the victims.

When asked yesterday if the government plans to do anything special for the victims of the Labour Day parade incident, Dr Minnis said the matter would be discussed on Tuesday.

"We have Cabinet on Tuesday and we will discuss that at length as to government involvement," he told The Tribune after a NEMA church service.

"As you know we had another tragedy when you had the plane crash going to Andros and there were quite a number of individuals that had died in that plane crash. That's still under investigation.

"So, I think the matter has to be discussed at Cabinet. Because whatever we come out with, it'll be a policy moving forward."

Dr Minnis explained that the policy will be in response to tragic events.

On January 17, a Piper Aztec plane flying from North Andros to Nassau crashed shortly after take-off. All six people aboard were killed in the accident.

On January 26, a memorial ceremony was held for the victims. It was attended by Dr Minnis, Cabinet members, Leader of the Official Opposition Philip Davis, and a number of other government officials.

When asked if he foresees a similar event being held for the Labour Day Parade accident victims, Dr Minnis reiterated that there would be a response after Cabinet.

"Yeah, but you must remember that (memorial) was organised by the community. The community had organised that," Dr Minnis said.

"And therefore, one has to discuss these matters at a Cabinet level because as I've said, whatever is done will be policy moving forward."

On Saturday, the prime minister and a delegation visited the families of those who died during the Labour Day Parade accident.

He was accompanied by Health Minister Dr Duane Sands, Labour Minister Dion Foulkes, Bahamas Christian Council President Bishop Delton Fernander, and state media agency Bahamas Information Services (BIS). Private media agencies were not invited to accompany the prime minister.

According to a BIS report, during his visits, the prime minister offered condolences and Bishop Fernander prayed with the families.

Dr Minnis also visited Princess Margaret Hospital and Doctors Hospital to visit the injured victims who were in hospital at the time.

Two were admitted at each hospital, and the prime minister and his delegation also spoke with the victims' physicians. The Tribune understands only one victim remains in hospital.

"The families of the deceased and the recovering victims in hospital responded overwhelmingly to the visits by the prime minister and his team, indicating that the gesture 'cheered' them up after facing such an ordeal," the BIS article stated.

In his national address, Dr Minnis said police and "other relevant authorities" are investigating the incident and will report "what subsequent actions will be taken in the wake of this tragedy."

"No words can begin to describe the heartbreak and the loss felt by their spouses, children, parents, families, friends and colleagues of Tabitha, Kathleen, Tami and Diane," Dr Minnis told the nation.

"I assured the families of the deceased of the support of all of us during the many difficult days ahead.

"As I said yesterday (Friday, June 1) we are committed to doing all that we can to assist the family members of the deceased and those injured and their families," he said Saturday.

"As our union leaders and workers demonstrated during yesterday's march, we are one people united in love," Dr Minnis added.

"We will be united in this time of tragedy and suffering."