Senator: We have failed as parents if we rely on govt to raise our children

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT

tsmith-cartwright@tribunemedia.net

IN a tearful address, Senator Lisa Bostwick-Dean said if Bahamians are reliant on the government to raise and discipline their children, then they would have failed as parents.

While on her feet in the Senate yesterday, Mrs Bostwick-Dean became emotional as she sympathised with the mother of 10-year-old Kenron Dean who was shot dead while at his home on Finlayson Street last Thursday night.

Police reports say that shortly after 9 o’clock that evening, they were called to the scene of the shooting in Bain Town and discovered four people shot. Young Kenron, who according to a relative was looking forward to having fun at a promised movie night, was pronounced dead on the scene. His twin brother, young cousin and uncle were also injured during the incident.

“This is the first time we sat since the killing of yet another child in The Bahamas,” Mrs Bostwick-Dean said. “I am actually glad that there was a moment to catch oneself before speaking to that. But I had intended on Friday morning to speak to that matter.

“To the family of that young boy and sadly to the family of the other families that have suffered the loss of children to gun violence in our Bahamas, it is just inconceivable. We are killing our children by shooting them dead. And children while they are with their families. There is something just incomprehensible and horrific about where we are.”

Mrs Bostwick-Dean, daughter of former Free National Movement politicians Janet and Henry Bostwick, said if the country continues on in this manner, where “children are killing children”, then it would surely have a disastrous future for its citizens.

The FNM senator said Bahamians cannot rely on the government to do everything and should begin managing their homes.

“The road we are on is for disaster for each and every one of us,” she said. “I don’t know the answers, but we must find a way … the justice department. But by the time we get to the justice department we have lost. By the time the police become involved we have lost. Education, Social Services, Ministry of Youth … that’s where the government focus needs to be, but these problems are not governmental problems.

“When we have to look to our government to discipline and to raise our children so that they don’t kill our children, then we as parents have failed. We need to stop saying ‘government, government, government’. We must begin to manage our own homes. When I say I cry for you mothers, I do. But, if we can commit to each other, we can do this, Bahamas. We must stop killing our children.”

She said the issue of crime, especially against children, should not be seen as a political thing, but rather a problem in our communities.

“Bahamas I am a mother. I implore us to stop. We have to find answers. This is not FNM, this is not PLP, this is not DNA. This is not any other independent party out there. These are our children and our children are killing our children. We must stop,” she said tearfully.

“I apologise for becoming emotional, but some things are not politics. It is exhausting to be on the frontline and to have politics enter into everything rather than true concern about nation building and the welfare of our people. It is absolutely exhausting and it is sometimes disgusting. It is disheartening.

“We must come together as a people. We must reach across the gender divide. We must reach across the political divide. We must put aside our petty indifference and do what is necessary to serve and save our nation.”

Police have said they suspect the shooting was gang-related and that an older relative of Kenron was the intended target.

Comments

sheeprunner12 says...

The political elite (like Janet Jr) should weep for what they have done to this country since Majority Rule ....... Weep and beg forgiveness from the grassroots communities who face hunger, poverty, ignorance, crime .................. and have little chance of getting out of that hellhole

Posted 17 March 2021, 8:30 p.m. Suggest removal

Cobalt says...

Stop talking shit! People in the Bahamas are poor, ignorant, and crime ridden because of the poor choices they and others close to them have made in their own personal lives. Poor choices lead to poor conditions! We need to stop blaming the Government for all of our self-inflicted problems! People need to take responsibility for their own actions and inactions. Bahamians want the Government to do things for them that they are not willing to do for themselves! Immigrants are migrating here everyday and doing well (after a few years) because they are willing to work hard and disciple themselves to attain what they want in life! Yes the Government remains incompetent, hapless and inept in some areas. But it’s due to the lack of proficiency that we are all guilty of in this country! The Bahamian government is selected from a pool of Bahamian people! They are a reflection of our culture! The same bungling inaptitudes we see in them are the same practices we are guilty of in our own lives. They will only do better when we all do better in our own personal lives!

Posted 18 March 2021, 1:16 a.m. Suggest removal

So Cobalt ........... you are of the opinion that NO MATTER what or who is in charge of the Government, the masses are always responsible for their lot in life? ......... Who is responsible for the fact that the inner city (or Cat Island) doesn't have running water in their homes ever since 1967? Can the people do that? ...... Or if their schools are run down and poorly staffed as compared to other suburban schools? ......... Should I go on???????

Posted 18 March 2021, 10:14 a.m. Suggest removal

jamaicaproud says...

Just blame the Haitians and Jamaicans and get over it.

Posted 18 March 2021, 10:30 a.m. Suggest removal

Nooooo sheeprunner12. I’m not saying that at all. Governments can ALWAYS do better. But what I am suggesting is that we the people are the root of the problem. The government is the construct of we the Bahamian people! Yes, the Bahamian government is hapless, ineffective, dishonest and excuse-ridden. But it is because we are also hapless, ineffective, dishonest and excuse-ridden. Apple seeds can only bear apples! When we become better, so will the government. Everyone needs to start with the person in the mirror.

Posted 18 March 2021, 7:26 p.m. Suggest removal

Just one last thing Cobalt ........... can we blame the people while England was reigning over the niggers???????

Posted 22 March 2021, 8:57 a.m. Suggest removal

Sickened says...

Many of us have made our lives better with what we have been given. Unfortunately many of us have not, and have tried to take the easy road to a better life through drugs, stealing, raping and killing. Those people need to be removed from earth so that everyone else can enjoy their lot in life and to continue to try to improve.
Unfortunately, too many of our children don't ever get a chance to have a good life because some worthless low life useless piece of crap whose parents should have turned him in years ago, is able to run wild and kill as he pleases.
To all the parents who know their children a gang bangers and killers, please do us all a favor and take them fishing and leave them out there. WE DON'T WANT THEM!

Posted 18 March 2021, 10:49 a.m. Suggest removal

Agreed 100%

Posted 18 March 2021, 9:19 p.m. Suggest removal

licks2 says...

I AGREE WITH ALL SAID UP HERE. . ."ALL ER WE" CAUSE SOME PARTS OF THE MAYHAM YINNA SEE OUT THERE!! AND YES. . .YINNA JAMAICANS AND HAITIANS THEM TOO!! ALWAYS WANT TO BLAME THE POOR FOR "BEING AND STAYING" POOR!!

DANG, THEY WORKING FA YINNA "RICH PEOPLES THEM". . .YINNA "WORK THEM TO DEATH" LITERAILY. . .THEN YINNA "KEEP ALL THE PROFITS" AND SEND THEM BACK TO THEM "POOR" COMMUNITIES AND YINNA MOVE TO LYFORD CAY. . .DON'T GET ME STARTED NAH!!

Posted 19 March 2021, 5:57 p.m. Suggest removal