The many “violations of security forces,” in which individuals were brutally shot by police officers in The Bahamas, were highlighted in the 2005 Report of Amnesty International (AI), released last week.
Amnesty International campaigns for justice and freedom for all and seeks to galvanize public support to build a better world. The AI Report, which covers 149 countries, highlights the failure of national governments and international organizations to deal with human rights violations and calls for greater international accountability.
The Amnesty International 2005 Report, which covers the period from January 1 to Dec. 31, 2004 outlined that there were several reports of “ill-treatment” by police officers in 2004 and at least three persons were shot by police.
Files researched at The Nassau Guardian revealed that several police shootings had in fact occurred in 2004.
On May 18, 2004, pandemonium erupted on Market Street following a fatal shooting by the police on Peter Street.
At the time, undercover officers had observed two or three men in a moving white car. One of the passengers, armed with a loaded .357 handgun, left the car and fled. As the car sped away and the officers began chasing him, both he and the officers fired shots. This put the officers’ lives in permanent danger, so they therefore fired on one of the men and he was fatally shot.
On June 20, 2004, 30-year-old Andrew Williams was shot and killed by plainclothes police officers in the Bamboo Town area. According to the reports, the man appeared to have a shotgun. The man reportedly confronted the officers with the weapon. The officers, then acting in defence of their lives, fired several shots at him. As a result, he was hit about the body several times.
On July 2, 2004, officers were in the area of the Esso Service station on Village and Soldier Roads when they observed two men on trail motorcycles.
Officers detected a gun in the waist of one of the men and approached the pair on foot after calling for backup. A confrontation reportedly ensued between the officers and the gun-toting man, who escaped.
While escaping, the man waved his weapon in the direction of one of the officers, causing him to fear for his life. An officer subsequently shot at the man, hitting him in the left buttock and causing him to fall from the motorcycle.
Also on July 2, 2004, a man was shot by police at Mars Bay, Andros, after causing repeated disturbances at the Fisherman’s Paradise Restaurant.
When Police were about to handcuff him, he was said to have resisted violently. During the scuffle, the gun of one of the officers discharged, hitting the man in the jaw. He was flown to the capital for treatment.
Meanwhile, in addition to stating that instances of brutality by police and prison staff were reported in 2004, the AI 2005 Report outlined that asylum seekers were deported without access to adequate asylum procedures. It also indicated that death sentences were imposed, but no executions were carried out.
“At the end of 2004, there were at least 26 people on death row. Death sentences continued to be imposed by the courts; no executions were carried out.” AI reported.
Not failing to criticize the conditions of prisoners at Her Majesty’s Prison, Amnesty International indicted that in 2004 conditions at Fox Hill prison remained poor. At the time, the prison was headed by Edwin Culmer, but he was transferred to oversee the operations of the Carmichael Road Detention Center, while Criminologist Dr Elliston Rahming was appointed HMP head.
Amnesty International mentioned that concerns at HMP included inadequate sanitation, food, water and medical care and some instances of ill treatment.
“In August (2004), an inquest heard evidence that Sidney McKenzie had been beaten before his death in 2000. A prisoner alleged in court that prisoners had been beaten and threatened before coming to court to give evidence.
“In October, an inquest ruled that neglect and failure to provide medical attention contributed to the death of Kazimierz Kwasiborski, who died in prison on August 28, 2003,” Amnesty International reported.
In regards to refugees, the outreach organization reported that asylum seekers from countries including Haiti and Cuba were forcibly returned without access to a full and fair refugee determination procedure, which was in violation of international law.
“There were reports of inadequate medical attention, food and water at the Carmichael Detention Center. At least five children were detained in violation of international standards,” Amnesty International claimed.
By: TAMARA McKENZIE, The Nassau Guardian
