it also raised fresh concerns some businesspersons at the mall have regarding the throngs of young people who frequent the mall – some of them wreaking havoc.
The outcry from the mall’s merchants came as two teenagers were hauled before a magistrate’s court Friday and charged with the murder of Julian Newchurch, 14, who was stabbed in the back and neck.
The names of the 17-year-old males were not released because of their juvenile status.
Magistrate Carolita Bethel remanded the teenagers to Her Majesty’s Prison. They were expected back in court today when the preliminary hearing date was expected to be decided.
This slaying has prompted some merchants to call on law enforcement authorities to keep school-aged children away from the mall during certain hours.
Some of these storeowners say now is the time to act.
Hugh Johnson, who manages The Sports Centre, told the Bahama Journal that even though there is good protection by police at the mall, students should be barred from the mall during school hours.
“I would prefer that the kids be banned from the mall and for them to go home and do their homework rather than waste time,” Mr. Johnson said. “We have thought about not having any school kids dressed in uniform come into the store at all, but we can’t do anything about that right now. We are also thinking that they should not be allowed in the store during school hours.”
Keva Huyler, who works at the Perfume Bar, said students’ bad behaviour sometimes scares customers away.
“More or less it is bad for the customers because sometimes we have tourists coming into the mall and when they see the children’s behavior, they are outraged,” Ms. Huyler said. “Sometimes people just walk out of the mall and decide not to shop anymore.”
Juke Box employee, Sean Inniss, believes that parents need to be more responsible for their children who visit the mall often.
Mr. Innis agrees that the mall should be off limits to students during certain times.
“Instead of walking up and down in a mall, students should be home trying to improve the national grade average and focus on their education,” he said. ” The mall should be off limit to these children unless they have a very good reason to be in there.”
But not all businesspersons object to students frequenting the mall.
Etienne Christen, assistant manager at Tommy Hilfiger, said he has no problem with the youngsters roaming the mall, so long as they behave themselves.
“In the past there was a programme at the mall where all the students were required to line up and their names would be written down and they be ushered in one by one,” Mr. Christen said, “I don’t know what happed to that programme.”
There is a full time police station at the Mall at Marathon, but some merchants say security still needs to be beefed up, particularly outside the mall.
By Yvette Rolle-Major, The Bahama Journal
