by Adrian Gibson
FRED Smith QC has become a champion of those individuals who are unable to defend themselves. He draws the ire and condemnation of many Bahamians who seemingly forget that every human being is entitled to their fundamental rights even if they don’t speak English, even if their navel string is not buried in The Bahamas, even if they are not wealthy or light skinned and don’t have straight hair.
According to Dr Duane Sands, “this would be a far better country if there were more Fred Smiths”. That said, this is not about Fred Smith.
The debate about the Gamble Heights bulldozing demands that we ensure that such any exercise of the government is done properly and with respect for the dignity of all human beings.
One concern is whether or not the bulldozing of the Gamble Heights shanty town paved the way for the alleged arsonists to mete out street justice against individuals that they perceive to be illegal. Such a question could only be asked if the mood created in our country is one that supports the overwhelming perception that these people deserve only contempt and that their rights as human beings does not matter.
Where is the public outcry if one or more of these individuals suffered excessively because of these actions? This is not about whether shanty towns ought to exist or not. This is about whether human beings ought to be treated at least at a minimal standard by the State.
How could the people who resided in Gamble Heights now prove their status if all of their identification documents were perhaps destroyed?
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First published in the The Tribune under the byline, Young Man's View, here…
