The cable news channel contacted The Nassau Guardian, Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. It was looking for someone with a lot of background on the case of the missing boys and Ms. Swain's name was given.
Ms. Swain provided an update on the case. She has spearheaded The Nassau Guardian's reporting on the case since the first boy, Jake Grant, was reported missing on May 9th and as the second, Mackinson Colas, the third, Angelo McKenzie, and the fourth boy, Junior Reme, were reported missing.
On September 30, Desmond Rolle was identified as the fifth Grand Bahama boy to be added to the Missing Persons Bulletins on the missing boys.
In the live interview by Miles O'Brien, Ms. Swain responded to questions on the investigation.
"What's the latest from there Jimenita? asked Mr. O'Brien. "Well, the latest from The Bahamas is that there is one person in custody being questioned by the police and no arrests have been made at this point but the investigations are still continuing into the matter."
Miles O'Brien, "Is this person being characterised as a suspect?" Miss Swain responded, "Not at this point, he is just being questioned by the police."
"Can you tell us a little bit about the circumstances on how these boys disappeared? asked commentator O'Brien?
"Seemingly without a trace, Miles. It seems that similiar links in the case are that all of them were packing boys at a local Winn Dixie Food Store in downtown Freeport and all were from single family parent homes and were of similiar ages and intellectual capacity. But not much is known about what happened when they disappeared."
He inquired further, "How did it become known that they were missing?" To which Ms. Swain responded. "Well, when they didn't show up at home, reports were made by their parents to the police station that they were missing and therefore the search started from there."
Mr. O'Brien: "Alright. Is there a search underway right now, can you tell us a little bit about that?
Ms. Swain: "The search is on-going, in the sense that more persons are being asked from the community to come forth with any information that they may have on the case. It seems likely some arrests may be made and certainly questioning will continue.
In conclusion, O'Brien asked, "And finally there was a similiar instance some 20 years ago at that same market is that correct? "No, it wasn't at that same market. It was similiar in that we had three young boys that went missing in May 1981 that still remains unsolved," she stated.
"Still unsolved, all right Jimenita," said the well-known CNN commentator. "Yes, the physical characteristics … interjected Ms. Swain.
Mr. O'Brien: "Sorry, okay, finish up Jimenita.
"I was saying that the physical characteristics of the boys in 1981 and the boys this year are quite similiar." she noted. "OK, Jimenita Swain, with the Nassau Guardian newspaper, joining us from The Bahamas. Thank you very much."
The phones started to ring even before the interview was completed
By Barbara Deveaux, The Nassau Guardian
