I, like thousands of other Bahamians, have lived in complete fear for the last week after finding out through social media and word of mouth that there was an apparent rapist or rapists on the loose in eastern New Providence.
I was not told of these incidents by police or by the media. It was through word of mouth in my community.
It became known to me that one of the brutal attacks occurred four houses down from me.
I felt like I could breathe a bit yesterday when I saw the headline that two men were arrested for questioning in connection with the string of attacks and rapes.
I only feared that what if these were not the right people. The court will decide this based on the evidence, not the public.
My other fear centers around bail. I also read the statements by Loretta Butler-Turner and applaud her for blasting the police force’s and government’s total silence on the matter.
I was enraged yesterday morning to read the statements made by Ellison Greenslade and his department’s choice not to make the public aware that a sexual predator was on the loose.
How in good conscience could he defend such a decision?
To quote Greenslade, “Measures were taken to inform those perceived to be most at risk.”
I feel I was at risk. I live a quarter of a mile down the road from one of the attacks. Police never informed me or my neighbors.
He continued by saying that letting the public know would somehow jeopardize their investigation or harm the victims. This is ludicrous.
As a rape victim myself, I understand the need for privacy after such a violent crime.
It is possible to give pertinent information so Bahamians can take measures without revealing names or compromising the investigation.
The public must be made aware of what is happening to properly protect themselves, be more vigilant, etc.
This is just insulting in my opinion. On the one hand police are demanding the public’s help to fight this record crime wave, and then on the other they withhold information such as this?
I pray for the victims in these latest incidents that their assailants are brought to justice. In my case the attorney general’s office let me down.
Our judicial system is so littered with inadequacies and shortcomings that somehow I seemed to be on trial and my rapist was afforded every break in the world.
Evidence was lost, misplaced or just never pursued. My rape happened seven years ago and I live to this day with the emotional wounds brought on by this and it has affected every aspect of my life.
It saddens me that in the last seven years since my rape the crime rates are continuing to soar.
I do not feel safe in my own home; my son cannot play freely in our backyard in broad daylight.
I love my country but the crime situation is dire. Something needs to change and those in power need to start doing right by the citizens of this country.
Enough of the blame.
By: A Rape Victim
