United States Ambassador J. Richard Blankenship on Wednesday reaffirmed his commitment to The Bahamas, its people and the freedoms enjoyed between the two countries,
as he presented the Bahamas National Pride Association with new computers, monitors, printers and scanners to replace those damaged over a week ago by an unknown culprit/s.
It was last weekend when person or persons broke into the Fort Charlotte building and sprayed the entire interior and exterior with spray print, leaving graffiti behind threatening Ambassador Blankenship and Prime Minister Perry Christie, while praising persons like Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein.
Next to the name of the Ambassador, the number 187 was written, a code used for murder in the United States. Also frightening was that the vandal/s painted the date December 20, 2002 on the walls and next to it the words rest in peace.
“The Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the United States have stood by each other through many crises. The damage done to this building does not rise to the level of past instances in which our countries have worked together to solve very serious problems with international implications. But it does present us with another opportunity to demonstrate just exactly how important our relationship is,” Ambassador Blankenship said.
He informed that the “idle threats” made by the graffiti represented the work of “two bit thugs who do not have the courage to confront individuals directly.
“Let me serve notice to them, the United States nor I will be deterred in our search for you. We will not rest until you have been brought to justice. You can run, but you can not hide,” he said.
Trying not to dwell too much on the negative, Ambassador Blankenship said some good has come out of the act. He said the United States Embassy has worked with the BNP’s Executive Coordinator, Alpheus Ramsey to restore the building to an even better condition than before.
The carpet has been cleaned, the furniture has been restored, the window coverings have been replaced, light fixtures changed and maybe even more importantly, a beautiful painting was restored by Clifford Fernander, a member of the Ambassador’s personal security force, who is a very accomplished artist as well.
“Today we are here to complete our commitment to Bahamas Pride by delivering computers, monitors, printers and scanners to replace those damaged. Our Embassy staff will transfer data from the damaged computers as well so nothing hopefully will be lost, Ambassador Blankenship said.
Accepting the gifts on behalf of the association, Executive Olvin Rees, thanked Ambassador Blankenship for the kind donations.
He noted that the Association has not been deterred in its quest to continue in changing the attitudes in the country with regard to littering and having pride.
By Keva Lightbourne, The Nassau Guardian
