Braced for the worst after his daughter mysteriously disappeared Saturday evening, a grief-stricken Elijah Clarke warned Bahamians who regularly park at beaches after nightfall to be more cautious, as "times have changed."
Mr. Clarke, whose daughter Sharell Porter has been the object of an intense search, was still awaiting the identity of a woman's body that was found near well fields in the vicinity of Nassau International Airport wearing similar clothing to that in which Ms Porter was last seen.
"There was a time, when the kids were smaller, when I used to take them to have snacks on the beach at night. I have since stopped that years ago because I found it rather dangerous," he said. "You can't do that now or you'll end up in the back of a (car) trunk somewhere."
According to Porter's boyfriend, Lamont Hamilton, 26, two men approached them while they were at Jaws Beach, Lyford Cay.
He said the men led them to a nearby Royal Bank of Canada branch, where he was told to withdraw money from his savings account. However, he entered an incorrect pin number and the ATM retained his card.
They were then taken to the well fields, where Mr. Hamilton said he was beaten. It was not until he was released from a clinic Sunday morning that the matter was reported to police, sparking an island-wide search for Ms Porter.
Mr. Clarke said his daughter frequently visited the beach to chat and eat.
Mr. Clarke's family, friends and neighbours had joined police in the search with more than 50 people combing the well fields area.
Central Detective Unit head Superintendent Marvin Dames also sent out a stern warning to Bahamians who choose bush-screened beaches to sit and talk.
"In life, we must learn to make more responsible choices," he said. "People like to hang out at the beach late at night. These are beaches in the back of bushes somewhere, just sitting there talking.
"There are a lot of public places where people can go to communicate. There are restaurants, homes and hotels to communicate," he said, urging each citizen to act as a "crime prevention agent."
The public, he said, cannot rely solely on law enforcers to prevent crime.
"If you pull up in front of your home at night, you should ensure that there is someone looking out for your arrival or that the neighbourhood and your yard is well-lit. Carelessness and vulnerability can easily make you a victim."
Wednesday afternoon CDU officers found a woman's body in similar clothing that Ms Porter was last seen in. Other evidence suggests that it may be connected to Ms Porter's disappearance; however, the identity of the body has not been released.
By Khashan Poitier, The Nassau Guardian
