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US State Department's Report Highlights Possible Human Rights Concerns in The Bahamas
Related to country: Bahamas

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US Report Highlights Possible Human Rights Concerns:
By TOSHEENA ROBINSON-BLAIR -
Nassau, Bahamas:



In its annual human rights report released Tuesday, the US State Department highlights various police killings in The Bahamas, the slowness of the judicial system and election violence.

While saying that the May 2, 2007 elections were free and fair, the report says, "The election campaign, however, was marred by instances of violence, the influential state-owned electronic media’s favortism toward government candidates, and allegations of vote-buying."

The report also documents the December Bimini riot, the alleged police beating of Desmond Key (who later died), and several police shootings, including the killing of a psychiatric patient on hospital grounds in Nassau last November.

"There were no new developments after a coroner’s court recommended murder charges against prison guard Sandy Mackey, who allegedly killed inmate Neil Brown in January 2006 in retribution for the death of a fellow officer during a prison escape," the report says.

At year’s end, the report notes, trials were pending for the police officers whom a coroner’s court found committed unlawful manslaughter in two killings in 2003 and 2002.

The report also says that in August, Supreme Court judges directed jurors in three cases, including that of a man accused of murdering a nine-year-old boy, to return not guilty verdicts because police illegally coerced confessions in two cases through beatings.

It also notes that last February, authorities charged seven Defence Force officers with beating a man on Inagua in November 2006. All were released on bail pending trial.

The Americans also pointed out that attorneys and other prisoner advocates continued to complain of excessive pretrial detention.

The report says that government officials stated that approximately 600 of the 1,400 prisoners at Fox Hill prison were awaiting trial. It says that in previous years prison officials estimated that approximately 100 prisoners had been held on remand without trial for more than two years, and that assessment remained accurate, according to available government statistics.

"This was a major, recognized problem in the justice system, as criminals accused of serious crimes made bail, often to commit more crimes, while others languished indefinitely without trial," the human rights report says.

It notes that there is a functioning system of bail, but individuals who could not post bail were held on remand indefinitely.

"The judicial system had a large backlog of cases, and delays reportedly lasted as long as four years," the report says.

"Local legal professionals attributed delays to slow police investigation and inefficient prosecution strategies, as well as a lack of judicial capacity. Systematic problems included lengthy legal procedures, large numbers of detainees, staff shortages, and judicial inefficiency compounded by financial and space constraints."

The report also says lack of representation contributed to excessive pretrial detention, as the accused may lack the means to press his or her case towards trial.

Responding to the report during a press conference Tuesday, U.S. Charge d’Affaires Dr. Brent Hardt said The Bahamas is one of the strongest advocates for human rights in this hemisphere.

Officials at the US Embassy noted that no country – including their own – has a perfect record when it comes to human rights.

For the most part, the concerns raised in the report were the same as in years past.

They ranged from harsh conditions for those incarcerated in Her Majesty’s Prison to a perceived discrimination against Haitian nationals.

The annual Human Rights Report details human rights practices in 196 countries during the past year.

It looks at each country’s commitment to protecting and promoting the rights listed in the 1948 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Individual country reports seek to identify areas where issues exist and should be addressed.

Dr. Hardt noted that there is a "commendable record of which all Bahamians should be proud."

"In fact, it’s important to note the Bahamas stood out among Caribbean countries in its support for key human rights resolutions at the United Nations this year," he said.

"It is absolutely clear that promoting freedom and democracy and protecting human rights are as central to Bahamian foreign policy just as they are to American foreign policy."

However, Dr. Hardt noted that there is room for improvement.

The US also pointed to reported violence against women and children and discrimination against the Haitian community.

"Taking a broader look - the report also noted concerns about a lack of government transparency with regard to investigations of alleged human rights abuses. It also noted the concerns about the plight of Haitians living in the Bahamas whose claims to citizenship are not resolved in a timely or non-discriminatory manner," Dr. Hardt said.

"Finally, we noted the lack of comprehensive legislation to counter the trafficking in human beings."

The report does, however, acknowledge and welcomes the government’s continuing efforts to audit the status of Haitians’ residency and citizenship.

Dr. Hardt said he was also very pleased by an announcement made by Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest last year that the government intends to bring proposed anti-human trafficking legislation to parliament.

Embassy officials also indicated that they welcome any effort to enhance the government’s transparency and openness and anticipate a swift passing of a Freedom of Information Act.

March 12, 2008

March 12, 2008 | 5:33 PM Comments  0 comments

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