Bella’s Death: Ann-Marie Davis Says More Than Enough Blame to Go Around
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The wife of Prime Minister Philip Davis is speaking up against the killing of 4-year-old Bella Walker, calling her death “heinous” vowing that the Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister will bring awareness and policy proposals to protect children from abuse.
Ann-Marie Davis said it was unfortunate that it took the assault and killing of Bella to cause public outrage.
“There is more than sufficient blame to go around for our societal failings in this regard,” she said.
Bella grew up in the care of her paternal great grandmother and grandmother in Freeport, Grand Bahama but was sent to Nassau to live with her mother nearly two months ago.
Neighbours recalled Bella being home alone and sometimes wandering the streets. They kept her until her mother or the mother’s boyfriend arrived home.
She was killed on Friday night, allegedly by the hands of her mother’s boyfriend. Police have not identified the exact cause of death, only to say she sustained injuries to the body. Other reports indicate the child was also sexually assaulted.
Davis said, “I express heartfelt condolences to the family of young Walker as they struggle and pray to make sense of this apparent senseless and unspeakable tragedy. My thoughts and prayers and that of the Prime Minister are with the affected family during this difficult period.”
Davis said she is confident that the matter will be thoroughly investigated and authorities will issue secure swift justice.
“Bahamians everywhere are encouraged to be agents of change by lending their collective voices of outrage, intolerance, and advocacy in support of our children and the vulnerable. We are parents, sisters, brothers and when we commit ourselves to consistently being our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers – we can cause for a social and cultural shift in our behavior toward one another.”
The mother’s boyfriend is in police custody.
