donsaunders

As of Friday afternoon, a GoFundMe for FNM Deputy Chair and Former Parliamentarian Don Saunders has already raised nearly $18,000 from some 90 donors, three days after it was launched.

Reverend Fr. Keith Cartwright launched a GoFundMe to help the family’s mounting bills in the wake of his unexpected death in an apparent botched robbery.

Elaine Cravatt who donated $100 said, “If I can help somebody as I travel along, my living shall not be in vain. May Don’s soul rest in peace.”

The GoFundMe has a goal of $314,000—to help with his uninsured mortgage for his home, his daughter’s university tuition, and his son’s high school fees. Saunder’s wife, Tiffany is also battling sickle cell.

“My son’s entire life was one of national service. From a young age, he was actively involved in church life and community development. He entered into national frontline politics to make a difference in the lives of people from all backgrounds. He served unselfishly, often times at great personal and familial sacrifice,” said Father Cartwright, who adopted Saunders from a boy and assisted him with schooling.

“My brothers and sisters we seek your kind assistance in these challenging times. Your contributions, no matter how small, will indeed go a long way in alleviating the financial burden on my son’s family who is already grappling with the loss of their beloved husband and father.”

Saunders was killed last week Wednesday when he visited a club in the Gambier area of New Providence and gunmen attempted to rob patrons, police say. A gunman confronted Saunders who then brushed the gun from his face. He was shot in the neck region and subsequently died on the scene.

Dazelle Munroe whose father was also murdered, said she too feels the pain of Saunders’ family. She donated $100.

“My father was also murdered when I was 11 years old leaving my mother to take care of five girls by herself. I am saddened to see another family have to deal with this situation. I’ve seen and met Don Don (Saunders’ son) at St. John’s as my son goes there and will be cheering from the sideline for his continued success.

Police said earlier in the week that they have three suspects in custody.

At the time of his unfortunate death, Saunders served as the deputy chairman of the Free National Movement. He was a former member of Parliament for the Tall Pines constituency, and served as deputy speaker of the House of Assembly.

The tragic killing of FNM Deputy Chair Don Saunders on Wednesday night sent shockwaves through the legal and political arena in the country, seen as an unprecedented killing in the crime fight.

He was 49.

Here’s what we know about Don Saunders

• As a twin, he was born on the 12th February, 1975 in Nassau to Mispah and Donald G. Saunders and is the foster child of Archdeacon Keith Cartwright. Cartwright read Saunders’ last rites before his body was taken away in the hearse.
• He served in various capacities in the Free National Movement Party (FNM) beginning in 2002  as Council Member, National Deputy Secretary and Executive Member.
• He became an MP in 2017 and served as deputy speaker in the House of Assembly until 2021.
• Don was head boy at L. N. Coakley Secondary School in Exuma in 1992. His earlier education was at St. Francis and Joseph Primary School.
• He studied History at the College of The Bahamas; he studied Sociology and Political Science at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree. He soon completed studies at the University of Leeds, leading to the award of a Bachelors of Law Degree (LL.B.); and completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Law and the Bar Vocational Course at the University of Northumbria, UK.
• He was called to the Bar of England and Wales and the Bahamas Bar in 2001.
• He served as Chairman of the Bahamas Bar Association’s Public Relations & Legal Aid Committee from 2002 to 2003.
• He completed his pupilage at Higgs and Johnson; he was engaged as an Associate at Halsbury Chambers (2003-2008) and subsequently at Graham Thompson (2008-2012).
• In late 2012, Don became a founding partner at Essex Law Chambers and served as the Property Manager of City West Property Management and Documents Express (Court Process Service and Messenger Services).
• He served as a Director and Legal Adviser of the Bahamas Humane Society (2009-2012) and was appointed to the Board of the Bridge Authority (2011-2012).
• Don was married to Tiffany Saunders and has two children.

The horrific murder of Don Saunders, a former parliamentarian and deputy speaker in the House of Assembly on Wednesday night, sent shock waves through the Bahamas and provoked condolences and reflections about his life in the political arena.

His party leader Michael Pintard was one of the first politicians to alert the public of the homicide that occurred in Gambier, the western area of New Providence.

“It is with a heavy heart that I report the shocking murder of our colleague and friend, FNM Deputy Chair Don Saunders. We are still gathering all of the facts as we come to grips with this tragedy,” he said in a social media post when the incident occurred after 9 pm in the quaint community. Pintard with other FNM colleagues then gathered on the murder scene and watched as Saunders’ body was carried away in a hearse. “We trust that the system is going to work,” he told reporters.

Former Prime Minister Hubert Minnis, who appointed Saunders as a candidate for the Tall Pine’s constituency in the 2017 general election, before he won the seat in 2021, also expressed sadness about his untimely death in a social media post. “As the Member of Parliament for the Killarney Constituency (of which Gambier is a part), it is with profound sadness and shock that I have learned of the tragic murder of our esteemed colleague Mr Donald Saunders…Let us honor the memory of our fallen comrade by coming together in solidarity and supporting those affected by this senseless act of violence,” he said.

On the scene, he told reporters that the area was outfitted with cameras to assist the police in finding the suspects responsible for Saunders’ death.

Prime Minister Philip Davis, a friend of Saunders’ family, added that he too was “deeply saddened by the tragic reports that Don Saunders, Former Member of Parliament and Deputy Chairman of the FNM has been killed.”

FNM’s Party Chairman Duane Sands simply said, “May God wrap you in his loving arms. Rest in Peace Don.”

In an official statement,  Sands later paid tribute to Saunders’ commitment and hard work. “He loved our country. He loved the FNM and the principles for which we stand.”

Sands continued, “His efforts for party and country were self-sacrificing. He was a committed son, husband and father. I benefitted from his counsel politically and professionally. I treasured his friendship. Don was a true FNM warrior–committed to the cause. He was an instrumental part of our chairman’s core. He will be sorely missed.”

Adrian White, MP for St Anne’s constituency reflected on Saunders’ life as a student of law. “Don Saunders was my FNM brother. We had been in England sitting the Bar Vocation Course at the same time and each of us completed our pupilage at Higgs & Johnson. Tonight’s news is so disturbing, it’s not worth believing. My thoughts and prayers are for his family…Justice will be served.”

Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin chimed in, offering condolences to Saunders’ family, “particularly his wife, a member of the Ministry of Education team, his children and his entire circle of love.”

Arinthia Komolafe, a former leader of the third-party Democratic National Alliance expressed sympathy in a Facebook post.

FNM Senator Maxine Seymour called him an “older brother” since they originated from Exuma and were involved in politics together.

“Tragically, his journey was cut short, leaving a profound void in our lives and community.”

Former Parliamentarian Donald Saunders was shot and killed on Wednesday night in what appears to be a botched robbery in Gambier.

What happened?

Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander said Saunders, Deputy Chairman of the Free National Movement was one of six patrons sitting outside of a community bar after 9 pm, when two gunmen demanded cash.

The patrons fled and the gunmen fired their weapons.

The other five patrons soon realized Saunders was not with them. They then returned to the scene and found him lying face down outside of the establishment, with a gunshot wound to the back. When police officers arrived on the scene, he had already succumbed.

The big picture

The year began with worrying crime trends, spilling over from 2023, spurring loud calls from the Opposition and citizens alike for the government to amend laws in hopes of curtailing the surging homicide rate and implementing stringent measures against criminals.

The RBPF has maintained that most murders in the country are gang retaliation and some people’s unwillingness to resolve conflicts. But Saunder’s murder, the 35^th for the year, is a rare occurrence since politicians in the Bahamas are not often victims of homicides.

His killing rocked the country as the government and the RBPF continue to grapple with this crime wave and ways to prevent further mayhem by gun violence.

Thirty-five murders from January to March is a startling figure since it is only the first quarter of the year and could spell a troubling pattern for the remainder of 2024.

Though homicides are mostly concentrated in New Providence, Gambier lies farther west of the capital, is a rather quiet community, and is sparsely populated.

Saunders, a lawyer,  won the Tall Pines seat in the 2017 general election, becoming a Member of Parliament until 2021 in the Hubert Minnis administration. He then served as the deputy speaker of the House of Assembly during his party’s period in office.

He was also a counsel in the ongoing Adrian Gibson fraud and bribery trial.

What FNM Party Leader Michael Pintard is saying

Free National Movement Leader Michael Pintard with other party members arrived on the scene in shock, looking on as Saunders’ body was placed in the hearse. He said, “We are trusting that the system is going to work and appealing to Bahamians, everyone who can contribute to bringing justice for him and literally the hundreds of Bahamians who have lost their lives, whose matters have not yet been resolved.”