Court Orders Columbus Statue Vandal to Pay $7K in Fines

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A vandal who damaged a monument to controversial explorer Christopher Columbus three years ago had been ordered to pay fines and compensation totaling $7,050 to avoid jail time.

Forty-year-old Shervandaze Smith pleaded guilty to causing damage and trespassing when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Kendra Kelly for his trial.

On October 9, 2021, Smith trespassed onto the grounds of Government House and used a sledgehammer to deface the statue, resulting in $2,000 worth of damage.

In passing sentence, Kelly said, “Many Bahamians believe that certain parts of history shouldn’t be celebrated, but we don’t make these decisions on our own. For you to go on government property and destroy a statue is unacceptable.”

Kelly ordered Smith to pay $2,000 in compensation. He also has to pay a $5,000 fine to avoid spending a year in prison on the causing damage charge.

Smith has to pay a $50 fine to avoid spending one month in prison for trespassing.