FOREIGN Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell.
By PAVEL BAILEY
FOREIGN Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell said the government has asked Italian officials for the files connected to the investigation of the deaths of two Bahamian men who died mysteriously in 2019, but have yet to receive them.
Bahamians Alrae Ramsey and Blair John were found dead in Italy on June 4 and June 5, 2019. Their bodies were discovered lifeless in the Po river in Turin. While the autopsy reported that their deaths were likely accidental as a result of drowning, their families have rejected that explanation and are still seeking answers.
When asked if any new steps are being taken to revisit the investigation, Mr Mitchell said he had requested the files on the incident from Italian officials since last October, but has yet to receive them.
“Here’s the issue. When I visited Italy last year I believe that was last October I saw the foreign minister of Italy, or the deputy foreign minister I believe, raised the question of us getting ahold of the files themselves, so that we could have our experts look at the files to see what happened,” Mr Mitchell said on the sidelines of an event.
“The previous government had also hired a private lawyer to coordinate that approach to the Italian government. We were told during that visit that within two weeks we would get the file. We’ve been trying to get the file, still can’t get the file and we’re still working to get the file.”
While he indicated that he is still trying to retrieve the files from Italian authorities before the government goes further, Mr Mitchell said he plans to honour his party's pledge to give closure to the victims' families.
“What we thought is that we needed to have our own people look at the file to be sure that we were satisfied that all has been done to deal with it. And the fact is we are stepping quite gingerly because when you open these things up, family members, it’s a real sensitive thing.
“But people want closure and so we had made a pledge in opposition that we would do all we can to get to a proper answer on this and so that is what we are seeking to do,” the Fox Hill MP said.
Ramsey, a 29-year-old foreign service officer on study leave in Vienna, was reportedly in Turin on a break. He and his friend, John, were staying at a bed and breakfast establishment at Via la Loggia 2 in Turin.
John, a 28-year-old Saint Mary’s University graduate student, was there to attend a psychology conference.
Both men attended the same high school, Saint Augustine’s College in New Providence.
Comments
stillwaters 2 years ago
We have so many issues that need immediate attention......can't Fred find something more pressing to deal with right now? Is he bored? This seems to be a dead issue...one of those mysterious unsolved cases. Haiti has very few trees left in their country...they have cut all down and are now starting to cut ours down to ship coal home. Isn't that infinitely more pressing, Fred?
tetelestai 2 years ago
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tribanon 2 years ago
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Bobsyeruncle 2 years ago
Fwreddy Boy and a couple of his friends are looking for a few lavish vacation trips to the finer places in Italy this coming Summer at the expense of Bahamian taxpayers.
You beat me to it.
quavaduff 2 years ago
Fred should spend his valuable time helping Brave solve this sudden surge of murders right here in good ole Nassau. Once getting a better grip on that, then pursue this tragic mystery.
tetelestai 2 years ago
So the deaths of two Bahamians, in a foreign country, shouldn't be looked into by the Foreign Affairs minster. Idiot.
tribanon 2 years ago
Sounds like you were planning on being part of Fwreddy Boy's big entourage of vacationers in Italy this Summer at the Bahamian taxpayer's expense.
Emilio26 2 years ago
And it sounds to me like you're jealous because you can't afford to travel Europe. Who knows maybe you don't even have a passport.
tribanon 2 years ago
ZZZZZZzzzzzzz........
moncurcool 2 years ago
You don't know when you visited, not sure who you saw, and then talk about have our experts look at the case? To do what? Our experts cannot deal with crime in our own country how the heck they will do it for others? Unbelievable!
bahamianson 2 years ago
Experts? We have experts?
tribanon 2 years ago
@Emilio26 is their chief expert. LMAO
Bigrocks 2 years ago
hey, a bunch of folks can go to Italy for 6 months to check it all out with all exspenses paid. Report probably stay the same.
TalRussell 2 years ago
Must give praise to Thee Mr. Minnis, who showed his toughness as a prosecutor by making it a criminal activity by his ordering the onthe spot arrest of any Popoulaces caught acting unlawfully which included Not shopping by The Alphabet, Jogging, Swimming, Venturing Beyond the four walls their Designated Place of Residence, and...Redefining The Meaning of what it means to be Homeless,** The Coconut Waters Street Vendors attempting scratch up sufficient buy themselves a $5 buy KFC 1 piece Chicken Meal Deal, and residents who depended upon venturing out to The Neighborhood Pump Waters, ― Yes?
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