By CELESTE NIXON
Tribune Staff Reporter
cnixon@tribunemedia.net
GOVERNOR General Sir Arthur Foulkes said he was "shocked" to hear that the historic throne from which he read the Speech from the Throne disappeared last week.
Yesterday, the Tribune was allowed to see the throne that was recovered over the weekend and returned safely to Government House.
Sir Arthur said: "I was shocked, I could not believe it. I could not see why someone would steal it - for what purpose?"
The priceless heirloom went missing on Wednesday following the opening of Parliament. The special chair was used by Sir Arthur during the ceremony in the public square to deliver the Speech from the Throne.
The chair was presented as a gift to the Bahamas government by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh - the duke's name and presentation date April 24, 1959 is inscribed on a brass plaque at the back of the chair.
Earlier in the day the throne chair, a small table, a drinking glass, and another chair, to be used by Sir Arthur's wife during the ceremony, was taken by Government House staff to the public square in preparation for the ceremony.
After the ceremony, the throne chair, the table, drinking glass and extra chair were moved to the House of Assembly for safe keeping.
Around 3 o'clock that afternoon a man driving a van arrived at the House. He told the assistant clerk that he had been sent by Government House to collect the throne chair.
It is understood that he was informed that there were also a table, drinking glass and another chair that had to be returned to Government House.
Supt Stephen Dean, who is in charge of the Central Division, said police have a man in custody for questioning, but would not release his name.
He said the man claimed to have been given permission to take the items from the House of Assembly.
It is understood that CCTV evidence led police near to the British Colonial Hilton where it was said the items were discovered.
Mr Dean said the man told officials at the House of Assembly he was there to collect the items and that they were then simply given to him.
However, Sir Arthur said no such permission had been granted.
Sir Arthur said it will be up to the police whether criminal charges will be brought.
Comments
TalRussell 11 years, 10 months ago
From Independence to a valvet-cushioned Royal Throne being returned for one of our own to sit his fanny on. Comrades really!
http://thetribune.media.clients.ellin...">Future King to reign over Bahamland? Comrades really! by TalRussell
positiveinput 11 years, 10 months ago
Sir Arthur said it will be up to the police whether criminal charges will be brought. Lets review, Casper the Ghost gave you permission to pick up priceless heirloom which I'm sure if so was to be returned to Government House, NOT to some location near The Hilton. Then Clerk 'Stupidoe' gave you the mentoned articles with no authorised letter or sort, yet criminal charges could be an option. SLACKNESS! SLACKNESS! SLACKNESS! The only person whom criminal charges should be obtional for is Clerk "Stupidoe' and still he should find himself on the unemployment line by now. If the items were indeed your responsibility to return, you would have been the first to have known that they were reported missing. Yet the whole Bahamaland knew yet you never cleared it up that instead of dropping them to The Government House, you figured they was safer near the Hilton but since everyone making a big deal thinking the 'throne' missing, you coming to bring it now.
If the clerk who gave you the items was not apart of your act, then what you did was deceive a government employee, and stole priceless articles which should not go unpunished. That took balls what you did because like regular thieves, they wait until no one is around to strike but you, you got a pair of goat balls hanging there.
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