The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

POLICE Commissioner Ellison Greenslade said yesterday he is not aware of a complaint of theft of more than $20,000 from the Bahamas National Festival Commission.

His comments to the media after the opening ceremony of the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s 22nd summer youth camp came a day after BNFC Chairman Paul Major confirmed that police were brought in to investigate the matter.

“No I don’t know anything,” Mr Greenslade told reporters when asked about the matter on Monday.

“I can’t speak to that this morning (if police interviewed some people). I’ve only seen some stuff in the newspapers but I have not been briefed on any of that. No one has spoken to me on it inside the department or outside. I can’t speak to it.”

Mr Major, when contacted on Sunday about the reports that reached The Tribune, said: “I would tell you that there is an irregularity and it was forwarded to the police.”

“That is all I will say on that,” he added.

He declined to comment any further on whether the “irregularity” would affect or further delay the release of the Junkanoo Carnival revenue and economic impact figures that he had promised to the public within 21 days of the conclusion of the inaugural event.

According to well-placed sources, two persons employed with the commission were being questioned by police concerning the theft of some $24,000 from the BNFC.

The money was reportedly stolen through cheques that were drawn on the name of one of the employees who cashed them at a local bank, The Tribune understands. Attempts to reach head of the Central Detective Unit, Chief Superintendent Paul Rolle were unsuccessful yesterday.

A person tried and convicted of stealing in Magistrate’s Court can face a fine and/or up to five years imprisonment. The punishment for the latter is doubled if tried and convicted in the Supreme Court.