Local News

27 years in jail for killer of breastfeeding mother

A MAN received a 27-year sentence yesterday for his involvement in the fatal attempted carjacking of a woman who was breastfeeding her baby six years ago.

BEC executives quizzed at bribery trial

FORMER executives at the Bahamas Electricity Corporation were probed yesterday on their knowledge of the Inter-American Development Bank’s role in the bidding process concerning a French company’s tender for the New Providence Expansion Phase Three contract with BEC.

Judge may be held to account by committee

SUPREME Court Justice Indra Charles along with Save The Bays Director Fred Smith, QC, and lawyer Ferron Bethel were named in a resolution yesterday in Parliament for the Committee on Privilege to determine whether they should be held in contempt of the House of Assembly.

Social Services staff ‘used food coupons for themselves’

STAFF members at the Department of Social Services participated in a “fraudulent” scheme in which they used food coupons intended for Bahamians on welfare to purchase groceries, according to Auditor General Terrance Bastian.

Fitzgerald ‘may be held in contempt’

HOUSE Speaker Dr Kendal Major said yesterday that Jerome Fitzgerald may be held in contempt of the House of the Assembly if it is found that the private emails he read in Parliament from members of Save the Bays were obtained illegally.

Speaker shock at injunction

HOUSE Speaker Dr Kendal Major said he was both “astonished” and “offended” by the recent granting of an injunction, which bars members of Parliament from disclosing Save The Bays’ confidential information during proceedings, calling it a “pre-emptive onslaught” against the independence of the lower chamber.

Cold storage facility to help immunisation programme

PUBLIC Health officials yesterday commissioned a newly constructed vaccine cold storage facility as a part of the country’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation.

Documents destroyed in social services dept

DESTRUCTION of government documents at the Department of Social Services raises questions about whether fraud was perpetuated, Auditor General Terrance Bastian noted.

Children among detained migrant group

THREE children, including a two-year-old, were among 16 Haitians intercepted at sea by the US Coast Guard and brought to Grand Bahama on Sunday evening.

Davis dismisses Moss claims on referendum as ‘rubbish’

DEPUTY Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis dismissed Marco City MP Greg Moss’ statements about the motives of parliamentarians pushing the passage of the constitutional referendum’s fourth bill as “rubbish” yesterday.

Activist: Vote is not a waste of time

ACTIVIST Marion Bethel yesterday disagreed with statements made by former Court of Appeal President Dame Joan Sawyer as she called for heightened education and public awareness in the lead up to the gender equality referendum.

International newspaper highlights lack of marital rape laws

THE country’s Sexual Offences Act was identified as “anti-women” by an international news agency over the lack of protection against spousal rape.

Fred Smith disappointed with Parliamentary stance on privilege

FRED Smith, QC, legal director of Save The Bays, said yesterday he was “disappointed” that House Speaker Dr Kendall Major “dismissed as contemptuous” an order handed down by Supreme Court Justice Indra Charles restraining members of Parliament from releasing any information contained in STB private emails.

THE BIG QUESTION: MPs and financial declarations

What do you think should be done to ensure members of Parliament file their financial declarations on time?

100 JAMZ team give support to Sandilands Push/Walkathon

THE TEAM from 100 JAMZ and the “Jambulance” were out early on Saturday morning to support the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre and the Geriatric Hospital at its fifth annual Push/Walkathon at the Sandilands ground on Fox Hill Road.

The Tribune