Local News

Police at FNM meeting was ‘unfortunate’

FORMER Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson said an incident in which police were called in to the Free National Movement headquarters earlier this week to diffuse a situation was “unfortunate”, telling The Tribune “we really don’t want to be in the headlines every week”.

NHI legislation released - but no word on funding

THE draft legislation for the government’s proposed National Health Insurance scheme has been released, but officials yesterday were still uncertain on how the scheme would be funded once implemented.

Strike team found escaped murderer

A POLICE search that lasted two weeks ended Wednesday night when a special team of officers arrested escaped convicted murderer Ormand Leon at a home in bushes on Fire Trail Road.

Cubans held for three years illegally

A LAWYER who yesterday argued for the immediate release of two Cubans who were unlawfully detained in prison for nearly three years criticised the authorities for the apparent hypocrisy concerning respect for the rule of law and due process.

US gives boats to help drug fight

THE United States donated two new vessels to the Royal Bahamas Police Force yesterday as part of efforts to help this country deal with illegal drug trafficking.

Convict gets extra two years in jail for escaping custody

MURDER convict Ormand Leon’s escape from custody warranted more than the two-year maximum penalty that exists on the law books, a magistrate said yesterday.

NHI scheme blasted as ‘a shell of a programme’

FREE National Movement Chairman Michael Pintard blasted the government yesterday for attempting to push through “a shell of a programme” in the absence of the needed prerequisites for National Health Insurance.

Medical team from Cuba arrives in the Bahamas

SIX specialist doctors arrived in The Bahamas from Cuba this week amid concerns about shortages in certain specialist areas, Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) Managing Director Herbert Brown confirmed yesterday.

CLUBS AND SOCIETIES: 02192016

Bahamas Harvest Church. - On January 27, more than 350 students attended a workshop titled “Effectively preparing for the ACT” at Bahamas Harvest Church.

Big Game Club ready for expanded fishing tournament series

THE historic Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina is continuing its tradition of hosting memorable fishing tournaments by announcing an expanded series in 2016, starting next month.

El Faro second mate texted storm warning to captain

BEFORE the freighter El Faro sank, the captain was warned by a text message from his vacationing second mate that a storm looming offshore was forecast to become a hurricane.

NEMA starts shipping building supplies to islands hit by hurricane

THE first set of building supplies to start the rebuilding phase on three Family Islands affected by Hurricane Joaquin last October have been shipped by the National Emergency Management Agency.

UPDATED: Recaptured killer jailed for 41 years

MURDER convict Ormand Leon, who escaped from a police bus two weeks ago, was yesterday sentenced to more than 40 years in prison after a Supreme Court judge found that he was apparently “unwilling” to remain in police custody for the court’s sentencing.

PM: NHI delay likely as govt tries to get it right

PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday said his administration’s main focus is on “getting it right” regarding National Health Insurance in the aftermath of Health Minister Dr Perry Gomez’s revelation that the implementation of the healthcare scheme will “likely” be delayed.

Carnival to have smaller budget - but not yet set

TOURISM Minister Obie Wilchcombe said officials are still working to determine the budget for this year’s Junkanoo Carnival.

The Tribune