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Volume: 121 No.84, March 21, 2024
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: PRICE–$1
GOVT DEFENDS $192K NEW BMW FOR PM By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
THE Office of the Prime Minister defended government’s purchase of a $192,000 BMW for the prime minister after people debated the appropriateness of buying the luxury car when many struggle with the cost of living. Documents about the transaction leaked on social media on Tuesday, sparking heated commentary. The OPM said in a statement yesterday that the BMW replaces a $300,000 Mercedes acquired under the Ingraham
administration in 2011 that four prime ministers used. “For the first time, an electric vehicle was chosen for the Office of the Prime Minister, reflecting broader government policy to transition government vehicles to electric ones, which are cleaner and offer cost-savings over time,” the OPM said. “This vehicle is currently being customised to meet the stringent security and functional requirements necessary for transporting a prime minister. Additionally, a Lexus is currently being repaired and is thus
Irate Opposition rows over shortened House session
SEE PAGE THREE
TAXI FARE RISE GAZETTED, AS BUS DRIVERS STILL WAIT By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net ENERGY and Transport Minister JoBeth Coleby Davis said the long-promised ten per cent taxi fare increase for New Providence drivers has been gazetted, giving nearly 2,000 cab motorists the first increase in over six years.
She said the fare increase has been overdue, and her ministry is also completing the rate adjustment for taxi fares in the Family Islands. Although drivers initially wanted a 25 percent fare increase, Wesley Ferguson, president of the Bahamas Taxi Cab Union, welcomed the 10 per cent. SEE PAGE THREE
By KEILE CAMPBELL kcampbell@tribunemedia.net A LIVELY ending to yesterday morning’s House of Assembly sitting saw Free National Movement (FNM) members stand up and yell that democracy was being flouted. The Official Opposition
protested the governing party’s decision to shorten the debate on the bills, the Boat Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Water Skiing and Motor Boat Control (Amendment) Bill, saying they were not consulted. SEE PAGE FIVE
OPPOSITION leader Michael Pintard (centre) and FNM members of parliamnet Adrian White, Shanendon Cartwright, Kwasi Thompson and Iram Lewis, row over shortened session during yesterday’s sitting of the House of Assembly. Photo: Dante Carrer
ACT AMENDMENT MANDATES BOAT INSURANCE By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net AMENDMENTS to the Boat Registration Act that passed the House of Assembly yesterday mandates that boat owners have a comprehensive insurance policy and outlines inspection requirements and registration fees. The changes are contained in the Boat
MINISTER of Works and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting Registration
Bill 2024 and the Water Skiing and Motor Boat Control Amendment Bill. Transport and Energy Minister Jobeth ColebyDavis said the boat registration amendment bill would strengthen inspection requirements under the Boat Registration Act by requiring every boat to be submitted for inspection to the New Providence Port
Amendment
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OFFICER SHED TEARS OVER VIDEO SHOWN AT INQUEST By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A POLICE officer choked up and cried in court as she recalled when a fellow officer killed 18-yearold Kwondrick Lowe near Kemp Road last year as the Coroner’s Court inquest into the killing continued yesterday. Constable Shaniqua Nicholas testified that SEE PAGE FOUR