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PM: China’s call to seal records L! ADS SEL PHOTO 351 002 / 502-2
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Christie defends Baha Mar secrecy By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie gave his most extensive defense yet of the sealing of Baha Mar documents in the Supreme Court yesterday, telling parliamentarians such a process was standard and that global businesses cannot be expected to conduct their “sensitive negotiations� in the media. He told the House of Assembly that the documents were sealed at the request of the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM). On the controversial issue of concessions, he said China Construction America (CCA) will be given the same concessions by his government that were given under the Hotel Encouragement Act by the former Ingraham administration. He said advisers have instructed him that so long as the documents are sealed, he should refrain from revealing details about the deal struck between the government and CEXIM. “Much has been made of the fact that the arrangements are currently under seal in the Supreme Court of the Bahamas,� he said in the House of Assembly. “The application to have the documents sealed was made by the China ExportImport Bank. This kind of seal is standard, especially SEE PAGE THREE
200 WEB SHOPS HAVE CLOSED, SAYS WILCHCOMBE
By KHRISNA VIRGIL Tribune Staff Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  THE government’s “keen eye� on zoning has to date resulted in the closure of around 200 web shops across the country, Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe said yesterday. He stressed that officials were keeping watch on where web shops were being built as the government aims to discourage the proliferation of gaming houses near communities, schools and churches. He added that the Gaming Board is expected to submit a report within the next several days recommending the gaming house operators who should be awarded licences to run web shops. SEE PAGE SIX
GEORGE SMITH WANTS TO RUN IN NORTH EXUMA SEAT
SOME of the DNA protestors in Rawson Square yesterday.
Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff
DNA PROTESTORS DEMAND ‘UNSEAL THE DEAL’ By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net  MORE than 50 Democratic National Alliance supporters, led by party leader Branville McCartney, protested in Rawson Square yesterday as they demanded that Prime Minister Perry
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Christie “unseal the deal� with the Chinese over the stalled Baha Mar resort. Donned in green DNA shirts, armed with placards and chanting “enough is enough� and “we want answers and we want it now�, protesters marched from the General Post Office building on East Hill Street
to Rawson Square agitating for the prime minister to reveal the particulars of the deal he announced has been reached with Chinese officials to remobilise the Cable Beach resort. The protestors also called for the entire Christie administration to demit office, as they rallied behind
their leader in his criticism of the government over several controversial matters that have transpired under its current term, which Mr McCartney said shows how “untruthful� the government has been with Bahamians. SEE PAGE THREE
FURTHER UPDATE EXPECTED TODAY ON CONFIRMED ZIKA VIRUS CASES By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
HEALTH officials are expected to update the nation on the latest confirmed Zika cases today. Health Minister Dr Perry Gomez on Tuesday told The Tribune that the Ministry of Health was monitoring four new cases of the virus, pushing the na-
tion’s total to eight. The Tribune understands that officials will offer up some insight today into the new cases in an effort to quell public fears over the virus. In the wake of Tuesday’s announcement, Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe said his ministry intends to hold a major conference early next week for industry stakeholders.
Mr Wilchcombe said he was concerned over the current trajectory of the virus, and as a result, recognised a need for stakeholders to come together and ensure that they were doing all possible to guard devaluation of the country’s tourism product. “We are obviously very concerned because the SEE PAGE 13
By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net  FORMER member of Parliament for Exuma George Smith has officially requested to be the Progressive Liberal Party’s candidate for a proposed North Exuma seat in the upcoming general election, The Tribune has learned. In a letter dated August 24, 2016 addressed to Prime Minister Perry Christie, Mr Smith said after being “encouraged� by Exuma residents he is prepared to offer himself for a “portion of a single term� in order to build a “cordial� relationship between the government and the people of Exuma. SEE PAGE SIX
TEEN MURDER SUSPECT SAYS VICTIM HAD PUNCHED HIM
By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net A TEEN accused of murder told police that 16-yearold Adonai Wilson accosted and punched him while armed with brass knuckles on the day he was killed. But the accused teen alleged that he defended himself then ran away from the fight and did not see who fatally stabbed Wilson. The teenager opted out of giving testimony under oath yesterday concerning the events that led to the death of his schoolmate. SEE PAGE TEN
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