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AG drops case against Sandals L! ADS SEL PHOTO 351
ROLLINS TRIES TO ‘TAKE OVER’ BUTLER-TURNER FNM EVENT ON LONG ISLAND
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By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net  LONG Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner yesterday accused Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins of attempting to “take over� a Free National Movement town hall meeting in Long Island on Monday night by bringing his supporters to the event organised by the party to officially endorse her. Mrs Butler-Turner told The Tribune that Dr Rollins came to the meeting with a “handful� of people who began campaigning for him to be the next Member of Parliament for Long Island. However, Mrs ButlerTurner said Dr Rollins and his group were outnumbered by her supporters and his attempt to “hijack� the event “fizzled�. SEE PAGE THREE
Union in shock over nolle prosequi signed on day of 600 job cuts By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net COURT proceedings against Sandals Royal Bahamian and two of its senior executives brought by union officials were dropped by order of the Attorney-General on the day the Cable Beach resort terminated nearly 600 staff to facilitate a $4m renovation programme, it has emerged. Allyson Maynard-Gibson gave a ‘nolle prosequi’ (no prosecution) direction to the Magistrate’s Court to discontinue the criminal action on August 15, a move which Obie Ferguson, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) president, described as adding “insult to injury�. Mr Ferguson said that the entire trade union movement was “very, very, very shocked� by Mrs MaynardGibson’s directive and accused the Government of
betraying and deceiving the Bahamas Hotel, Maintenance and Allied Workers Union (BHMAWU), and all workers, by not being “up front� about its actions and intentions. He pointed out that while the TUC’s BHMAWU affiliate, and other trade unions, have been engaged in talks with the Government for more than a month in a bid to resolve the Sandals situation and other matters, the ‘nolle prosequi’ was signed and dated August 15. Mr Ferguson said neither Prime Minister Perry Christie, nor Mrs MaynardGibson, had disclosed the ‘no prosecution’ directive’s existence despite meeting several times with the unions over the past five to six weeks. He added that the directive was only brought to light during court proceedings on Monday.
By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
SEE PAGE SIX
SMITH DEFENDS COMMITTEE OVER LACK OF CONTACT WITH BAHA MAR EMPLOYEES By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  FORMER State Finance Minister James Smith, chairman of the committee overseeing Baha Mar payouts, yesterday defended the work of the committee amid criticism that former resort employees have yet to be contacted regarding money they are owed. He stressed that “everyone would get what was due
CHIPMAN POST UNCERTAIN WHILE FNM USE SEAT AS ‘BAIT’
to them at the end of the month�. While Mr Smith said he was unsure of the system in place to contact the former workers, he said he was certain this process was already in motion and that the committee was working “diligently around the clock�. The Tribune contacted him yesterday after receiving several complaints from people who once worked at SEE PAGE SIX
OMAR Roberts arrives at court yesterday.
Photos: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff
FIREARMS TRAFFICKING SUSPECT FACES COURT OVER 30 CHARGES By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net A MAN accused of being the mastermind behind a firearms trafficking ring pleaded not guilty to 30 firearm offences levied against him in Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon. Omar Roberts, of Lumumba Lane, was brought before Magistrate Constance Delancy to face seven counts of “introduction of a revolver into the Bahamas,� six counts of “introduction of ammunition into the Bahamas�, eight counts of “conspiracy to introduce a revolver into the Bahamas� and six counts of “possession of ammunition with intent to supply.� He also faced a count each of “conspiracy to introduce ammunition into the Bahamas,� possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of unlicensed revolvers with intent to supply, which rounded out the 30 offences he is alleged to have committed on September 16. Roberts denies conspiring with others to bring in, possess and distribute a Betonics .45 pistol, a Hi-Point .380 pistol, a Beretta 9mm JESSIE ROBERTS, who is also accused of one SEE PAGE SEVEN offence, arrives at court yesterday.
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AS the Free National Movement continues efforts to fortify its base ahead of the 2017 general election, there is some uncertainty over the future of St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman, as the FNM is said to be using the “sure seat� as bait to attract a “financially capable� candidate to its ranks. According to a source familiar with the party’s thinking, the FNM has delayed all communication with Mr Chipman as it moves “diligently to venture through all of its possibilities� for St Anne’s. SEE PAGE SIX
GRAY DEFENDS POTTER’S CAY $9M PROJECT By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
AGRICULTURE Minister V Alfred Gray yesterday continued his defence of the Potter’s Cay redevelopment plans, contending that the $9m proposed for the scope of works to be carried out by his ministry will guarantee Bahamians “the very best at the absolute lowest cost�. Responding to questions on the finalisation of the proposals put forward by his ministry to Cabinet, the MICAL MP argued that a lack of clarification over the SEE PAGE FIVE
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