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Volume: 112 No.225
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
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D’Aguilar slams Baha Mar buyer
POLICE FIND BODY OF DEAD MAN IN STREET By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
POLICE detectives are asking the public to assist them in solving the latest homicide that occurred in the capital early yesterday morning. The murder happened on Peach Street and Montrose Avenue and brought the SEE PAGE SIX
FNM candidate MUSIC STAR KRAVITZ BRINGS A SMILE TO COMMUNITY claims business linked to crime By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Baha Mar Director Dionisio D’Aguilar declared yesterday that the recently announced prospective buyer of Baha Mar, Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, is “unsuited to invest in The Bahamas”. In a missive directed at Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts, Mr D’Aguilar pointed to the Cheng Yu Tung family’s - owners of CTFE - inability to obtain casino licensing in two US states, and its alleged “well-documented connection to organised crime in Asia”. When contacted before Mr D’Aguilar’s statement was released, Tourism Min-
ister Obie Wilchcombe said the government has not received a letter of intent to operate a casino from CTFE, but expects such a proposal to be sent within the next two days. Mr Wilchcombe told The Tribune that upon receipt of the LOI, the government will begin due diligence on the Hong Kong conglomerate to ensure that any decision made is in the best interest of the country, the Bahamian people, and the gaming industry. Responding to widespread demands for more transparency from the government on this matter, Mr Wilchcombe explained that the government has only had two preliminary meetings with CTFE. SEE PAGE THREE
GALANIS BACKS CALLS FOR MORE DETAILS OVER BAHA MAR DEAL By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
FORMER PLP MP Philip Galanis yesterday echoed the Official Opposition’s criticism of the “drip drip” pace of details concerning the remobilisation and future sale of Baha Mar, and added to growing concerns over the apparent rise in Chinese influence. Mr Galanis said yesterday that the government’s failure to address the “real concern expressed by many” in a clear and systematic way, had long be-
come a non-partisan issue. “It requires bold, clear, concise, leadership,” Mr Galanis said, “to articulate exactly what is going on and the impact in the long term, and that has not been done.” He continued: “Explaining who the respective investors are, the time frame for approval, what concessions are being granted; any reasonable person should ask for that, I think if you’re an intelligent Bahamian, you have a right to know.” SEE PAGE THREE
SINGER-songwriter Lenny Kravitz with an Eleuthera resident after he helped to stage a free dental clinic in Gregory Town. The event, held in partnership with the GLO Good Foundation, saw a host of residents treated between October 20 and October 23. Mr Kravitz said of the clinic: “This is where I live. This is my home. It’s a privilege to be able to bring things to the people that are needed.” See page 13 for the full story. Photo: Mathieu Bitton
FNM DEPUTY CALLS FOR THOROUGH ACCOUNT OF HURRICANE SPENDING EAST Grand Bahama MP Peter Turnquest has demanded that the Christie administration provide a thorough accounting of hurricane relief spending. In a press statement released yesterday, the Free National Movement deputy leader said it appears to be a routine of the government to collect cheques, spend public funds and not give an account of how the money has been spent. “The PLP government’s
minster handpicked by Prime Minister Christie to head national hurricane relief efforts, Shane Gibson, stated this past week among other questionable things, that the Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville has spent near or over one million dollars on clean up on Grand Bahama Island within weeks since the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew,” Mr Turnquest said. “This is further evidence
of this government’s reckless disregard for transparency when it comes to the people’s monies. While there is no attempt here to politicise the devastation left by Hurricane Matthew, I, and by extension the Free National Movement, hold a sacred obligation to the residents of Grand Bahama and the wider Bahamas to assure a detailed account of funds being handled on SEE PAGE SIX
SEARS: CONVENTION DELAY WILL LET ME CAMPAIGN By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party leadership challenger Alfred Sears said the party’s decision to delay its convention gives him an opportunity to reach more delegates. The PLP’s National Gen-
eral Council voted Thursday night to postpone the party’s convention until January or February of next year due to the damage caused by Hurricane Matthew to several islands. A January or February convention would coincide with the time frame in which the PLP is expected to ramp up its campaign for
the next general election. As to how the PLP would accommodate Mr Sears in election rallies as a leadership contender, he said: “Due process will require that a nominee for leadership of the party, and any other nominee of the party for any leadership position, SEE PAGE FIVE
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
MAN RUN OVER BY DUMP TRUCK AT LYFORD CAY By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
TWO men died as a result of traffic accidents this weekend - one in the Lyford Cay community in New Providence and the other in Grand Bahama. Police officers from the Traffic Division were called to the security entrance of the exclusive gated community on Saturday after 9am due to reports that a male pedestrian had been run over by a dump truck. The victim, whose identity has been withheld pending an official identification by next of kin, was pronounced dead at the scene. However he is said to be a married father of two in his 40s, who was employed by a resident of Lyford Cay. SEE PAGE SIX