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Volume: 122 No. 13, December 9, 2024
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: PRICE–$1
GOVT: BOTH VALLEY GROUPS TO COMPETE The two factions will rush in the category A division By RASHAD ROLLE and JADE RUSSELL Tribune New Reporters THE Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture announced last night that both Valley Boys groups will participate in the Category A division of the upcoming parades, the latest twist in a drama that has captured headlines
throughout 2024. The news, which came hours after a top Aliv official told The Tribune that ticket sales are outpacing last year’s sales, adds another dimension to this year’s competition as the two factions get an opportunity to compete against each in front of a live
Police seize $15m worth of cocaine after Acklins plane crash
SEE PAGE 14
‘Lack of water’ cLaimed as severaL homes burn down By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunmedia.net A CLOUD of sadness and gratitude lingers over several families in Harbour Island that lost their homes to a blaze on Thursday night, including 84-yearold Vincent Cleare, Sr, who watched his home of more than 50 years burn to the
ground. Frustrated residents argued that the fire could have been contained if the island had a reliable water supply. Water shortages have been a recurring issue on the island for years. Mr Cleare, Sr, said he had gone to his kitchen for a glass of water when he SEE PAGE THREE
COCAINE worth over $15m was seized by police after a plane crash landed in Spring Point, Acklins, early Friday morning. The drugs are seen here after being transferred to the capital. Photo: Nikia Charlton By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS morning. reports of an aircraft Tribune Staff Reporter Seven men — five Baha- attempting to land on lmunnings@tribunemedia.net mian nationals and two the western section of Colombians — have been the Spring Point airport POLICE seized over arrested in connection with runway. $15.3m worth of suspected the haul. Upon arrival, they disdangerous drugs following The operation began covered a white and blue an aircraft crash in Spring shortly before 2am when Point, Acklins, early Friday officers responded to SEE PAGE FIVE
$3.4m damages claim for ‘breach’ after boating fee portal shutdown By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A FURIOUS legal battle has erupted over a Bahamian payment provider’s $3.473m damages claim for “unlawful political and/or improper patronage” interference that led to the online boating fees portal’s closure. Omni Financial Group and its two affiliates have teamed with Peter Maury,
the Association of Bahamas Marinas (ABM) president, to launch a “breach of contract” and defamation claim against the government over the alleged “irreparable damage” suffered from Ministry of Finance assertions that fees collected from foreign boaters via the SeaZPass portal were not being paid to the Public Treasury as required. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
ASSOC. of Bahamas Marinas president, Peter Maury.
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
35 years jaiL for moLesting grandaughter over five years By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A 62-YEAR-OLD man smirked as he exited court on Friday after being sentenced to 35 years in prison for molesting his granddaughter from May 2019 to January 2024. The defendant, whose name is being withheld to protect the identity of the victim, was found guilty of 22 counts of incest and one count of indecent assault on October 30. Throughout sentencing proceedings, the convict had his head downcast and SEE PAGE SEVEN