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Volume: 119 No.22, December 22, 2021
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WALKING AWAY
ALICIA WALLACE: TOUCHING THE LIVES OF MANY
- SEE PAGE EIGHT
Govt pulls plug on Grand Lucayan deal and is now seeking other investors By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE agreement between the government and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines/ ITM Group for the acquisition of the Grand Lucayan resort has been cancelled. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Chester Cooper yesterday cited bad terms negotiated under the Minnis administration and no clarity on how quickly the project will be advanced. In a statement, Mr Cooper said a Cabinet sub-committee
involving himself, Minister of Economic Affairs Michael Halkitis and Attorney General Ryan Pinder examined the deal and concluded “the way it was structured was not in the best interests of the Bahamian people.” He said on Monday the boards of Lucayan Renewal Holdings Limited and Lucayan Beach Casino Holdings “terminated by mutual consent the 2020 purchase agreement between themselves and the Bahamas Ports Investments Limited, the joint partnership between RCL and ITM Group.” SEE PAGE THREE
FORMER ATLANTIS STAFF TO GET $500 PAYMENT By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net SOME disengaged Atlantis workers can expect to receive a $500 stimulus payment from the National Insurance Board on Christmas Eve. According to State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Myles Laroda, as many as 450 people will receive the benefit at an overall cost to the government of about $250,000. Mr Laroda, who has responsibility for NIB, said
the hardships experienced by these people was a major contributing factor in the Davis administration’s decision to approve the payout. He said the payment was expected to be made no later than noon Friday. “You all know over the past couple of weeks there has been an issue with some disengaged Atlantis workers; (they) were inquiring as to whether they were going to be receiving the $500 stimulus,” the minister said outside Cabinet yesterday. SEE PAGE THREE
WHAT WERE THEY THINKING? THIS picture from social media shows a reported gathering at the weekend of Bahamians - even as Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis prepares to update the nation on Thursday on the fight against COVID-19. Meanwhile, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville warned there could be changes to COVID-19 protocols for large gatherings along with an adjustment at our borders for travellers. See PAGE FOUR for the full story.
DARVILLE RELAXED DESPITE PURCHASE OF NEW J&J COVID OUTBREAK ON SHIP VACCINES IS UNLIKELY By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville says he’s pleased with the COVID-19 protocols put in place by the cruise line industry, while confirming a ship that docked at
Coco Cay in The Bahamas suffered a virus outbreak among passengers on board. According to reports, at least 48 people tested positive for COVID-19 on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas. SEE PAGE FOUR
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said it is very unlikely the government will purchase additional doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, noting
challenges with uptake by the public. The country struggled to convince many Bahamians to receive the one-dose vaccine and faced the risk of the shots expiring due to a surplus supply that was available. SEE PAGE FOUR
MURDER SUSPECT SHOT DEAD BY POLICE By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A 28-YEAR-OLD wanted murder suspect was shot and killed yesterday morning by police in Grand Bahama, ending a twoweek island-wide manhunt. Police said the suspect pointed a gun at officers. The deceased is believed to be Drexton Dominique Belony, who was wanted for the shooting death of a
DREXTON DOMINIQUE BELONY 17-year-old male resident of Pinder’s Point on December 3.
Belony was also being sought for another shooting incident on Monday evening in Freeport, several hours before he was discovered and shot dead by officers in the Hunters area. Assistant Superintendent of Police Stephen Rolle confirmed the Police Control Room received a report about a police-involved shooting in Hunters shortly after 7am. SEE PAGE FIVE
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
TECHNOLOGY - AI, ROBOTS AND SAVING THE OCEANS
- SEE PAGE NINE