Immigration officials detained 44 suspected illegal immigrants on Tuesday.
Acting on tips, the Department of Immigration started surveillance at several locations around New Providence.
Of those detained, 2 were released. The remaining detainees included:
32 Haitians - 26 men, 4 women, 2 kids
9 Jamaicans - 5 men, 3 women 1 child
The next day, Wednesday, the Immigration Department chartered a Bahamasair jet to repatriate 108 Haitians, including 79 men, 24 women and 5 children.
Last week the Immigration Dept. and Royal Bahamas Defense Force arrested 58 illegal immigrants at Fire Trail Road, the Coral Harbour roundabout and South Ocean.
The immigrants included:
53 Haitians - 43 men, 6 women, 4 children
2 Canadians, 1 Jamaican, 1 Mexican and 1 Portuguese
-Guardian and Tribune
Prime Minister Ingraham advised students of the College of the Bahamas who are having trouble paying tuition to continue going to class. The PM said arrangements will be made to defer and reschedule their payments.
-Tribune
In his New Years address to the nation Thursday night, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said his government will target corruption and raise standards in the country's critical agencies, even if it means political consequences:
"We fully intend to work towards a new culture of excellence in the service of the Bahamian people, a culture of ethical conduct on the part of those who serve, a culture that is hostile to slackness and corrupt practices. We expect that some elements of this process will be painful and we fully expect to be criticized."
-Tribune
Court employees complained of mold growing on the walls and ceilings.
Workers at the Victoria Gardens facility are upset about mold growing in the Coroner's court as well as Magistrates Court's 2 (Juvenile cases) and 3 (Family cases).
Anthony Ryan, a senior lab technician from the Department of Environmental Health Services said while the mould could make a breathing problem worse but would not kill anyone.
Ryan said he has submitted a report on the matter to the Health Services Director.
-Tribune
As of next week Tuesday, the Paradise Island Bridge will no longer use coin or token machines in an effort to speed up traffic flow.
Transponder users are encouraged to use lane 4.
-Guardian
The Prime Minister also said that Bahamians could expect a number of big projects this year, including:
- A new stadium donated by People's Republic of China
- Redevelopment of Downtown
- A new straw market
- Government office complexes in New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco
- A new school in Oakes Field
- New Registrar General's office on Mackey Street
- New Magistrates court complex on South Street
- New government office building next to the Ministry of Works on John F Kennedy Drive, and
- Construction and repair of sea and airports on select Family Islands
-Tribune
Former United States Ambassador to The Bahamas, John Rood has been named finance chairman for the Republican party in Florida.
Rood raised $300,000 for the party before he was appointed ambassador in 2004.
Rood was replaced by George W Bush appointee Ned Siegel, who left for his native Florida this month.
A new ambassador will be selected by President Barack Obama.
-Tribune
Two male students of Jack Hayward High School were charged with stabbing three students while at the school.
The pair, one 18 years old and the other 16, are charged with causing grievous harm to the students.
They were each granted $1,000 bail. The matter was adjourned to July 2nd.
A 22-year-old man was arrested on Meadow Street with 125 packages of suspected cocaine just after 2am Thursday.
A concerned citizen called police after finding a plastic bag with a revolver and 41 live rounds around 10am Wednesday.
Police are questioning four people about the shooting death of 32-year-old Onando Newbold. Newbold was shot several times in Nassau Village on Sunday.
Chief Superintendent Glen Miller, CDU head said there are conflicting reports about the motivation for the killing, some suggesting it was over a woman, some pointing to drugs.
-Tribune
