Judge judges Judge for bad judgment

Read storyLawyers say a Supreme Court judge forced them to accept an accountant by threatening to leave the court room if they did not agree.

Senior Justice Anita Allen criticized Justice John Lyons' decision to appoint the brother of a woman that he was "more than friends with" in a ruling on Tuesday.

Daniel Ferguson, the accountant, was chosen to review financial documents in a matter to decide how profits should be shared between three unnamed parties.

Lawyers in the matter said Lyons had forced the accountant on them, threatening to leave the court if they objected. When asked if his actions were an ultimatum Lyons replied, "you bet it is".

Full story in The Nassau Guardian here

Full story in The Tribune here

Students left with no insurance

Read storyStudents at at least seven public schools are without insurance because of the liquidation of CLICO.

School officials are being forced to get special permission for field trips and are not sure what to do to make sure the children are protected.

Like other policy holders they are hopeful that some good news will emerge as the liquidation continues.

The school's affected include: C.R. Walker Senior High, C.V. Bethel Senior High, S.C. McPherson Junior High, E.P. Roberts Primary, Garvin Tynes Primary, Oakes Field Primary, and Thelma Gibson Primary.

Full story in The Nassau Guardian here Page A-1

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Ministry investigates expired drugs

Read storyThe Ministry of Health said it is investigating claims that an Elizabeth Estates Clinic gave out expired insulin.

Health authorities said so far they have found adequate supplies of several types of insulin in stock at the Elizabeth Estates Clinic pharmacy and that the earliest expiration date is October 2009 and that most expire in 2010 or 2011.

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Full story in The Nassau Guardian here

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Bahamian student earns top honour at Florida military school

Read storyA Bahamian student has been named one of the top students at the Admiral Farragut Academy in St Petersburg, Florida.

William Saunders III will have his name added to a school plaque listing their top achievers at a special unveiling ceremony on April 3.

During his three years at the academy, Saunders was president of both the Key and Lion's Clubs as well as captain of the sailing, soccer, and track and field teams.

Saunders managed all this in addition to military responsibilities including head of all the school dormitories and playing a leading ceremonial role when the school staged parades.

At age 16 he piloted a plane when former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush Sr visited the school having earned a pilot’s licence before he could drive.

Full story in The Tribune here

Foreign minister says gets e-passport now

Read storyMinister of Foreign Affairs Brent Symonette has advised Bahamians whose passports are set to expire this year to apply for an e-Passport now to avoid the traditional summer rush at the Passport Office.

Full story in The Tribune here

Group plans exciting projects for children with vision challenges

Read storyIn an effort to ensure that the country's blind and visually impaired children have access to medical, financial, rehabilitative, psychological and educational resources, The Bahamas Foundation for Blind and Visually Impaired Children was launched last week.

The foundation’s projects include:

• A national registry for blind and visually impaired children
  
• An educational newsletter for parents
  
• Parent retreats and seminars
  
• On-call personnel and home visits
  
• A resource unit to provide parenting information, Braille books, toys and assistive aids
  

 The foundation also intends to highlight the accomplishments of blind and visually impaired children through an annual awards banquet.

Parents of blind and visually impaired children can attend meetings of the Bahamas Foundation for Blind and Visually Impaired Children (BFBVIC) at the Salvation Army Adult Blind Workshop on the third Thursday of every month at 6pm.

Full story in The Tribune here

Manatee is Rum Cay's newest resident

Read storyRUM CAY: A manatee was discovered in the Rum Cay Marina last week.

Concerned that the animal was not moving, Dan Vernon contacted the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation (BMMRO) in Nassau, who told him to make sure it got plenty of fresh water.

Residents are hoping the BMMRO will help rescue the animal, which they have named Crusoe after the fictional castaway.

Full story in The Tribune here

April is coastal awareness month

Read storyThe Coastal Awareness Committee of The Bahamas has announced its activities for April, which is National Coastal Awareness Month.

• March 30: a lecture at The College of The Bahamas
  
• April 4 and April 25: Clean-ups at Nassau Harbour
  
• April 24: National T-shirt Day
  
• April 27 - May 9: Marine exhibition at the Marathon Mall featuring a traveling exhibit created by Florida State University entitled “Our Reefs - Caribbean Connections”
  
• May 15 deadline: Primary and Secondary School competitions
  
  

Full story in The Nassau Guardian here

Police name man killed after car chase

Read storyPolice have identified the man who was shot in a recent chase as 22-year-old Ronald Jean of Fire Trail Road.

Police continue to search for the other man in the car with Jean, who ran off when the car stopped.

Full story in The Nassau Guardian here Page A-1

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PLP company chief said government is attacking his company

Read storyA local businessman says since he ran for election for the PLP, the government has tried to close his shipping business.

Jackson Ritchie, CEO of Global United, said he has had to lay off 160 staff because of the government's attacks.

In a press statement, Ritchie said before the election he got a call saying the Customs department would attack him. Later, the department demanded that he pay his debts in cash.

Ritchie said although his company does owe the government millions of dollars, the debt is less than 10% of the $70-$80 million it pays annually. He said this figure is well within acceptable limits.

Full story in The Nassau Guardian here

Full story in The Tribune here