skip to main | skip to sidebar
Read storyChina has agreed to lend The Bahamas $160 million and has committed to a number of projects, including roadwork and agriculture.
During the visit of several Chinese diplomats, including His Excellency Hui Liangyu, Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, a number of agreements were signed.
The most prominent venture is a $150 million agreement which includes the Airport Highway project as "a high priority".
A second agreement commits $10 million under the title Economic and Technical Cooperation, and will be used toward projects that will be "decided through consultations between the two governments".
Another agreement will allow diplomats of either country to travel to the other nation without the need for a visa, as long as they are staying for less than 30 days.
The final agreement concerns agricultural co-operation, including: farming tropical fruits and vegetables, the production of peas, beans, corn and flowers as well as crab processing and poultry and fish farming.
During the second China-Caribbean Trade Economic Forum in 2007, the Chinese government committed to make more than $5 billion available to the region in the form of low-rate, 30-year loans.
Full Story in The Nassau Guardian here
Full Story in The Tribune here (Page A01)
Read storyA policeman was shot in the leg while investigating reports that a man had an illegal gun in the Nassau Village area.
Officers on patrol around 3.40pm were given information about a man with a gun. The police saw the suspect sitting with other men.
As they approached the group, the man ran off. They chased him into a nearby yard and shots were fired.
Detective Corporal Johnson was shot in the left leg.
After the shooting, police launched a manhunt, covering an area that stretched from Nassau Village to Seabreeze Estates.
Superintendent Ellsworth Moss of the Central Detective Unit said a man was later arrested near Seabreeze.
Full Story in The Nassau Guardian here
Full Story in The Tribune here (Page A01)
Read storyThe mother of a 22-year-old man allegedly shot by police has taken an active role in the inquest into his 2004 death.
Ruth Julian rose several times to ask witnesses about the events surrounding the killing of her son, Lincoln Forbes.
On Tuesday, the first day of the inquest, jurors saw photographs of Lincoln's body, two guns and views of the street, all taken the night of the shooting,
Although a witness testified that he saw a gun in Forbes' hand, the photos show him lying on his back without a gun.
Questioned by Ms Julian as to why he saw a gun when there was none in the photos, the witness - Gavin Ellis – said he did not know but was sure that he saw a gun in Forbes' hand.
Jurors in the inquest also heard from Road Traffic supervisor Dwayne Pratt.
Pratt said he lent his car to a cousin, telling him to come right back. Pratt said he did not see his cousin again that night.
His car was found at the scene of the killing. When Pratt collected his car from a police compound, it had a bullet in the windshield.
The inquest continues on Thursday.
Full Story in The Tribune here (Page A03)
Read storyA second Haitian boat captain was sentenced to four years in jail for his role in a drug seizure worth several million dollars.
Roberson François, 39, pled guilty to four drug-related charges, including possession with intent to supply, drug importation and conspiring to sell cocaine.
He was given four years for each charge but will serve the four sentences at the same time.
François was arrested last week Thursday off Great Inagua when American and Bahamian officers found 600 pounds of cocaine hidden on a boat he was captain of.
Four men and one woman were charged along with the Haitian captain. All have pled not guilty and were denied bail.
The arrest in Great Inagua was one of two seizures from the area that day, which led to the confiscation of 1,400 pounds of cocaine.
See other CBN stories about this subject here
Full Story in The Nassau Guardian here
Read storyKendrick Dames was charged with the Valentine's Day murder of Philip Marcellus.
Dames is accused of stabbing Marcellus to death during a fight on Rocky Pine Road off McKinney Drive.
A preliminary inquiry into the matter will begin next week Tuesday, to determine if there is enough evidence for the matter to go to the Supreme Court.
See other CBN stories about this subject here
The Nassau Guardian
Full Story in The Tribune here (Page A01)
Read storyCustomers had to wait as long as six hours for prescriptions from the Princess Margaret Hospital Tuesday.
A new system that is supposed to speed up pharmacy service is creating the holdup.
The delay is caused when staff collect information from patients who have not been to the hospital since the service was put in place.
Patients must answer a few personal questions before they can be registered.
PMH Public Relations officer Thelma Rolle asked the public to be patient while they make the transition.
Full Story in The Tribune here (Page A03)
Read storyFish-cleaning vendors at Potters Cay Dock are now required to wear uniforms, have their police record on hand and maintain clean facilities.
Assistant Port Controller Craig Curtis said the new rules are aimed at making the area safer.
When Guardian staff visited the site Tuesday, the cleaners were dressed in green overalls and high black water boots.
Fish Cleaners Association supervisor Kevin McKenzie said workers were happy with the new regulations, which also stipulate no drinking or cursing in the area.
The Nassau Guardian
Read storyA man was charged with murder after he went to make a complaint at a local police station.
Officers at the station thought Valdez Bowleg, 26, looked like the sketch of a suspect in the murder of Edward Clarke.
Clarke was shot to death on March 14 last year.
Bowleg is also accused of burglarizing the home of Theophilus Knowles on the same date as Clarke shooting. He is also charged of attempting to rob Knowles with a handgun.
Full Story in The Nassau Guardian here
Full Story in The Tribune here (Page A01)
Read storyAbout half the guests at the El Greco Hotel checked out on Tuesday, fearful after a man was shot nearby.
About 4am Monday, a 28-year-old man told police he was shot after three men called him outside.
The victim, who's injuries were not life-threatening, lives near the Envy nightclub in the Mayfair building. Four a.m. is the club's closing time.
Later Monday morning, 10 of the 24 guests at the El Greco hotel, which is opposite the nightclub, left because they did not feel safe there.
The guests told staff that they had been solicited by prostitutes and that music from the club had kept them awake at night.
Owner of the Mayfair building, Keith Aranaj, said the club is licensed to operate until 4am.
Aranaj said: "Since the nightclub opened people have complained about the noise and I can't blame them for that but they should talk to the woman who rents the place and they should come to some understanding.
Police say they have no evidence of prostitution in the area but are following leads in the shooting matter.
Full Story in The Nassau Guardian here
Full Story in The Tribune here (Page A01)
Read storyA Haitian boat captain was sentenced to four years in jail in connection with the recent seizure of $5 million worth of cocaine.
On Monday, Lucio Blanc pled guilty to four cocaine-related charges including conspiracy to import and supply the drug as well as importation and possession of the drug.
Prosecutor Ercell Dorsette told the court that officers discovered 361 packages of cocaine hidden under planks of a 77-foot vessel captained by Blanc.
Blanc was sentenced to four years for each charge, but will serve all four simultaneously.
Magistrate Carolita Bethel said she did not give the maximum sentence because Blanc admitted his involvement and did not waste the court's time.
The five other men arrested with Blanc pled not guilty and were remanded to custody.
Full Story in The Nassau Guardian here
Full Story in The Tribune here (Page A01)
Read storyGRAND BAHAMA: A police officer accused of accepting two bribes testified that he was offered money but did not take it.
Constable Pierre Martin, 25, is charged with accepting two bribes from Garrick Lewis in 2007, amounting to $2,500.
Martin arrested Lewis on February 5, 2007, and charged him with using obscene language, resisting arresting and threatening to kill him (Officer Martin).
It is alleged that Martin told Lewis that if he gave him $3,000, he would not have to go to court.
Lewis testified that he made two payments to Martin, one for $1,500 and one for $1,000.
Martin testified that Lewis offered him money not to show up in court but he refused. The officer said he did not report the attempted bribe.
He was arrested the morning of September 12, one of the days he was expected to appear as a witness in the case against Lewis.
Officers arrested Martin after he went to pick up ten tightly-wrapped $100 bills that were thrown from a car. He said he did not know what they were until later.
The officer said he had been to all of Lewis' court dates expect one, when asked for a postponement because he was not feeling well.
Martin is presently barred from duty. The case was expected to be put before the jury yesterday.
Full Story in The Nassau Guardian here
Full Story in The Tribune here (Page A01)
Read storyGRAND BAHAMA: A violent crash that ripped a car in half brought the island's traffic fatalities to three for the year.
La'vaughan Munroe, a former member of the Bahamas Davis Cup Team, lost control of his Ford Mustang at about 1:15pm last week Sunday, police said.
Munroe hit a tree on Midshipman Road, which was forceful enough to throw the front end of the car some 45 feet away (see photos here).
Munroe's brother Bjorn, is part of the Bahamas team to this year's Davis Cup in Paraguay.
He was responsible for founding the Munroe Tennis Academy which included children from ages seven-17.
Full Story in The Nassau Guardian here
Full Story in The Tribune here (Page A02 and A11)
Read storyA Florida pilot had to make an emergency landing in Fort Lauderdale after he crashed into a flock of vultures.
The pilot was headed to Bimini when he hit the birds, which cracked the windshield of the small plane. He sustained minor injuries.
Full Story in The Tribune here (Page A01)
Read storyWorld-famous music star Madonna will play the wife of Edward VIII, the former King of England and Governor of The Bahamas, in an upcoming movie.
King Edward gave up the throne in 1936 to marry Simpson, who had already been married once.
According to some accounts, Edward did not enjoy his time in The Bahamas, referring to the country as "a third-class British colony".
Full Story in The Tribune here (Page A05)
Read storyFor the second time in less than a week, a disagreement ended with a stabbing death.
According to police reports, Phillip Marcellus (Guardian spelling = Methuleus), 27, was arguing with a 32-year-old man on near McKinney Drive around 3pm on Valentine's Day.
It is alleged that the two men were fighting about a woman.
The fight got worse and ended when Marcellus was stabbed several times. He was pronounced dead by paramedics on the scene.
Soon after, the alleged attacker turned himself in to the Carmichael Road Police Station.
Marcellus is the 10th homicide of 2009.
Full Story in The Nassau Guardian here
Full Story in The Tribune here (Page A01)
Click here for CBN stories related to the first stabbing death here
Read storyA high-ranking member of the Chinese government will spend Tuesday and Wednesday in The Bahamas this week.
His Excellency Hui Liangyu, Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, will split his time between Nassau and Freeport.
Vice Premier Hui will visit the governor general and prime minister, tour the Atlantis resort, the Clifton Heritage Authority, the Freeport Container Port and the Grand Bahama Shipyard.
This week will include the signing of a comprehensive agreement that concerns agriculture, a loan for infrastructure, a waiver for visa requirements for persons with diplomatic passports and a grant to The Bahamas worth around $10 million according to officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The visit is part of a diplomatic mission to Latin America and the Caribbean. The Vice Premier has already visited Ecuador, Argentina and Barbados.
Full Story in The Nassau Guardian here
Read story
This table is based on information taken from The Nassau Guardian. The numbers came from The Royal Bahamas Defence Force and were released on Sunday.
The numbers in bold are the highest and lowest years.
Read storyGet to know our local politicians better by checking them out Facebook style. Here are a few with profiles or public pages:
Minister of Health Dr Hubert Minnis
Branville McCartney, Minister of State for Immigration
Perry Christie, leader of the Opposition
Former Minister of Public Works Bradley Roberts
-Guardian
Read storyTwo women were charged with stealing $381.64 from the City Markets Food Store at Harbour Bay on Friday.
Cashier Doralee Williamson, 35 and Lindalee Bain, 45 pled not guilty to the February 4th theft.
They return to court on March 11.
They are the second pair of women to be charged with stealing from that City Markets this month. Read about the first here.
-Guardian
Read storyAmerican football star Ray Lewis has bought a home in Rum Cay.
The two-time defensive player of the year owns ocean-front property in the Paradise is Mine development on Rum Cay.
The community has named a street after the NFL star –52 Lewis Lane. Lewis is number 52 for the Baltimore Ravens.
Full Story in The Tribune here (Page A03)
