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Volume: 112 No.137
FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016
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Weekend
Britain votes Out Prom time UK favours exit from EU - see page 10
‘Absent’ Minnis blasted By TANEKA THOMPSON Tribune News Editor tmthompson@tribunemedia.net
CENTRAL Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant had strong words for Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis’ performance during the wrap up of the 2016/2017 budget debate, saying the Killarney MP showed “no interest” in the head-by-head exercise and seemed unprepared. Mr Grant, leader of opposition business in the House, said he was sure Dr Minnis had not studied the budget and that his behaviour was “most disturbing” and “disrespectful.” He also accused Dr Minnis of abandoning ship by leaving the House session around 2.30am Thursday under
THE conviction rate for Supreme Court cases up to April of this year was 71 per cent, a dramatic improvement from the 31 per cent that was recorded by the end of 2012, Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson revealed yesterday
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PELICANS HAVE A NEW BEST BUDDY
Neko Grant slams leader’s display in Budget debate the guise of not feeling well as other parliamentarians stayed behind to finish the work of Parliament. Before members of Parliament vote on and pass the budget, they routinely go through the heads of government ministries and departments, with members of the Official Opposition raising questions about matters of concern. Mr Grant’s scathing assessment of Dr Minnis’ performance, or lack thereof, in the House of Assembly was outlined in an email to the party
leader and other members of the FNM. The Tribune has also obtained the email. “Mr Leader, you would be aware that the subject provides an opportunity to highlight the government ministers’ shortcomings and their incompetence,” the email said. “A time when we opposition members should be on our ‘A’ game ready to pinpoint and call out the government’s shortcomings, as they are never prepared for it. SEE PAGE SIX
CONVICTION RATE NOW 71%, DISABLED MAN SHOT DEAD SAYS ATTORNEY GENERAL By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
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during her contribution to the budget debate in the Senate. Up to April of this year, the acquittal rate was 29 per cent. “We have increased the number of criminal courts to ten,” Mrs Maynard-Gibson said as she highlighted the successes of her office in the past four years. SEE PAGE NINE
IN GRAND BAHAMA
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A DISABLED man was found shot dead in a shack in the Pioneer’s Loop Subdivision on Thursday evening, pushing the country’s murder count to 59 for the year. It was the 10th homicide to occur in Grand Bahama this year. While police have not released the victim’s identity, The Tribune understands that the deceased is believed to be Corey Thompson. According to Inspector Terecita Pinder, police received reports of gunshots heard in the Coco Plum Street area shortly after 6.30pm and dispatched officers to the area. On arrival, police discovered the lifeless body of SEE PAGE SIX
BAHAMIAN Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield reacts after being chosen by the New Orleans Pelicans as the sixth pick in the National Basketball Association (NBA) draft yesterday. See Sports for more.
MINNIS PROMISES REFERENDUM ON BAHA MAR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IF HE BECOMES PM DEVELOPER IS By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net
OPPOSITION Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday if he is elected prime minister, he would hold a referendum on capital punishment “as soon as possible”. In an interview with The Tribune, Dr Minnis said he
would immediately seek to amend the Constitution to remove the UK-based Privy Council as the highest court of appeal for murder convicts. Dr Minnis said in the case of murder convictions, if the trial judge feels the nature and circumstances of SEE PAGE NINE
LOAN CANCELLATION ‘WILL NOT AFFECT’ COLLEGE TRANSITION TO UNIVERSITY By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net THE College of the Bahamas’ cancellation of a $16.1m loan from the Caribbean Development Bank will not deter the institution’s transition
into a university, officials said in a statement last night. The loan agreement was signed in December 2104 to fund specific capacity building and capital development initiatives. SEE PAGE THREE
‘ASTOUNDED’ AT LEGAL LETTERS
By KHRISNA VIRGIL Tribune Staff Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net BAHA Mar’s developer, BMD Holdings, said it is “astounding” that nearly one year after engaging with China Construction America and China Export Import Bank in “sabotaging” the resort’s Chapter 11 case in the United States, the Christie administration has suddenly paid two law firms to craft hypothetical justifications for the government’s “ready-fire-aim” actions concerning the $3.5bn resort. SEE PAGE THREE
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