$500,000 govt contract probe
The office of the Auditor General is questioning the payment of $537,327.50 to a Bahamian company contracted to train workers in the operational and technical aspects of solid waste management, The Tribune can reveal.

According to their report, SABL (Bahamas) Ltd was awarded the contract to provide training of staff on February 7, 2006, in the amount of $589,310, but hasn't supplied sufficient documentation to justify the $537,327.50 paid so far.

This follows The Tribune's revelations yesterday of how unscrupulous contractors embezzled $1.3 million from the Government through its solid waste management programme on the Family Islands.


Pair sentenced to death for murder of policeman
FREEPORT, Bahamas - TWO men were sentenced to death at the Supreme Court yesterday for the brutal murder of Police Corporal Eddison Bain.

Edwin Bauld Jr and Wilfred McPhee Jr also received custodial sentences for other related offences, including kidnapping, robbery, and stealing.

Bauld and McPhee received eight years on the kidnapping count.

Bauld was also sentenced to 12 years on each of the two robbery counts, and four years for each of the three stealing counts.

McPhee received 10 years for each of the two robbery counts, and four years for one count of stealing. All of the sentences are to run concurrently.

Last October, a Supreme Court jury found Bauld and McPhee guilty of Cpl Bain's murder. His body was discovered in a ditch near Casuarina Bridge on October 22, 200


Paul Moss resigns from PLP
In a move which will undoubtedly affect his chances for winning the St Cecilia seat, Paul Moss officially tendered his resignation from the PLP yesterday, citing his increasing divergence of views and "disenchantment" with the party.

Mr Moss has been the leading voice for the nomination of the party to run in the PLP stronghold of St Cecilia which is currently represented by the party's former deputy leader Cynthia Pratt for some time now.

However, his public pronouncements of late, and the fact that he had challenged the leader of the party, Perry Christie, at the PLP's 51st National Convention last year has put a damper on the political newcomer's prospects within the party.


Claims that more firms to announce job losses on Grand Bahama
Days after announcing he would be closing his multi-million dollar manufacturing business in Grand Bahama, leading to the loss of 70 jobs and more than 300 others scheduled to come on-stream this year, a major investor on the island claimed yesterday that other companies are set to make similar announcements within the week.

Steve Howes, chairman of Glass Fenestration Services (GFS), complained over the weekend that the allegedly poor service reliability and high cost of the power supply provided by Grand Bahama's sole power source - The Grand Bahama Power Company - along with the alleged "intimidation and bullying" by the company of his operation led him to decide he would move his manufacturing business to a less stressful business environment.

Having allegedly seen critical manufacturing equipment "fried" by surges in the power supply on numerous occasions, to the point of putting his operation out of production for a time last year, Mr Howes said he was incensed when he was sent a cease and desist letter by the power company after he claims he was forced to use his own generators to power his operation for several months earlier this year.


Claim that girl was groped by male teacher investigated
A claim that at least one girl at private Eleuthera boarding school Windemere High was groped by a male teacher is being looked into by police.

Although details on the allegations were sketchy, The Tribune understands the girl accused the teacher of inappropriately touching her.

Last night, unconfirmed reports from the island claimed "four or five" other female students allege similar encounters with the teacher.

The allegations came to light a day after it was revealed that Ministry of Education officials are probing two separate allegations of sexual misconduct involving teachers at two public Grand Bahama schools.


No Cadbury Easter chocolates for The Bahamas
Due to shipment problems, Bahamians will have to do without their beloved Cadbury Easter chocolates this year.

D'Albenas Agency, which purchases the chocolates from the United Kingdom and distributes it in the Bahamas, has called off the shipment of Easter products after it was determined that Cadbury would not be able to deliver them in time for the holiday in April.

Michelle Ferguson, the purchasing manager at D'Albenas Agency, told The Tribune that the order was placed in December.

"Cadbury was not able to produce them in time for us to get them in time for Easter. We cancelled the order because after the Easter season they don't sell much," she said.


Homecoming for Bahamian artist
Acclaimed Bahamian artist Lillian Blades launched her first solo exhibit in 12 years in her Nassau hometown.

She exhibited 36 pieces, mostly work from 2009, at the New Providence Art and Antiques (NPAA) gallery during the Transforming Spaces art tour this weekend.

Transforming Spaces is a popular nine-gallery art show organised annually by participating galleries.

During the one day show, art enthusiasts are bused around on a tour of the galleries.