National stadium taking shape
There are no pneumatic tools, nail guns or electric saws in use at the construction site of the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, at least none that were apparent when The Nassau Guardian visited the site yesterday.
But sure enough, the stadium is climbing as its "superstructure" (or vertical construction) takes shape.
"As you walk around you would see that they're using the basic tools," said John Bonimy, a technical advisor with the National Stadium Committee. "They tighten nuts and bolts with open end wrenches. They don't really use that many power tools. They have the little handsaws and they have the old-time augers that you use to drill holes with your hands. The Chinese are very resilient people. They don't waste anything."

Report: Recession fueling discrimination against
Poor conditions for inmates at Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) and the Carmichael Road Detention Centre, along with social discrimination against Haitians and homosexuals in The Bahamas, all received mention in the US State Department's 2009 Human Rights reports.
"The economic recession led to an increase in resentment against the Haitian population and a tendency to blame Haitians for rising crime rates," said the report, which was released yesterday.
See the full report from the US State Department here

Cop arraignment postponed
A magistrate has postponed the arraignment of a police corporal on fraud charges to give officers from the commercial crimes unit time to redo the dockets.
Police allege that Eddie Florival, 42, of Faith Avenue, is the fifth person in a fraud scheme that was allegedly orchestrated by prison inmate Shane Mackey. Prison guard Freeman Basden, Mackey's girlfriend Tamanica Bethel and Alfie Hanna were arraigned in connection with the alleged scheme last December.

BHRDA installs new executive team
On Wednesday, January 20, 2010, the Bahamas Human Resources Development Association (BHRDA), under the theme "Engineering the HR Profession for Productivity and Profitability," installed its new executive team as well as its new members. This event was a combination of the old, the present, and the future of the Association. Joining the new executives were founding members, past presidents, and HR professionals from a wide cross section of industries.

Baillou Hill Rd., Market St. businesses question one-way plans
Some local business owners in the Blue Hill Road and Market Street areas are outraged over government's plan to make significant parts of the roads one-way thoroughfares.
The businesspersons are claiming that the pending changes would have a negative impact on their businesses and possibly lead to job losses.
Arnold Heastie, proprietor of the Esso service station on Blue Hill Road, is alleging that the present road works have already caused a decline in business.

Cartwright: Cabinet meeting for Mellor brothers unlikely
Agriculture and Marine Resources Minister Larry Cartwright has confirmed that it is unlikely two Grand Bahamian businessmen will get a meeting with Cabinet for a final pitch of their aquaculture project, which involves purse seine or net fishing.
The minister, who spoke to The Nassau Guardian in a recent interview, sought to clarify some issues raised by brothers Paul and David Mellor, who are claiming the government flip-flopped on the purse seining issue.
David and Paul Mellor are seeking approval for their net fishing operation and according to them, they were told last April that the practice is legal.

Police crack airport 'ring of corruption'
Police have cracked what they believe to be a "ring of corruption" at Nassau International Airport, arresting three people for reportedly looting thousands of dollars worth of items from luggage. According to Superintendent Elaine Sands, officer in charge of the Western District, this case was finally cracked after a month of work with various law enforcement teams including customs, airport security, and personnel from various local and international airlines.

Lawyer accused of stealing $100,000 from a client
A lawyer appeared in court yesterday accused of stealing nearly $100,000 from a client. Sonia Agnes Serette, 39, of Coral Harbour, was arraigned before Magistrate Carolita Bethell in Court 8, Bank Lane, charged with stealing by reason of service. It is alleged that between Thursday, October 22, 2009, and Saturday, February 13, 2010, Serette stole $96,967.50 from school principal Fiordelisa Bain by reason of service.

Call for changes to regulations on second home ownership
Land developers are calling for changes to the regulations governing second-home ownership in The Bahamas. The call is the latest move in a tug-o-war between those advocating more strict regulations, and those arguing for a relaxation. Real estate developer Paul Moss said the minimum threshold for investing in the real estate market should be increased for those seeking accelerated consideration for permanent residency. Currently the threshold is $500,000.

Boy stabbed by another student
A boy is in hospital after he was stabbed on St John's college soccer field by another student, police have revealed. The attack was just one of a number of violent incidents in Nassau during a 24-hour period -- with one shooting and three separate stabbing attacks being committed between Monday and Tuesday. Police said it was around 3.30pm Monday when they received information of a stabbing on the soccer field of the high school's John F Kennedy Drive campus. Officers were told that a 17-year-old St John's student and a boy from H O Nash junior high school, which is also on JFK Drive, were fighting.

Earl Deveaux criticizes ministry employees again
Staff at the Ministry of Environment have again been criticised by their boss -- this time for not being aggressive enough in carrying out their protective mandate. Environment Minister Earl Deveaux said he believes the calibre of officers working for the Ministry is improving, and thereby becoming "more responsive" to environmental concerns, but "certainly not as fast as (he'd) like." It is the second candid commentary by Dr Deveaux relating to some of his staff.

PMH nurses late for work to be fined
Nurses who are seven minutes late or more face a 25 cent fine in a new scheme introduced at the Princess Margaret Hospital. Staff have a six-minute grace period before they are hit with a cut in pay imposed by a new clocking-in system implemented by the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA). Nurses claim they were not aware they would face a penalty until they discovered their take-home pay had been cut.

Minister tells of 'corrupt officers'
In the wake of accusations from the PLP that he presided over "abuse and cronyism" at the Department of Environmental Health to the tune of $18 million, the Minister of the Environment yesterday revealed that he has found evidence that "some public officers" did engage in corrupt practices within his Ministry.
Environment Minister Earl Deveaux said that a "full and exhaustive investigation" into who and what funds may have been abused is now underway and if evidence is found to support the allegations, civil servants will find themselves in court.

Man charged with murder, mother accused of being accessory after fact
A man who had been wanted by police was arraigned on a murder charge in a Magistrate's Court yesterday.
Kevano Musgrove, 24, of Halsmere Road, Highbury Park, appeared before Chief Magistrate Roger Gomez yesterday charged with the February 25 murder of David Bowleg.

Police fly in to Harbour Island to address crime
Residents of Harbour Island showed determination and solidarity in a town meeting held Monday by the Royal Bahamas Police Force and Ministry of Tourism to address the escalating crime and delinquent behaviour now threatening the island. More than 100 frustrated islanders had the full attention of the officials who had flown to Harbour Island yesterday to hear their complaints.
The police presence was intended to initiate a conversation with residents towards mapping out a strategic plan forward to deal with their fears.

Supermarket owner robbed at gunpoint in his home
Super Value owner Rupert Roberts has spoken out about how he and his wife were robbed at gunpoint in their home to warn others of the risk of home invasions in East Nassau.
The 72-year-old business owner said the armed robber made a silent entry to his home as he and his wife were getting ready for bed just before 7.30pm on Wednesday and appeared in the bedroom "like a ghost."

Landfill 'will be full in five years'
If the present "inadequate" garbage management practices persist, New Providence's only sanitary landfill will be unable to accommodate anymore waste within five years, the Minister of the Environment said.
Minister Earl Deveaux made this revelation yesterday as he announced several measures being taken by the Government to extend the life of the dump -- thereby "buying the government time" to find another site outside of New Providence -- through implementation of more sustainable waste handling practices.

New one-way system to change traffic flow
A one-way system will be implemented in Baillou Hill Road and Market Street at the end of the month to permanently change Nassau's traffic flow from north to south.
Minister of Works Neko Grant said the unprecedented changes to Nassau's traffic flow will be implemented as part of the $120 million New Providence road improvement project.

Water & Sewerage Corp spent $60m, made $40m
Operating costs of nearly $60 million dwarfed revenues of $41.9 million, leaving the Water & Sewerage Corporation short 20 million in its 2009 financial year. Minister of State for the Environment Phenton Neymour said there is $725,000 left from the $19 million government subsidy given to the corporation and that the rest would be gone before the end of March. Although Family Island revenues rose by $500,000, revenues in New Providence dropped $3 million.

Colina faces $1.4m price to capture 100% of RND
RND investors will have to decide if they want to sell their shares for $0.40 apiece or stay on as minority investors in a company with new management and a new direction. Plus, some are questioning the $0.40 offer on shares that are probably worth at least $0.70. Investors will have to decide by the March 15 deadline.

Bahamasair rethinking Jamaica flights
Bahamasair is considering taking on the Nassau-Kingston route dropped by Air Jamaica last month but is being careful not to take risks. Bahamasair chairman J Barrie Farrington said although the airline has done a paper on the flight's viability, "With a limited fleet, it increases the risk of providing service in an area that is untried." With the Government providing half the $7 million requested by the National Flag Carrier, Farrington told Tribune Business, "We're going to have to find a way to encourage people to travel for reasons other than shopping in Florida. We're really going to have to intensify sales and marketing, because the competition is very fierce.

Fraud cases up 10%
One of the country's fraud specialists said The Bahamas has seen a 10-15% rise in fraud and forensic cases since the economic recession. Kendrick Christie, who is a certified fraud specialist said companies must protect against employee theft warning that they would "Pay now or pay later". Chrisite said the recession was only partly to blame, saying the people in business today don't have the same values their predecessors.

Chamber of Commerce and Employers' Confederation consider merging
The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and the Bahamas Employers' Confederation are asking members to send feedback and suggestions as they seek to combine the two groups. In a joint statement by Khaalis Rolle, President of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce (BCOC), and Brian Nutt, President of the Bahamas Employers' Confederation (BECon) said: "A merged organization representing the entire business community would make advocacy for the private sector more visible, more vocal and therefore stronger".

At least 3,000 Spring Breakers expected
Trip organizer Grad City has already booked 2,600 students for 2009 and expects to have a little more than 3,000 in total. Grad City said it's working with vendors to provide activities and entertainment at Junkanoo Beach (formerly the Western Esplanade).