News Archives

Some released, more arrested in Fox Hill murder investigation

Some released, more arrested in Fox Hill murder investigation

Tue, Dec 31st 2013, 11:50 AM

Police yesterday released several people who were being held for questioning in connection with a shooting in Fox Hill on Friday night, which left four people dead and seven others injured, The Nassau Guardian understands.
Police said over the weekend that 60 people were in custody in connection with the incident.
According to a source close to the investigation, police have released a significant number of those people.
However, the source said police have arrested several more people in the last few days, making the total number of people still in custody in connection with the shooting unclear.
When contacted yesterday, Assistant Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson said he was not aware how many people were still being questioned.
He said Superintendent Paul Rolle, head of the Central Detective Unit, would be in a better position to provide those details.
Calls placed to Rolle were not returned up to press time.
Superintendent Stephen Dean, who was contacted for comment, acknowledged some people had been released, but he, too, could not provide specifics.
Just after 6 p.m. occupants of a dark gray Honda drove to the Fox Hill roundabout and shot into a crowd, according to police.
The group was gathered near the Fox Hill Congos Junkanoo shack waiting for the Junkanoo results for the B group category, The Nassau Guardian understands.
Shequille Demeritte, 19; Eric Morrison, 49; Claudzeno Davis, 37, and Sheniqua Sands, 30 were shot and killed in that incident.
Demeritte, who was reportedly playing basketball at the time of the shooting, was shot in the head, according to eyewitnesses.
The Nassau Guardian understands that he died while being transported to hospital.
The assailants used a variety of weapons to carry out their crimes, according to Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade.
Meanwhile, the two men police issued wanted bulletins for in connection with Friday's incident turned themselves in on Sunday, police said.
Dean said police believe Amal 'Bow' Hunter, 27, of Williams Lane, off Kemp Road, and Carlos 'Skuller' Colebrooke, 25, of Williams Street, Nassau Village are "prime suspects".
He could not say if or when charges would be brought against the men.

The Bahamas promoted during Miami Dolphins game

The Bahamas promoted during Miami Dolphins game

Tue, Dec 31st 2013, 11:42 AM

MIAMI, Florida --The Bahamas took center field on Sunday before tens of thousands of football fans during a tourism promotion at Sun Life Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins, during a regular season game.
The promotion, part of the Ministry of Tourism's campaign targeted at sports enthusiasts, featured Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe, who presented two lucky winners with a seven-day, all expenses paid trip to Grand Bahama.
The presentation was made during halftime of the highly anticipated match-up between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets. The trip to The Bahamas was the top prize of six, including a trip to the Cayman Islands and a two-day cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line.
As a feature of the Bahamas campaign, the Ministry of Tourism secured a 9,000-square-foot section of the stadium, which it dubbed the 'Bahamas Bash'. The area was outfitted with Bahamas paraphernalia including posters derived from the Bahamas ad which was featured during the 2012 Super Bowl. A Bahamian Junkanoo dancer along with a Bahamian deejay provided entertainment.
The Bahamas has a three-year contractual partnership with the Miami Dolphins.
According to Wilchcombe, the Ministry of Tourism spent just under $300,000 on the campaign.
In order to be eligible for the prize, people attending the game had to visit the Bahamas Bash section and sign up with Ministry of Tourism officials who were stationed there.
"Tourism is now on the rebound," Wilchcombe said just before the game kicked off.
"What we have to do now is to be consistent. And the connections with sporting bodies like the Miami Heat and Miami Dolphins [are beneficial]. There's a captive audience here today, about 60,000 to 70,000 fans."
Wilchcombe said the Ministry of Tourism is also trying to extend the campaign and to get people talking about The Bahamas.
"What you get from it is so tremendous," he said referring to the campaign.
"We get radio ads. We get television mention. We have the domination here, all of that is a part of it."
A Bahamas ad played during the game. The Bahamas tourism logo was also featured on the screen at the stadium multiple times.
Jason Miller, director of corporate partnerships for the Miami Dolphins and Sun Life Stadium, said the partnership between the Dolphins and the Ministry of Tourism will be mutually beneficial.
"Our goal is to get people to come here for each home game and kind of experience the imaging and island experience. That is why you see some of the furniture that we brought in and some of the music that we play here. It also allows The Bahamas to do some data capture with some of our fans, so we feel that it benefits both programs."
Miller noted that the Bahamas Bash section will be seen by more than just Dolphins fans.
"Not only will it look like this for Dolphin games but with other things that happen at Sun Life Stadium. So the BCS Orange Bowl with Ohio State and Clemson which is happening January 3, any Miami Hurricanes games, if we are fortunate enough to have any Super Bowls, the Bahamas Bash area will be here for any event that happens at Sun Life, so it gives The Bahamas a great diverse exposure, not only to Dolphin fans, but people attending other events like concerts and what not."
Sunday's presentation was the culmination of weeks of giveaways, according to tourism officials.
In previous weeks, five people won three-day trips to the nation's second city. However, those prizes were not given away on the field.
The winners will get to stay at the Grand Lucayan Resort, and will receive round trip tickets from Bahamasair.

Rolle: Some tweaking to VAT legislation
Rolle: Some tweaking to VAT legislation

Tue, Dec 31st 2013, 11:40 AM

Final suspect in Deputy PM robbery charged
Final suspect in Deputy PM robbery charged

Tue, Dec 31st 2013, 11:38 AM

2013: An eventful year in Bahamian history
2013: An eventful year in Bahamian history

Tue, Dec 31st 2013, 11:38 AM

The prime minister, VAT and listening
The prime minister, VAT and listening

Tue, Dec 31st 2013, 11:37 AM

Say no to a national ID card

Say no to a national ID card

Tue, Dec 31st 2013, 11:36 AM

Dear Editor,
The political class never tires of ways to try to keep citizens under control.
Now Fred Mitchell (PLP), minister of foreign affairs and immigration and former campaigner for individual rights, is the latest politico to call for a national ID card.
I'm reminded of a Sinclair Lewis quote from his "It Can't Happen Here": "Every man is a king so long as he has someone to look down on."
Like his political cohort a while back, Mitchell claims that people need a "document which says you have a right to be here" to justify even more intrusiveness by the state.
Of course, there is a myriad of documents and approvals that people have to confirm they're Bahamian or have the right to live or work here; but in their wisdom, we now need to be harried by yet another bureaucracy.
The idea should be to make the many branches of government already in place to deal with these matters work, not add yet another layer of time-wasting bureaucracy.
As recent history has shown us in the United States, the more power states have to monitor their citizens the more snooping on privacy governments do; forgetting their role is to prevent harm, not cause it.
The numbering and monitoring of people like this was used to great effect by command and control governments throughout history and we must remain vigilant and be wary of motive here.
We should say no to a national ID card.
- Rick Lowe

Murder toll rises as body found in bushes
Murder toll rises as body found in bushes

Tue, Dec 31st 2013, 11:35 AM

The importance of January 10, 1967
The importance of January 10, 1967

Tue, Dec 31st 2013, 11:34 AM

Castrol Quote of the day: December 31, 2013
Castrol Quote of the day: December 31, 2013

Tue, Dec 31st 2013, 09:59 AM

Five charged with murder of Andros pair
Five charged with murder of Andros pair

Tue, Dec 31st 2013, 06:00 AM

50,000 report urges WSC to close contract loophole

50,000 report urges WSC to close contract loophole

Tue, Dec 31st 2013, 06:00 AM

TWO foreign consultants hired to conduct a forensic audit of Nassau's "rusty water woes" at a cost of $50,000 have issued their report to government.

Gift delivery by SkyBahamas
Gift delivery by SkyBahamas

Tue, Dec 31st 2013, 06:00 AM

Dominicans fined 96,000 for poaching offences
Dominicans fined 96,000 for poaching offences

Tue, Dec 31st 2013, 06:00 AM

Bahamian delegation at Dolphins game
Bahamian delegation at Dolphins game

Tue, Dec 31st 2013, 06:00 AM