A HAITIAN couple have been arrested in connection with a traffic accident that resulted in serious injuries to a child and woman in Abaco.

#Superintendent Stephen Rolle thanked the public for their assistance and continued support in helping the police with their investigations in the matter. #He said a Haitian male and female resident of Dundas Town were taken into police custody in reference to a video circulating on social media involving an accident that occurred on Tuesday shortly before 5pm. The child was detained at the Marsh Harbour Clinic and the adult female was flown to New Providence for further medical attention. #He said both are listed in serious but stable condition, and the matter is under investigation by officers from the Abaco district.

Superintendent Stephen Rolle thanked the public for their assistance and continued support in helping the police with their investigations in the matter.

He said a Haitian male and female resident of Dundas Town were taken into police custody in reference to a video circulating on social media involving an accident that occurred on Tuesday shortly before 5pm. The child was detained at the Marsh Harbour Clinic and the adult female was flown to New Providence for further medical attention.

He said both are listed in serious but stable condition, and the matter is under investigation by officers from the Abaco district.

THE Royal Bahamas Defence Force has confirmed its vessel HMBS Lawrence Major sustained "structural damage" when another motor vessel rammed into it in Suriname on Saturday.

HMBS Lawrence Major is a support vessel operated by the RBDF. The ship was built in the Netherlands by the Damen Group, a replica of the Damen Stan Lander 5612 design. #It is named after the RBDF’s first commander, Lawrence Whitfield Major. #“Her Majesty’s Bahamian Ship Lawrence Major was moored alongside a floating dry-dock undergoing maintenance and repairs at the Suriname Dry-dock and Shipbuilding Shipyard in Paramaribo, Suriname when the motor vessel Tropic Tide collided into HMBS Lawrence Major around 8.30am May 15 while transiting the Suriname River,” the RBDF’s statement read. #“Initial damage assessments have indicated that HMBS Lawrence Major sustained structural damage to its superstructure portside upper deck railing, stairway, and bow areas. An extensive damage assessment will be done by Damen Shipyard Group to determine the true extent of damage sustained.” #According to the statement, crew members of the RBDF vessel and shipyard personnel undertaking maintenance repairs at the time were able to safely evacuate the vessel before the collision occurred. Injuries to crew members were limited to minor cuts and bruises. The ship’s medic immediately conducted medical assessments. #HMBS Lawrence Major is 184 feet long, and 39 feet wide. It has a landing craft style forward ramp, allowing vehicles to roll on and roll off, for amphibious delivery and is equipped with a 25-ton crane. The boat is also designed to securely carry mission modules the size of standard shipping containers, allowing a mix of missions. #“Investigations into the accident are being conducted by the local Suriname police as the local marine authorities in collaboration with the owners and shipping agents of the M/V Tropic Tide, Suriname Shipyard, Damen Shipyard Group representatives and the insurers of both vessels,” the statement continued. #“Related repair costs will be borne by Damen Shipyard Group responsible for HMBS Lawrence Major undergoing dock yard maintenance repairs in Suriname. The estimated cost for damage to HMBS Lawrence Major is still being assessed and the timeline to effect the repairs caused by the incident to the vessel is unknown at this time.”

HMBS Lawrence Major is a support vessel operated by the RBDF. The ship was built in the Netherlands by the Damen Group, a replica of the Damen Stan Lander 5612 design.

It is named after the RBDF’s first commander, Lawrence Whitfield Major.

“Her Majesty’s Bahamian Ship Lawrence Major was moored alongside a floating dry-dock undergoing maintenance and repairs at the Suriname Dry-dock and Shipbuilding Shipyard in Paramaribo, Suriname when the motor vessel Tropic Tide collided into HMBS Lawrence Major around 8.30am May 15 while transiting the Suriname River,” the RBDF’s statement read.

“Initial damage assessments have indicated that HMBS Lawrence Major sustained structural damage to its superstructure portside upper deck railing, stairway, and bow areas. An extensive damage assessment will be done by Damen Shipyard Group to determine the true extent of damage sustained.”

According to the statement, crew members of the RBDF vessel and shipyard personnel undertaking maintenance repairs at the time were able to safely evacuate the vessel before the collision occurred. Injuries to crew members were limited to minor cuts and bruises. The ship’s medic immediately conducted medical assessments.

HMBS Lawrence Major is 184 feet long, and 39 feet wide. It has a landing craft style forward ramp, allowing vehicles to roll on and roll off, for amphibious delivery and is equipped with a 25-ton crane. The boat is also designed to securely carry mission modules the size of standard shipping containers, allowing a mix of missions.

“Investigations into the accident are being conducted by the local Suriname police as the local marine authorities in collaboration with the owners and shipping agents of the M/V Tropic Tide, Suriname Shipyard, Damen Shipyard Group representatives and the insurers of both vessels,” the statement continued.

“Related repair costs will be borne by Damen Shipyard Group responsible for HMBS Lawrence Major undergoing dock yard maintenance repairs in Suriname. The estimated cost for damage to HMBS Lawrence Major is still being assessed and the timeline to effect the repairs caused by the incident to the vessel is unknown at this time.”

AN early morning blaze at a seven-unit two story structure at Seventh Terrace and Fritz Lane yesterday killed one person.

Police press liaison officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police Audley Peters said a preliminary investigation revealed four businesses located at the bottom of the building and a church upstairs were affected by the fire. #He added evidence suggests the deceased was the only person residing in that portion of the building. #Sometime around 3am on Tuesday, the fire department received reports of a fire. #“Units responded and on their arrival, they met the top portion of a seven-unit two-story structure engulfed in flames,” ASP Peters said. #“The officers proceeded to extinguish the fire. Sometime around 6am that process was completed and they conducted a search of the building and discovered the body—charred remains in a bathroom door of an unidentified person.”  photo The damage after the fire. #He said officers are unable to say the exact cause of the fire at this time but are continuing investigations. #He called the tragedy a “sad situation” and highlighted the fact that this is the second major fire to happen within the last few days. On Sunday, a massive fire on Jennie Street destroyed six structures and left four partially damaged. #ASP Peters said the recent fires are a concern. #“It is a concern because in this instance a life has been lost. We’re fortunate in the prior one we didn’t have a life lost,” he said. #“However, citizens and residents must take precaution because we’re coming into the fire season within the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and the temperatures are actually rising and so we have to take the necessary precautions to mitigate fires. We know that in our archipelago the wind and all the other elements can cause a fire to rage swiftly within the communities. #“We want to encourage individuals to put smoke alarms and smoke detectors rather in their buildings so as to assist in mitigating fires of this nature. We also want to encourage individuals to not light candles before going to bed or to leave their electric appliances in a position where the electric shortages may not occur.”

Police press liaison officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police Audley Peters said a preliminary investigation revealed four businesses located at the bottom of the building and a church upstairs were affected by the fire.

He added evidence suggests the deceased was the only person residing in that portion of the building.

Sometime around 3am on Tuesday, the fire department received reports of a fire.

“Units responded and on their arrival, they met the top portion of a seven-unit two-story structure engulfed in flames,” ASP Peters said.

“The officers proceeded to extinguish the fire. Sometime around 6am that process was completed and they conducted a search of the building and discovered the body—charred remains in a bathroom door of an unidentified person.”
 photoThe damage after the fire.

He said officers are unable to say the exact cause of the fire at this time but are continuing investigations.

He called the tragedy a “sad situation” and highlighted the fact that this is the second major fire to happen within the last few days. On Sunday, a massive fire on Jennie Street destroyed six structures and left four partially damaged.

ASP Peters said the recent fires are a concern.

“It is a concern because in this instance a life has been lost. We’re fortunate in the prior one we didn’t have a life lost,” he said.

“However, citizens and residents must take precaution because we’re coming into the fire season within the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and the temperatures are actually rising and so we have to take the necessary precautions to mitigate fires. We know that in our archipelago the wind and all the other elements can cause a fire to rage swiftly within the communities.

“We want to encourage individuals to put smoke alarms and smoke detectors rather in their buildings so as to assist in mitigating fires of this nature. We also want to encourage individuals to not light candles before going to bed or to leave their electric appliances in a position where the electric shortages may not occur.”

 

INVESTIGATORS will return to Bimini today to continue their probe into a plane crash that killed one of two men on board.

Air Accident Investigation Authority chief investigator, Captain Delvin Major said a team is being sent to the island today to assist with the matter after their efforts were disrupted because of the fuel in the water.

“We sent a team down on Saturday,” Captain Major said.

“We just were able to do a limited preliminary investigation because there was still a lot of fuel in the water so it was a danger to our investigators and they could not fully get involved like we would need to, but (today) we will head back to Bimini to continue our investigations because the conditions would’ve been more favourable.

“We’re also moving the aircraft where it’s at now and it’s being taken to the United States where we will be meeting with the individuals from the manufacturer who would be assisting us (in our investigations). We’re leaving next week.”

He also said initial investigations conducted by AAIA found that pilots of the small plane that crash landed in waters in South Bimini last Friday had received clearance to fly from the island at night.

He confirmed the matter when asked to respond to claims from a concerned citizen that the flight did not get the proper authorisation to depart from Bimini and also, that night flying on the island is prohibited.

“Well, so far our investigations have determined that the flight was properly notified to the authorities and so, we did find that the document that there was a flight plan and approval to do that,” Capt Major said.

“The airport in Bimini does have proper lighting and I don’t know where those claims come from. . .but as far as this flight is concerned, the flight did have proper authorisation to fly into and out of Bimini at night and the airport was staffed with the appropriate amount of people to ensure that the flight can get in and get out as required.”

According to reports, a Piper Navajo PA-31 aircraft, registered in the United States, was heading to Florida with two American men onboard when they crashed in waters in South Bimini shortly after take-off.

Family and friends have identified the victims as 59-year-old Andre Wade and 20-year-old Kyle Wade, father and son. The son died in the incident.

According to initial enquiries, the aircraft had left Tamami Airport, Florida on Friday with four passengers.

They arrived at the South Bimini International Airport shortly before 9am. All four passengers disembarked. Later that day, shortly after 9pm, the two passengers took off from the South Bimini International Airport before the plane crashed.