Shotgun-wielding driver traps two men in their car
A shotgun wielding driver trapped two men in their car for around 30 minutes after they stopped at a parking lot.

Witnesses say the two men in a champagne-coloured Nissan Maxima seemed to be experiencing car trouble when they stopped in front of Standard Services in the Church Street Plaza, near the junction with Shirley Street, at around 2pm.

Moments later a driver pulled in behind them, blocking their car in the Standard Services parking lot. The man then took his shotgun and aimed it at the men, who remained in the Nissan as he let out the air in their car tyres and threatened them into staying put.

Standard Services employee Susanne Small said customers and staff were too scared to go in or out of the building while the gunman stood poised outside the hardware store.

The man remained there for around half an hour before police arrived, arresting all three men.

Mrs Small said she understands the incident may be linked to a car accident in the Eastern Road in which the driver failed to stop, as she believes the driver of the Nissan may have been involved in the collision and the gunman was a witness.

However, police were not able to confirm this before The Tribune went to press.


US police seek woman and six men over murder of Bahamian in Ohio
Police in the US are seeking a young woman and six men believed to have been involved in the murder of a Bahamian in Cleveland, Ohio.

Surveillance video obtained by the Parma police department in Parma, Ohio, shows a women slipping in to Deon Mill's apartment building behind several other tenants before letting six hooded men into the block through another door, according to Detective Marty Compton of the local police department.

Moments later, 28 year-old Mr Mills was killed by a single bullet as he stood inside the closed door of his fifth floor Midtown Towers apartment at Broadview and Snow Road around 8.40pm.

His girlfriend, who was also in the apartment at the time, said he had gone to the door after hearing someone pounding on the other side.

Det Compton of the Parma Police Department said the group of men and the woman were then seen "running out of the apartment building".

His mother in the Bahamas was notified of his death. No motive for the killing is yet known.

As of yesterday, Parma police had not taken anyone into custody in connection with the shooting and were actively seeking local public assistance through the media.


CLICO (Bahamas) liquidator hopes to sell real estate project this month
Clico (Bahamas) liquidator is hoping to close the sale of the real estate project which accounts for about 63 per cent of the insolvent insurer's assets by month's end, after warding off a lawsuit which attempted to foreclose on the development over a $1 million mortgage debt.

Craig A. 'Tony' Gomez, in his first report to the Supreme Court as the official liquidator for CLICO Enterprises, the Bahamian-domiciled entity through which some $73 million of the insurer's assets were placed into a variety of investments, confirmed that a major international property developer had signed the agreement to purchase the Florida-based Wellington Preserve project.

Mr Gomez, the Baker Tilly Gomez accountant and partner, confirmed Tribune Business's exclusive revelation, made on October 14 last year, that the Wellington Preserve purchaser is the Hines Group, through its Hines Interests Ltd Partnership vehicle.

In his report on CLICO Enterprises, Mr Gomez said the Supreme Court had granted him an Order on November 10, 2009, allowing him to proceed with the Hines sales agreement.


FNM 'has no basis' to appeal Elizabeth ruling
The Free National Movement has no basis to appeal the Election Court's ruling on the Elizabeth by-election, claims Progressive Liberal Party attorney Valentine Grimes.

The ruling, handed down yesterday, declared PLP candidate Ryan Pinder the lawful representative of the contested constituency after the two presiding judges validated the five protest votes which had been cast in Mr Pinder's favour on polling day.

While the PLP geared up for a celebratory rally, FNM leader Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham hinted that an appeal to the ruling or possible legislative reform based on the court's judgment may follow suit, after a review by the Attorney General.

But Mr Grimes, part of Mr Pinder's legal team, thinks if the FNM launches an appeal it will not hold up in court.

"I think they are grand-standing, there is no basis on which they could appeal the decision of the Election Court. Now on the other hand, if they consider, having seen the ruling, amendments ought to be made to the election law that's a different story," he said.


Patrols will drive out downtown crime, say police officers
Crime will be driven out of downtown Nassau with persistent patrols in the Bay Street area, according to police officers determined to enforce a zero tolerance policy on crime.

Assistant Superintendent Bradley Sands took charge of 85 officers at the Tourism Police Station in Bay Street two months ago and has commended his team for increases security for tourists, locals and businesses by operating an efficient and effective 24 hour patrol system.

Police have arrested 15 people in the recent weeks and are on the look-out for criminals preying on tourists, ASP Sands said.

Rogue traders operating in the straw market have been caught offering tourists marijuana, or substances that look like marijuana, and have been removed from the area along with loiterers and unlicenced vendors. At a press conference yesterday, Mr Sands called on the Ministry of Tourism to ensure all vendors in the new straw market are licenced.