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Volume: 113 No.32 JANUARY 6, 2017
Biggest And Best!
DNA leader denies Butler-Turner talk of ‘bold’ partnership By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney said yesterday he was “unaware” of any coalition between his party and Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Tuner or the six other “rebel” Free National Movement members of Parliament. In an interview with The Tribune, Mr McCartney said “there is no plan at this stage” to form a coalition between the two groups. On Wednesday, in an interview on Hot 91.7 FM’s “Morning Madhouse” with host “C-Note”, Mrs ButlerTurner announced that she is forming a “very powerful and bold” coalition with Mr McCartney and the DNA that will “change the direc-
EDUCATION Minister Jerome Fitzgerald defended the Christie administration from backlash after it was revealed that Value-Added Tax (VAT) would not be applied on Baha Mar’s completion,
44 CUBANS DETAINED AT CAY SAL BANK
tion of the country.” The Official Opposition leader also said the details of the “interesting” coalition would be announced “very soon”. When contacted for a response yesterday, Mr McCartney said: “There is no plan to absorb anyone in the DNA. There is no plan at this stage, that I am aware of, for a coalition. “The only conversation we had was about my becoming a senator. Right now the DNA is waiting for this election and how we will form the next government. With regard to the fantastic seven or the rebel seven, they are still with the FNM. They are still members of the Free National Movement.” SEE PAGE SIX
GOVT WOULD HAVE EARNED ONLY ‘MINISCULE’ VAT FROM BAHA MAR By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
S
Bran unaware of coalition plan
telling ZNS News that the amount that would have been earned in this regard was “miniscule”. He also said the government would soon move to put the Baha Mar deal in the public domain, to bring an end to speculation and sensationalism on the issue. SEE PAGE SIX
ROYAL Bahamas Defence Force Officers apprehended 44 Cuban migrants in the waters off Elbow Cay, Abaco. Out of that number, there were 38 men and six women. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net OVER 40 Cubans were apprehended by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force in conjunction with the US Coast Guard in the Cay Sal Bank over the last 48 hours, with three persons reported to have attempted to evade capture.
A total of 44 Cubans - six women and 38 men - were apprehended by RBDF personnel on three landmasses located in the Cay Sal Bank as of Tuesday, according to RBDF Senior Lieutenant Clinton Johnson. Of that number, 12 were turned over to RBDF officials aboard HMBS Leon Livingstone Smith after
MILLER: NO POINT TALKING TO WE MARCH ORGANISER TALL Pines MP Leslie Miller has again lashed out at We March Bahamas lead organiser Ranard Henfield, telling a talk show host that with a man like the activist there was no time for discussion, “you only could break one damn bottle upside their head”. Mr Miller’s comments came when he appeared as
a guest on “Hard Copy” with host Steve McKinney on Wednesday. Mr Miller became angered when the talk show’s host suggested that Mr Miller symbolically join hands with the activist. We March Bahamas will protest against the SEE PAGE FIVE
being apprehended by US Coast Guard Cutter Robert Yered, which was also on patrol in the Cay Sal Bank area. A subsequent search of the nearby Anguilla Cays by RBDF marines resulted in the discovery of an additional eight Cuban nationals, he said. Sr Lt Johnson said upon arrival to nearby Elbow
Cay, RBDF officials encountered an additional 24 Cuban nationals, who were subsequently apprehended “without incident”. However, Sr Lt Johnson said as RBDF marines conducted a search of the cay, three persons “tried to escape on the same raft they came there on”. SEE PAGE TWO
US WARNING TO STAY AWAY FROM PROTEST MARCH By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net
THE United States Embassy in Nassau released a security message yesterday urging its staff, citizens and US visitors in Nassau and Paradise Island to avoid a “planned demonstration” scheduled for Majority
Rule Day. “A planned demonstration is scheduled to take place in Nassau on Tuesday, January 10, 2017, during the Bahamas’ Majority Rule Day holiday, commencing at 10am at Arawak Cay (‘Fish Fry’) and proceeding east on Bay Street to SEE PAGE FIVE