MONDAY i’m lovin’ it!
HIGH 90ºF LOW 79ºF
The Tribune Established 1903
24/7 BREAKING NEWS ON TRIBUNE242.COM
Biggest And Best!
VOLUME:115 No.166, JULY 23RD, 2018
HO US E & 16 THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1
HOME
PA GE S SPORT: TWO GOLD, ONE SILVER FOR JOANNA EVANS AT CAC GAMES ‘WANTED’ SUSPECT SHOT DEAD BY POLICE
Did PLP operate ‘dirty tricks’ unit? Bethel orders Shake it up, Grandad DPP to probe smear claims By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net THE Department of Public Prosecutions has been directed to look into viral allegations concerning a political “war room” and its purported campaign of dirty tricks against Free National Movement candidates in the run up to the 2017 general election. Attorney General Carl Bethel confirmed yesterday
the director of public prosecutions has been given the task of investigating the veracity of claims contained in a string of videos, voice notes, and screenshots that have been widely circulated on Facebook and WhatsApp. “I have asked the DPP to have a look at it,” Mr Bethel said. “It raised serious issues when I saw it.” PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell denounced the SEE PAGE FIVE
LABOUR Director John Pinder yesterday expressed a desire to review the application process of long-term work permits, telling The Tribune there should be increased stipulations to guard against abuse. Mr Pinder, a former trade unionist, stressed the need to strengthen labour policies related to work
permits, telling this newspaper he had received at least 100 vacancy notices per week. “The amount of NOVs (notice of vacancy) that come to my office – there are thousands of people on work permit applying for vacancies. Sure most of them are handymen or maids; we have to encourage Bahamians to take these jobs. It’s minimum wage but when you add all SEE PAGE SIX
SEE PAGE THREE
TECH ISSUES STALL NEW BETTING TAX
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMIAN gamblers will enjoy a twomonth reprieve from the budget’s twin five percent levies because they are “not as easy and straightforward” to implement as the government thought. Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister with responsibility for gaming, told Tribune Business that the delay in imposing the tax on customer deposits and over-the-counter (OTC) lottery sales stemmed from the need to “recertify” web shop systems and games.
‘WORK PERMITS NEED STRICTER CONTROLS’ By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
POLICE shot and killed an alleged armed robber who they said opened fire on two officers after pinning them against a vehicle. The man, who police identified as Dario “Geico” Tinker, had been sought for questioning for several weeks. Police said he was found driving a stolen car, taken during an armed robbery on Wednesday, and a pistol was recovered from the scene.
SEE BUSINESS SECTION
SKY BAHAMAS – WE’VE ALL GOT DEBTS PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and his grandson (pictured to his right) rush with the Saxons Superstars at the Junkanoo Summer Festival on Saturday. BIS Photo/Kemuel Stubbs
MURDERERS? HANG ‘EM AND MOVE ON By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday said he has no issue “hanging” any person convicted of murder and “moving on”. The comment came as he insisted his long-held views on capital punishment have not wavered nor changed since being elected to office in May 2017. Addressing reporters as he exited Calvary Deliverance Church following a service yesterday, Dr Minnis made it clear if it was up to him, people convicted of
murder would be hanged without any remorse on his behalf. He was responding to questions over the potential for amendments to the Juries Act as referenced by Press Secretary Anthony Newbold last week. According to Mr Newbold, the House of Assembly is expected to soon debate amendments to the Juries Act, clearing up some provisions to the death penalty for murder. In response yesterday, Dr Minnis said: “Let’s get it clear, I am a strong advocate of hanging. That has not changed. That will
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE SIX
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
SKY Bahamas’ principal yesterday branded threats to terminate the airline’s airport operating licence over a $454,000 debt as “a non-issue”, and said: “Every other airline owes NAD money”. Captain Randy Butler told Tribune Business that he was one of the Nassau Airport Development Company’s (NAD) “best payers” over the past ten years, after a series of letters detailing sums Sky Bahamas owes to the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) operator were leaked on social media. SEE BUSINESS SECTION