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VOLUME:115 No.260, DECEMBER 5TH, 2018
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1
SPORTS: HIELD WINS BATTLE OF THE BAHAMIAN GIANTS
‘Give us justice for our lost son’
Couple launch action over toddler’s death
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
DEVASTATED by the sudden and unexplained death of their brain-injured toddler who spent his entire life in hospital, a couple are suing the government in the hope of bringing not just closure for loved ones but justice for their son. Joshua Bullard was born in December 2015, just three days after his mother Madeen had allegedly been given the wrong blood
during a transfusion. His family insists this critical error played a crucial role in his severe developmental issues at birth, and lifelong hospitalisation. Following his death on March 9, his parents Ricardo and Madeen Bullard said they remain haunted by the litany of unanswered questions, total institutional silence from hospital officials and an overwhelming despair over possible missed
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is not concerned about the talk of a general strike in the country. “I’m more worried about other matters,” he joked to reporters yesterday, when asked for his reaction to recent comments on a general strike from union leaders.
NURSES overwhelmingly voted to take industrial action during a strike poll held yesterday, Bahamas Nurses Union president Amancha Williams said. As the BNU awaited poll results from a number of Family Islands, she said the unofficial result was 570 “yes” votes and three “no” votes. This means turnout and support for a strike was more robust this time than when a similar poll was taken in June, when 377 nurses voted in favour of a strike. “That speaks volumes,” Mrs Williams said. “It says whatever it takes to make it work, nurses are willing to move forward so The Bahamas government can hear they are saying no to what they are proposing.”
DAMES: WE HAVE ‘FAIR IDEA’ WHO SHOT COUPLE
SEE PAGE THREE
“I’m more worried and concerned whether the Saxons are going to win Junkanoo this Christmas. That’s what I’m gearing up for,” he laughed. Nonetheless, Dr Minnis’ remark drew criticism across social media after a reporter posted his comments, recalling other times when the prime minister responded flippantly to questions about national affairs. SEE PAGE SIX
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
SEE PAGE TWO
By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
PM: I WAS ONLY JOKING - HONEST By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
NURSES IN HUGE VOTE TO STRIKE
RICARDO and Madeen Bullard, with a picture of their son, during their interview with The Tribune yesterday. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
POLICE have a “fair idea” who was responsible for Monday’s brazen double homicide at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre in Fox Hill and will “bring them to justice”, according to National Security Minister Marvin Dames. In an interview with reporters yesterday on the sidelines of a Department of Correctional Services parole symposium, Mr Dames also said serious offences like murder do give him cause for concern, asserting that in every case of a reported homicide he’s “sick to my stomach”. SEE PAGE FIVE
GOVT FAILS TO HALT JEAN RONY CASE
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
THE Court of Appeal has granted Bahamas-born deportee Jean Rony JeanCharles leave to appeal its revocation of a Supreme Court judge’s landmark decision concerning his controversial detention and removal from The Bahamas to the Privy Council, despite stern opposition from the Crown. Appellate President Sir
JEAN Rony yesterday. Hartman Longley, and fellow appellate Justices Jon Isaacs and Sir Michael Barnett found yesterday
that the Crown had not sufficiently convinced the court as to why they should prevent Mr Jean-Charles and his attorneys from appealing their October 17 written decision. Mr Jean-Charles, who was present in court yesterday, told reporters after the hearing that he feels “great” about the opportunity to continue fighting for his constitutional relief, while Fred Smith, QC, his
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE SEVEN
ALICIA WALLACE TWO YEARS ON WHAT’S CHANGED SINCE 2016?
SEE PAGE EIGHT