C M C M Y K Y K WEATHER TINGS TOUGH McDOUBLE FOR $3.79 ANY TIME...ANY PLACE, WE’RE #1 HIGH 84F The Tribune LOW 74F CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE BAHAMAS EDITION www.tribune242.com Volume: 106 No.1 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009 PRICE – 75¢ (Abaco and Grand Bahama $1.25) Dream trip to CARS FOR SALE, Dennis Darling S E E T D D eager for BAAA I I HELP WANTED AND R S Lucayan S O N N election results P I I Harbour REAL ESTATE S SEE PAGE TWO BAHAMAS BIGGEST SEE PAGE NINE Woman left ‘traumatised’ by long wait tourists in for justice BY AVA TURNQUEST A WOMAN who was allegedly brutally beaten by police more than 20 years ago says she is strug- gling to maintain her sani- ty as a date for the appeal to her case, which she won in 2005, has yet to be set. Beryl Grant told The shotgun terror Tribune of the daily trials she endures to secure basic necessities for her family, and of her desperation for closure to the struggle for justice that has left her Minister mentally and physically MAN FACES STRING OF RAPE CHARGES traumatised. The former hairbraider was involved in an alterca- tion with police constable tells of Roy Cooper in January 1988, through which it was alleged that Ms Grant was assaulted and wrongfully his ‘grave imprisoned. Ms Grant explained that in the years since the details of her case were announced, and the pub- concern’ lic made aware of how her case has languished in the Bahamas legal system, she has amassed a huge amount of debt — the amount steadily climbing as she awaits the appeal. Due to financial con- straints, Ms Grant began renting from her lawyer under special agreement that the rent would be paid once she was compensat- ed. Ms Grant said, though only a fraction of her accu- mulated debt, at the end of this year, she will have SEE page six Tim Clarke/Tribune staff GRAVE CONCERN: National Security Minister Man stabbed Tommy Turnquest at the press conference. BY TANEKA THOMPSON to death after TWO men wielding shotguns robbed 18 tourists who were on an eco-tour yesterday. The brutal thugs also gun-butted a Bahami- argument an woman during the robbery, however her injuries are not life-threatening. She was the only one hurt during the hold-up. By TANEKA The visitors, who were passengers on the THOMPSON Disney and Royal Caribbean cruise lines, were Tribune Staff Reporter part of two separate groups touring the [email protected] Bahamas Association for Social Health’s (BASH) Earth Village in the former Perpall A VIOLENT argument Tract Wellfield area when they were attacked between two men left one at about 1pm. dead from fatal stab The men tied up the Bahamian tour guide wounds, say police. with the first group and ordered them to the Officers were informed ground before robbing them of money, pass- of the stabbing incident in ports, cell phones, credit cards and personal Gregory Town, Eleuthera, items. at around 11.22pm on During the robbery, a second group of visi- Thursday. tors approached and were also held up. It is alleged that two National Security Minister Tommy Turn- men got into an alterca- quest, flanked by Commissioner of Police Regi- PHOTO: Tim Clarke/Tribune staff tion, which resulted in one nald Ferguson, several senior police officers CHARGED: Bradley Ellis, 40, appeared in Magistrate Court yesterday charged with a string of rapes and other offences. of them being stabbed and Ministry of Tourism officials, ordered an about the body. impromptu press conference at police head- By ALISON LOWE girls. The crimes are said to have Carolita Bethel remanded him to Police press officer quarters last night. Tribune Staff Reporter been committed on nine different prison and told him to return to Sergeant Chrislyn Skip- Mr Turnquest told reporters the incident [email protected] days between October 16, 2009, court on Monday, November 23, pings said: “The male died was one of grave concern. and last Tuesday, November 17. for a trial date. as a result of the injuries “The last thing that we want to happen is to A MAN appeared in court yes- On one night alone, Bradley Speaking up in his defence, Ellis, received. Police are inves- have our tourist destination marred by these terday charged with a string of Ellis, 40, was accused of raping and 40, of Hospital Lane, Nassau, tigating." thugs,” he said. rapes, the indecent assault of a robbing one woman of $13 before claimed police beat him while in The identity of the vic- The Minister said every available police unit child, and numerous armed rob- going on to rob three other women custody and that he was “forced to tim has not been released. was being utilisied to track down the suspects. beries and burglaries. and a man. sign” certain things. Police are questioning a In all but one of the 23 charges, After arraigning Ellis in court man in his mid-twenties. SEE page six the alleged victims were women or number eight yesterday, Magistrate SEE page six NASSAU AND BAHAMA ISLANDS’ LEADING NEWSPAPER C M C M Y K Y K PAGE 2, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009 THE TRIBUNE LOCAL NEWS Bahamian gets post at multilateral anti-terror group By Khyle Quincy Parker the Tenth Regular Session of the in addition to the litany of experi- has a Bachelors Degree in Spanish on this potentially critical tool in Press Attaché CICTE (CICTE X). ences cited above, she was a and International Studies. our hemispheric counter terrorism Embassy of The Bahamas She comes to the post after hav- Charles Rangel Scholar and The Bahamas has proposed to arsenal”. ing interned in Bolivia with Part- interned with the US Department the CICTE that governments in The election occurred at the first WASHINGTON, DC – ners of The Americas this sum- of State and the Ministry of For- the region ought to work to lever- of three scheduled preparatory Bahamian Shevaun Culmer is the mer, and having spent part of Feb- eign Affairs. age the economic and innovative meetings designed to smooth the new programme manager at the ruary 2009 developing policy pro- power of the private sector for path to the CICTE meeting sched- Secretariat of the Inter-American posals for the government in Sene- Excited counter terrorism efforts in the uled for March 17-9, 2010. The Committee Against Terrorism gal as part of an elite student western hemisphere through pub- Bahamas will serve as Vice Chair (CICTE), the anti-terrorism arm group. She has also studied in Asked to define her state of lic/private partnerships. of the CICTE until March 2010, of the Organisation of American Spain and the Dominican Repub- mind after having secured the As a theme for CICTE X, The and then take over chairmanship States (OAS). lic. CICTE position, Culmer said: Bahamas has proposed “Public- of the committee. Culmer assumes the post at a Culmer, 23, this year completed “Excited, anxious and ready to Private Partnerships In The Fight The working group now chaired time when The Bahamas is serving a Masters Degree in Public Policy go.” Against Terrorism”. by The Bahamas is responsible for as the Vice Chair of the CICTE, from the Gerald R Ford School of In addition to her newly-mint- It is expected this theme will drafting of the documents that will and also head of the Working Public Policy at the University of ed Public Policy degree, Culmer “engender lively and productive be presented and approved at the Group tasked with preparing for Michigan. During her schooling, discussion and further the dialogue CICTE meeting next March. Financial boost for EVERY CHILD COUNTS PRESENTATION of part proceeds from the Antique Auto Club of The Bahamas 2009 Antique Car Show; Murray Forde, Club Secretary, Mrs, Lyn Major, Administrator, Marsden Lawley, Senior Teacher and Valen- cia Duvra, student. SENIOR TEACHER Marsden Lawley in his classroom, which houses students being educated at the Grade 7 through 12 level. THE Antique Auto Club of The The School was started more than 10 sak, of Florida International University, Unlike specialised schools which deal Bahamas recently donated half of the years ago by Lyn Major when she dis- Every Child Counts was born. with one type of disability, the students proceeds of its 2009 antique car show to covered there was no educational facility The school is exceeding capacity with have a wide range of disabilities including Every Child Counts, a school for chil- for children for special needs in Abaco. 106 students. It has a dedicated staff of 19, developmental disabilities, autism, cere- dren with special needs in Marsh Har- With assistance from Rev Kolsa of St including nine specially-trained teachers bral palsy, deafness and Down’s syn- bour, Abaco. Frances de Sales Church and Dr S Kos- and 20 to 30 volunteers. drome. In brief Carnival Dream cruise ship in inaugural voyage to Lucayan Harbour Row leads to stabbing A HEATED row between two neighbours turned vio- lent leaving a man in hospital nursing a knife wound to the chest. The victim, a 37-year- old resident of Elizabeth Estates, told police he and his neighbour were involved in an altercation around 5.55pm on Thursday. During the exchange, the victim says he was stabbed once to the chest with a knife. His condition is described as “stable”. A 33-year-old man is help- ing officers with their inquiries. FREEPORT – The Carnival Dream cruise ship made its inaugural voyage to Lucayan Harbour yesterday.