NATIONAL NOTES
Carol Leach, a British primary school teacher employed by the Ministry of Education & Training at Green Castle Primary School, Eleuthera, was murdered at her home on the evening of 22nd August.
Ronald Bosfield, candidate of the governing Free National Movement party, defeated Neville Adderley of the Progressive Liberal Party in a bye election for the South Andros constituency on 5th September. This victory now means every Out Island seat is held by the FNM. The bye election was called following the retirement from politics of Sir Lynden Pindling, former Prime Minister and MP for South Andros.
It is expected that a bill legislating use of seat belts in passenger vehicles will soon be introduced to the House and should take effect by 1st January 1998.
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham left The Bahamas on 14th September for a 17 day visit to the People's Republic of China, the first since the government of The Bahamas established diplomatic relations with Beijing in May of this year. Prime Minister Ingraham is expected to include Hong Kong in his itinerary as well as visit the Cook Islands.