NATIONAL NOTES

September 2001 Table of Contents

NATIONAL NOTES

First Caribbean International Bank: Two of the largest banks in The Bahamas, Barclays and CIBC (Bahamas), will merge over the next two years to form First Caribbean International Bank. The merger will allow the new bank to compete more successfully in the new financial environment.

Shark Attacks: Wall Street banker Krishna Thompson, 36, was attacked by a shark while celebrating his 10th wedding anniversary with his wife at Our Lucaya Beach Resort, Grand Bahama, on 4th August. Thompson had taken a morning swim and left his wife in his hotel room. A shark attacked him in less than five feet of water and shredded his left leg from just above the knee. Thompson made it to shore and, remarkably, was able to write his hotel room in the sand before collapsing. His wife Ave Maria was able to be with him on the beach and then accompany him to the Rand Memorial Hospital where he went into cardiac arrest and received blood transfusions. Thompson was later airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital where his leg was amputated above the knee. Also on Grand Bahama on 16th August a Miami man was bitten by a shark while swimming at North Riding Point Club. He too was taken to Rand Memorial Hospital and then on to Jackson Memorial Hospital with injuries which were reported as not life threatening.

Bahamian Gold and Silver: The Bahamas was unable to field a Women's 4 x 100 m relay team at the Edmonton, Alberta, 2001 World Championships despite holding both Olympic and World Championships titles, so it was time for a new star to take the stage. Enter Avard Moncur to win one of the most prestigious track events, the Men's 400 metres. The distance had been ruled by Michael Johnson for the past decade but 6' 5" Moncur won all his heats impressively and ran a strong 44.64 seconds final to leave his opponents in his wake. Chandra Sturrup and Debbie Ferguson failed to medal in the Women's 100m, coming fourth and sixth respectively. Debbie Ferguson took silver in the Women's 200m and the Men's 4 x 400 m relay team of Chris Brown, Tim Munnings, Carl Oliver, Avard Moncur and Abaco's Troy McIntosh also won silver. Three World Championship medals for a country as small as The Bahamas was a truly magnificent achievement.

Leadership Fight: Free National Movement delegates from all over The Bahamas voted at Workers' House on 16th August to select the next leader of the party. Tommy Turnquest, son of Governor-General Sir Orville and Lady Turnquest, won with 192 votes while Algernon Allen polled 116 votes and Tennyson Wells 73 votes. In a separate vote Deon Foulkes beat Lester Turnquest 246-131 to become deputy leader designate. The Rt Hon Hubert Ingraham will remain as prime minister until the next general election which will be held some time within the next seven months. If the FNM win the election Tommy Turnquest will become the nation's third ever prime minister.

September 2001 Table of Contents