They were sent to prison immediately following their sentencing. However, the court of Appeal has stayed the sentencing and granted bail pending its review by the Justices. It is a rather unusual step, but it doesn't surprise me that it has been done considering who we are dealing with here. Do I agree that the sentences were unduly harsh and should be reviewed? Yes I do. Should they be granted bail? Absolutely not in my opinion. They have been convicted!

This entire fiasco stinks all the way to hell. Imagine Shame Gibson having the gumption to stand up in parliament and with a straight face say to the Bahamian people that the government wants to use the people's social security fund to make entitlement payments to the City Market employees, which is their employer's responsibility. I struggle to understand how and why the Finlaysons are not in jail for outright refusing to pay the workers what is legally entitled to them. These guys are FILTHY rich and sit by, along with the government, the courts, the oppostion, and the public while the city Market employees starve to death!!! What kind of madness is this??? The money in NIB is MINE Shame Gibson! We pay our contributions so that we can enjoy the benefits. It is not some slush fund for the govt to control to pay off PLP party supporters! This foolishness has got to stop! I am mad as hell!

Nonsense! It was the order of the court! Guilt is irrelevant!

Really makes you wonder who is fighting for the small man. The rationale that even during record unemployment, Bahamians can afford such ridiculous increases in the cost of everything is badly flawed. We wont wake up until we crash and burn!

Wow...in light of the very serious allegations made against Mr. Cargill, I am floored that you would suggest that he has in some way been vindicated. While it would provide significant peace of mind to me and the Bahamian people at large if Mr. Cargill is exonerated and the allegations against him are proven untrue, it is unbelievable that in the face of the evidence (and the allegations in general) you would dismiss it as weightless. I hope you are not guided solely by your politics here. It is ok to be proud, loud, and FNM, but at the expense of our social security and all benefactors? I say investigate them all, and throw them all in jail if found guilty. I care not who they voted for!

Private citizens (who happened to be, at the time, clients of the current AG) had guns found in their homes by the police. The matter goes to trial. Their former attorney happens to be out of the country on the 28th of November (on govt. business...hmmm.) then the acting AG enters a Nolle and have them discharged because it is a matter of national security??? Someone, somewhere really take the Bahamian people for fools! We must demand a better explanation than this! I guess we call it a national security issue so that the defense for nontransparency is it is in the national interest to remain mute on the matter. Boy I tell ya...PLP in power.

een no money in da jar! All dun get caay! Gubmint hire up all dese people and know dey cant pay dem. Documents my rear!! Three months and the contractors can't be paid until they go down there and physically accost ministry officials??? I'm just sorry Colin Higgs is dragged into this affair and as the PS has to make up excuses for the non-payment. So so sad...

Fredericka? It is sad that in order to make a point you need to be disrespectful. That said, my position as a taxpayer find it detestable that Governments are allowed to buy votes at the expense of the public. Peter is no better than Paul, and both administrations are guilty of it. The idea that unqualified persons can decide to remain unqualified, have many children that they can not afford then run to the government for jobs of political patronage. We suffer in an environment where the country struggles to maintain an increasingly financially unsustainable civil service, which is one of the largest (per capita) and most unproductive in the world. Don't get me wrong: I have no problem with political appointments of well trained talent that enables us to realize a return on the investment. But to continue to rely on the government for direct employment of thousands of persons is a flawed strategy. I prefer to see the government train these individuals to so that they can compete nationally and globally, rather than extend temporary "work programs" to win the seat of political power.

I have become so apathetic with Tal's posts. His perpetual diatribe against Hubert Ingraham and FNMs (or "Red shirts" as he calls them) is becoming old and irritating. I am getting nearer to ignoring his posts altogether.

I don't see why they should offer their services for free and I don't believe that they "will not receive any remuneration of any kind for or in connection with their services." Considering the sensitivity of this transaction and the unlikelihood of success, the government would want to attract the brightest and best negotiators which of course will come at a price. Which other Government consultant or negotiator works for free? If it doesn't make sense it's not true.