The Neville Bethel Sr Building.
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
AS PUBLIC concern grows over the National Intelligence Agency, The Tribune set out to find the heart of the organisation’s operations.
Yesterday, a reporter and photographer from this newspaper arrived at the Neville Bethel Senior building on Nassau Street, which is guarded by an electronic gate, barbed wire fencing and tinted windows.
Once entrance to the premises was granted to us, a man dressed in plain clothes emerged from the building. He offered his assistance.
I then identified myself and told the man that I was searching for the offices of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
However, he insisted that while the building did not house the NIA, it was home to a law office. With that, he was asked which attorneys operated at the facility. The man refused to say.
The man further said that if I were looking for legal services, I would know prior to making the visit for which lawyer to enquire.
When asked if we could take a look inside, the man refused. He said the request was against the firm’s procedures.
Later, an inquiry was made with an employee at the Portrait Studio, at the top of the Hill Nassau Street.
The employee said that Neville Bethel Sr was the owner of the building which is opposite the studio. He added that while he could not say specifically what was operating from the facility, he could confirm that a government office was operating there.
Comments
Cobalt 10 years, 7 months ago
NIA??? Don't make me laugh. I'm guessing that this is suppose to be the Bahamian version of the United State's CIA??? It's more like an inversion! What a joke. In case people haven't realized, there is nothing about this country that exemplifies intelligence. Especially coming from a branch of government. They can't even get a dump fire under control. Thanks for another good laugh Perry.
discouragedBahamian 10 years, 7 months ago
How in the world can there be an agency when there is no framework for it. It would appear that any work they are doing in the meantime is without any authority including any alleged employees. BREAKING THE LAW! Can there really be any trust in them?
Cobalt 10 years, 7 months ago
One of the major reasons why our nation has so many problems is due to corruption in high branches of government and national security. So what does our Prime Minister do??? He establishes another clandestine organization, shrouded in secrecy, with the ability to violate every constitutional right possible. And what's so funny is... in any democratic, sovereign country, the branches of government that exist must establish the reason for their existence; the manner in which their services are to be rendered to the state; and their limits to power. Furthermore, it must be presented in black and white as a form of a decree to the citizens of that country for all to see (they can be read in any law book or constitutional manual). For example... in the United States all authoritative branches of government are under either the executive branch (the president), the legislative branch (congress), or the Supreme Court. Each branch's powers are limited by the other. This is done to protect basic human rights. For example... a police officer needs either your permission or a warrant to enter your home. But here in the Bahamas, the government does as they wish without any laws to govern their actions, or no legal recourse to aid their victims. Now I know some readers are going to say that the Bahamas is not the United States. But at the same time, I fear that we are becoming a banana republic.
realfreethinker 10 years, 7 months ago
Remember the tonton macoutes the secret police in haiti. they were not created by law but by the whim of the president and we all know how that turned out . This government is really pushing the limits and rights of Bahamians. We had better start speaking out against this type of rule. This is not an fnm problem but a Bahamian problem
BahamianAway 10 years, 7 months ago
Just let me get my family out before "yinna" stage a coup. I seriously think with all the corruption in the government and crime on the streets Bahamians are headed in that direction.
Cobalt 10 years, 7 months ago
That's right
sheeprunner12 10 years, 7 months ago
DO YALL SEE WHO IS RUNNING THAT "AGENCY"???????? A FELLA WHO WAS A MOP MARINE, FAILED RBDF COMMODORE AND BUNGLING HAITIAN DIPLOMAT..... LMAO
WHAT A MESS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
John 10 years, 7 months ago
Can you see the bigger picture? The establishment of this intelligence unit, the tax reform to meet international standards, and other treaties this country has signed on to is leading up to one thing: The NEW WORLD ORDER. They gonna gather up information on you, your lifestyle, your social activities, your religion, who you interact with etc. Then when the time comes they will decide if you can become a member of the NWO a society run by the illumanati and satan himself.
B_I_D___ 10 years, 7 months ago
I almost want to agree with ya there John!! LOL
paul_vincent_zecchino 10 years, 7 months ago
Agree.
CuriousAbaconian 10 years, 7 months ago
Have to agree with Cobalt and the General on this one. Our government can't put out fires keep the power on, etc. yet we're supposed to be concerned over them spying on us and gathering information? HA! What a laugh!
Bahamianpride 10 years, 7 months ago
LOL, what u have is about 3-4 fat cops sitting in there eating KFC...
birdiestrachan 10 years, 7 months ago
I may be mistaken, But I believe it was Dr. Minnis who said this was the Office of the agency. apparently this is not so. The Doctor will have to go and dig all over again.
banker 10 years, 7 months ago
A day in the life of an NIA agent
8:00 AM Wake up. Kick sweetheart #3 out of bed. Tell her to make the coffee on the way out.
8:05 AM Answer texts from sweethearts #1 and #2
8:10 AM Phone wife, tell her still on overnight stake-out to catch illegal Haitians
8:30 AM Head out the door, stop to get boil fish from lady selling it out her trunk by roundabout
9:00 AM Boil fish and grits repeating. Pick up Guinness in a paper sack to clear the gas.
10:00 AM Pick up Punch to get material for intelligence reports.
10:30 AM Drive by the #10 stop to see if that cute lil maid is waiting for the jitney. If she is there offer a ride to work.
11:00 AM No maid. Reach office.
11:10 AM Wait for boss to reach. When he arrives, see who gets asue draw this week.
11:30 AM Actual spying. Use sweetheart's password to read Yahoo account to see if she seeing someone else.
12:00 Noon Read Rodney Moncur Facebook page.
12:15 PM Phone sweetheart at police station reception. Ask what is new. Take notes.
12:30 PM Send notes to Bahamas Press for their man-on-spot daily news.
12:45 PM Head out to collect BahamasPress money. Box number 666 at Island Luck.
1:00 PM Go for lunch to Chequers. Flirt with cute but fat jungliss there.
2:30 PM back to office for some more spying on Facebook/hottislandgirls
3:00 PM Pick up new Jamaican girl and deliver to Village Road hotel to meet with deputy PM.
4:00 PM check on all sweethearts to make sure they where they should be.
5:00 PM crack out intelligence report from Punch gravevine. Tell the cute secretary to type it and give it to Butch.
5:30 PM Phone wife. Tell her that they must be on duty tonight to watch for Haitians. Head over to have a drink with the boys before meeting sweetheart at 7:30 PM.
Emac 10 years, 7 months ago
LOLOL. Some hilarius shite banker! You gat dese government workers down to a t. Now you gon cause dem to start spying on you.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 7 months ago
Sounds terrible and embarassing .................. but probably in the ballpark
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