Reports of a series of robberies against crew members working on Parts 2 and 3 of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy being filmed on the island are presently under investigation, Bahamas Film and Television Commission Film Manager Donna Mackey said yesterday.
Attempts made by The Freeport News to get information from the police regarding the robbery allegations made by Jemini Seven Entertainment CEO Jason Kakebeen have been fruitless, with officers failing to return phone calls.
In fact, according to The Nassau Guardian, Mr. Kakebeen claimed that police officers in Freeport accused the film crew of lying about the incidents when they made their complaints.
Mr. Kakebeen claims that crew members and some of the films’ actors were robbed four times over a one-month period while on location in Grand Bahama.
Altogether, he says that approximately $20,000 worth of equipment and cheques were stolen.
“We’ve had a slew of robberies on the actors who are currently working for Pirates of the Caribbean over at the Port Lucaya Resort,” Mr. Kakebeen said. “They (the robbers) were able to get into the room with a key and stole everything from laptops, passports, cheques, and other equipment. The money they stole was actually the actors’ pay checks.”
Mr. Kakebeen also reported to The Guardian that upon wrapping up of shooting, it will be the last time his company films in The Bahamas, adding that when the latest robbery occurred on November 11, top movie companies decided to refrain from ever again investing on the island.
“This may affect the fact that Walt Disney will never do business at Freeport Island again, as well as Sony and Warner Bros.,” he said. “I know that these companies bring the island a lot of money.”
Mr. Kakebeen then went even further with consequences the island would face if their matter was not resolved satisfactorily. His company is requesting reimbursement of the $5,000 allegedly stolen. The company is offering a $2,500 reward to anybody who can assist them with retrieving the stolen goods.
As a result of the robberies, Mr. Kakebeen said two actors have left the island in fear of their lives. The abrupt departure of the two actors added with the loss of equipment has brought production to a standstill, he said.
The sequels to Disney’s 2003 blockbuster film “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” which grossed over $600 million worldwide, was taking place at the immense Collyer Tank at The Bahamas Film Studios at Gold Rock Creek.
Mr. Kakebeen gave no word on when the filming of “Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and 3” would recommence.
By JEREMY FRANCIS, Freeport News Reporter
