Virgin Atlantic Airways mogul Sir Richard Branson told a UK newspaper he will ask Atlantis Resort owner Sol Kerzner to ban jet skis.
Sir Richard, the billionaire owner of the British-based Virgin Group, launched Virgin flights from the UK to The Bahamas in June 2005.
According to the UK paper, 'News Shopper', after learning of the death of two-year-old Paul Gallagher, who died in August 2002 after being struck by an "unmanned speedboat" on the Atlantis resort, Sir Richard joined the 'News Shopper's justice for Paul campaign.' The proponents of the campaign are agitating "for a review into the toddler's death." The News Shopper's web-based story reports that in a letter to an MP in the UK who represents the area where the Gallagher family lives, Sir Richard described the toddler's death as "ghastly".
The child was on the beach of the Atlantis resort when a boat used to pull an inflatable raft broke free and struck him. Less than a year later, a Bahamas Coroner's court jury ruled Paul Jr's death as accidental. The pathologist's report listed the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head, causing a fractured skull, haemorrhaging and lacerations of the brain. However, the finding of accidental death did not sit well with the Gallagher family and the 'News Shopper's justice for Paul Campaign.' The Guardian's attempts to reach an official at the public relations department at Atlantis proved fruitless up to press time.After the toddler's death was declared accidental, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Mark Wilson said the relevant government agencies had done all they could, and as far as they were concerned a proper investigation into the toddler's death was conducted. The hearing was not flawed, he insisted, and when Bahamians meet with any kind of tragedy in other countries, they rely on the relevant authorities to conduct a proper investigation.
However, the Gallagher family is continuing to agitate for the Bahamas government to reopen the case and allow British officers to conduct an investigation.
By LaShonne Outten, The Nassau Guardian
