Grand Bahamian business leaders are in a state of shock and dumbfounded over the impact that last night’s murder of prominent businessman Arne Petersen will have on the country.
Sixty-six-year old Petersen, who was a major investor in both Grand Bahama and South Andros, had just concluded a meeting with several international investors, who were considering injecting tens of millions of dollars into the Bahamas.
After concluding what was described as a “successful meeting,” Petersen returned to his residence on Jolly Rodger Drive with his companion, where he was reportedly robbed and murdered.
Police say the Danish investor, who was the biggest time-share operator in Freeport, Ritz Beach, the principal investor in that island’s Flamingo Bay Hotel and Marina, as well as the Las Palmas Hotel in South Andros, was sitting on his bed watching television with his companion when two males dressed in dark clothing kicked open the door and demanded cash.
One of the suspects was armed with a handgun and the other with a knife.
Mr. Petersen reportedly gave the culprits an undetermined amount of cash, however the gunman proceeded to shoot the man, whom many say treated his employees as though they were family.
Around 9:30pm, officers and an ambulance were dispatched to the scene where they found Petersen lying on the floor in the southeastern bedroom of his two-storey home, with a gunshot wound to the left chest. Petersen succumbed to his injuries almost an hour later at the Rand Memorial Hospital.
One of the suspects has been described as approximately six feet, two inches tall, while the other is said to be short.
According to Petersen’s lawyer, Terrance Gape, the businessman, whose death will be a tremendous loss to the Freeport community, employed more than 300 Bahamians at his various establishments including Pirates of the Bahamas, a popular beach club and theme park frequented by tourists.
“He was a very generous man who was always willing to help his employees,” said Shane Smith, Assistant Manager at Pirates of the Bahamas, employer of 18 workers.
Several years ago, Mr. Petersen purchased the Las Palmas Hotel and was in the process of completing extensive renovations to the property, including the addition of 23 new villas.
According to Mr. Gape, a soft opening of the renovated hotel was planned for the end of this month. Mr. Petersen’s murder is the second for Grand Bahama and the tenth for the country
Meantime, family members of a Nassau businessman are also still reeling from the shock of his death early Saturday evening, just moments from his Village Road home.
Creative Edge proprietor James Bethel and his five-year-old daughter were just attempting to enter his vehicle parked outside the Tropical Nursery Garden Floral & Pet Supplies Ltd., Village Road, when they were approached by two men.
“It is believed that during this time a struggle ensued,” said police press liaison officer Superintendent Hulan Hanna. “As a result, Bethel was shot in the chest. His daughter however, managed to escape unarmed.”
Bethel, a resident of #4 Tuckaway Road, off Village Road, died en route to the Princess Margaret Hospital, pushing the country’s murder rate to nine.
According to Superintendent Hanna, the suspects fled the scene in a light bluish grey Nissan Sentra with at least three of the license plate numbers reading 382.
They were reportedly heading in a southern direction along Village Road.
Speaking with Love 97’s Issues of the Day radio talk show host, Jeff Lloyd earlier today was Mr. Bethel’s widow, Shiela, who urged everyone to come together in solving the country’s current crime wave.
“If you can’t go down to your local nursery to buy budgie seeds, we have a real serious problem here,” she said. “They’re some crazy, crazy people out there.”
While police officers are following leads into the matter, they are however appealing to persons with any additional information to call 328-8477.
Police are also investigating a suspicious death of a Grand Bahama construction worker that occurred early yesterday morning.
Dead is 25-year-old Desi McIntosh.
Police say around 3:10am Sunday, a woman telephoned the Police Control Room reporting that while driving along the Grand Bahama highway – about two and a half miles east of the water tanks, she ran over what appeared to be a human body in the road.
On arrival to the scene police discovered the body of a black male with dreadlocks, dressed in blue sweat pants, a blue shirt and white socks, lying in the east bound lane of the highway, with multiple severe injuries to his head, facial area, abdomen and right arm.
One foot of his tennis shoe was found some distance from the his body and a second foot, in the bushes off the southern side of the road, along with fibreglass material that appeared to have come from a motor vehicle.
The man appeared to have been killed instantly.
Investigations continue into all cases.
By Oswald Brown / Macushla N. Pinder, The Bahama Journal
