Sir Stafford Sands, the most powerful man in the Bahamas during the 1960s, claimed to have information linking the Duke of Windsor to a major cover-up in the Oakes murder case of 1943.
The former Bahamas finance minister, who launched the country’s tourism boom, said he had secret documentation which would serve as an “insurance policy” if he ever fell on hard times, it was claimed yesterday.
The astonishing disclosure was made shortly after the 1967 general election in which the Bay Street Boys and their party, the UBP, were swept from power by the PLP under Lynden Pindling.
Sir Stafford, the kingpin of the UBP at the time, was asked by British journalist Roy East where his future lay following his party’s defeat at the polls. Sands replied that the British government would always look after him because of information he possessed about the Duke and the Oakes murder mystery.
Mr East said the documentation was described by Sir Stafford as an “insurance policy” against any future problems he might have.
