The British family of a toddler killed in a speedboat accident in the Bahamas three years ago are demanding that the Prime Minister and the Queen of England expel the Bahamas from the Commonwealth.
Paul, 40, and Andrea, 39, had been vacationing at the Atlantis resort in August 2002 when their youngest child, two year old Paul Jr. was fatally struck by an out-of-control speedboat.
They claim they met a “wall of silence” from Bahamian authorities and still insist that they did not give their son’s death due attention because they wanted to protect the country’s tourist industry.
During the British inquest into Paul’s death, which ended last year witn an open verdict, both parents broke down in tears as they gave evidence to the coroner.
According to the couple, the Gallagher family had been staying at the Atlantis resort and were sitting on Cabbage beach near a lifeguard tower when a speedboat pulling an inflatable banana float lost control and sped onto the beach.
Mr. Gallagher told the court that her instinct was to throw herself forward as the boat loomed towards her head, realising too late that the boat would collide with her two sons.
A nearby surgeon and another physician attempted to help Paul, who had received grave injuries from the boat’s propeller. He died five days later.
The inquest was told that Attorney General Alfred Sears confirmed that the driver of the boat, operated by Sea and Ski Ocean Sports was not licenced or insured at the time of the accident.
Source: Kilah Rolle, The Tribune
