Former Sports Minister Denies Corruption Allegations

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Former Free National Movement Cabinet Minister Lanisha Rolle denied allegations of corruption at her arraignment in the Supreme Court on Friday.

Prosecutors allege that Rolle, while serving as the Minister of Youth Sports and Culture, conspired with others to award fraudulent contracts worth $768,989.56 between 2010 and 2021.

She’s also accused of accepting a bribe of $48,303.74 as a reward for granting a contract to G and C landscaping for work at the Grand Bahamas Sporting Complex.

Rolle and her husband, Vontenken Rolle, are accused of conspiracy to commit fraud concerning a $168,000 contract awarded for work at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

Wilfred Rolle and Godfrey Burrows are accused of conspiracy to commit fraud by false pretenses regarding a $34,600 contract for work at the South Beach Pools and Burrows is accused of reviving that amount by false pretenses.

The accused denied the allegations at their arraignment before Senior Justice Bernard Turner.

Their trial has assigned to Justice Guillimina Archer-Minns. She will fix a trial date when they appear before her on July 5.