Black Immigrant Daily News

Six Jamaican men who were caught cultivating a marijuana farm in North Andros in the Bahamas, were sentenced to prison on Thursday for two-and-a-half years each.

According to the Nassau Guardian newspaper, officers from the Drug Enforcement Unit arrested Leroy Douglas, Walford Reid, Jermaine Jones, Devon Simpson, Bruce Palmer, and Everton Palmer on August 14, after conducting two days of surveillance on the farm.

During an arraignment before Magistrate Samuel McKinney, the men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess dangerous drugs with intent to supply, possession of dangerous drugs, and cultivation of dangerous drugs in relation to the four-acre marijuana farm that had 25,000 plants and 20,000 seedlings.

The illegal crop has a street value of B$2.5 million, according to police.

McKinney sentenced the men to concurrent sentences of two-and-a-half years on each count. Additionally, he gave the convicts the choice of paying a B$7,500 fine or spending an additional six months in prison.

The men also pleaded guilty to drug possession in relation to the seizure of four grams of marijuana that police found while searching their home.

They were each fined B$250. If the fine is not paid, they will spend a month in prison.

Inspector Timothy Bain prosecuted and the convicts were unrepresented. They face deportation to Jamaica on completion of their sentence.

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These men protest the ban on scrap iron exports at Southern Main Road, Claxton Bay on Tuesday. Photo by Marvin Hamilton

Southern Division Task Force police arrested seven scrap-iron workers after a protest on Thursday night in Claxton Bay.

Earlier that day, a group of men from the industry blocked Temple Street with branches and old scrap iron to express frustration over the recently implemented six-month ban on the export of scrap iron.

The workers threatened more action if their calls for government to rethink the ban are ignored. They also condemned the Opposition and scrap-iron dealers for doing nothing to prevent the ban.

In a release on Friday afternoon, police said they were alerted to another protest involving scrap-iron dealers and workers at Cedar Hill Road, Claxton Bay between 8 pm and midnight.

They arrested seven men between 20 and 41, all from the Claxton Bay area, for disorderly behaviour and resisting arrest.

Several other people at the protest escaped.

President of the Scrap Iron Dealers Association Allan Ferguson is now calling on those in the industry to stand down and take the correct route to demonstrate their dissatisfaction.

In a phone interview with Newsday on Friday, Ferguson said, “I am aware of the arrests, and we hope good sense prevail. We will do what we can do through legal counsel to see what the association can do.

“We spoke to them and told them we understand people are angry that they are now out of work and can’t feed their family.

“We understand all of that. But we are working hard to get a meeting with the authorities, and we hope our rally planned for next Wednesday will make a difference.

“We want to send a strong message. We are doing our best and seeking all the necessary advice.”

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Norman Dindial

THE National Transformation Alliance (NTA) on Friday announced another appointment to its national governance team.

In a statement, the party unveiled former Lt Commander Norman Dindial as its central co-ordinator.

The statement said Dindial, a military/Coast Guard career officer, has over 26 years’ experience in joint and inter-agency lead operations focusing on drug interdiction, migration, border control and illicit trafficking of people, weapons and narcotics.

“He has considerable experience in education and training, strategic planning and human resources, organisational development and restructuring.”

The NTA added that Dindial is also competent in oil-spill response, fisheries conservation, exclusive economic zone protection and coastal zone management.

His role will be to develop and maintain relationships with communities, residents and organisations to achieve shared goals and co-ordinate logistics for in-person and/or virtual meetings and events.

On Monday, the NTA announced announced Lorraine Pouchet as a deputy political leader..

In a statement, the NTA said she will be second in command after political leader Gary Griffith and a member of the national governance team.

Pouchet has worked in the domestic tourism sector for more than 35 years.

On Wednesday, Nikoli Edwards was announced as another NTA deputy leader. He will be responsible for the party’s youth programmes.

Edwards is also leader of the Progressives Party. He said a partnership between the Progressives and the NTA could give both of them a greater chance of success at the national polls.

Edwards added that he had acceded to requests to join with the NTA to present alternatives to the two traditional political parties (PNM and UNC).

On August 12, the NTA announced actor Errol Fabien as its communications director. Fabien, who has contested previous general elections as an independent candidate, is also a member of the party’s national governance team.

His role is to ensure that the NTA’s “vision, mission and policies align strategically with the NTA’s corporate identity and brand ethos to effectively connect with the NTA’s target audiences.”

In a series of videos posted on social media, Griffith (a former commissioner of police and national security minister) has said the NTA has been seeking to attract the best talent into its ranks as it prepares for the task of governance.

Griffith has promised to announce the members of the NTA’s leadership when they have been chosen.

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Seven students formerly from the Vieux Fort Comprehensive and Choiseul Secondary schools are recipients of new laptops provided by the Ministry of Education to assist with their studies in Jamaica.

Chris Satney has more in this report.

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SOURCE: Ministry of Education

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