Black Immigrant Daily News

The interior of a restaurant on the Anchorage Road was gutted by fire on Friday night, August 26, and officials are investigating the cause.

Reports say that a woman saw flames coming from the kitchen and a male patron telephoned the Fire Department. The St. John’s Station responded at 11:08 p.m., about three minutes after receiving the call.

On arrival at the scene, they reportedly met the 65’ x 25’ building partially engulfed in flames.

In spite of having received a number of refurbished fire tenders recently, the Fire Department had to be assisted by Hugh Christian’s water services, which reportedly arrived on the scene at 11:20 p.m.

Electricity to the restaurant and in the area was suppressed by the Antigua Public Utilities Authority as firefighters battled the blaze. This suppression occurred shortly after midnight.

According to the owner of the business, she had secured the premises at about 10:30 p.m. before she left for home; she later received a phone call notifying her about the fire.

This was the second fire to be recorded on that side of the island within a few days.

A man reportedly lost his life on Wednesday night, August 24, during a house fire in Gambles. Investigations into the fire and confirmation of the person’s identity of the person are ongoing.

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President of the TT Scrap Iron Dealers Association Allan Ferguson.

SCRAP Iron Dealers Association president Allan Ferguson has dismissed a statement by Social Development and Family Services Minister Donna Cox that relief is available from her ministry for people affected by Government’s decision to ban scrap-iron exports for six months.

Addressing the issue at a news conference in Kelly Village, Caroni, Ferguson declared, “That is totally false.”

Reiterating the association’s position that it does not condone any illegal acts, Ferguson said he met with scrap-iron workers in Claxton Bay in recent weeks to appeal to them not to stage protests.

He added that they asked in response whether he can feed them or pay their bills for six months.

“I can’t do that.”

Steel Workers Union president Timothy Bailey, who represented the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) at the conference, also questioned if Government was giving any relief to scrap-iron workers or their families since the industry was closed.

“You have young black people, citizens of TT, who are on the breadline.”

Scrap-iron worker Nancy Pierre said she has been working in the industry for ten years.

“I drive a van and my husband is the loader.”

She said since the industry closed, they have not had an income. Pierre is concerned about being unable to pay her mortgage.

After hearing she could get a grant from the Social Development and Family Services Ministry, Pierre said, she called the ministry in Port of Spain and was told to go its Chaguanas office for assistance.

She said staff there told her there was no relief specifically available for her and she would have to apply through the regular channels.

Pierre said she had been told this process could take two months.

“I need money now. I have no idea what to do.”

On August 27, Cox rejected claims made by Chaguanas East MP Vandana Mohit on August 25 that people displaced by the ban on exporting scrap iron were ineligible for state grants.

“Scrap-iron dealers can apply for any of the grants once they are eligible.”

Any member of the member of the public can apply for the grants offered by the ministry.

Cox said, “The Food Support Grant is offered to all eligible citizens and legal residents of TT. Scrap-iron dealers in need of food can apply in the event that they are in need of food.”

Applicants must pass the standard means test to qualify for this grant. The qualifying criteria include being citizens or legal residents of TT and passing a means test to show the net income for the household is equal to or less than the household poverty line of $1,439.

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The mother of a man who succumbed after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds on Sunday in Roseau has described the deceased, Kelvin Polius, as a caring father to his two children.

“He was always checking on his children. His children will miss him a lot,” Elizabeth Polius recalled.

The mother disclosed that Kelvin’s half-sister had said that the deceased indicated he was going to Roseau for some chicken and fries.

Emergency responders said fire service headquarters in Castries and the Babonneau fire station had responded after a multiple-shooting report at Roseau early on Sunday morning.

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The responders disclosed that they found law enforcement officers at the scene and a thirty-five-year-old male with gunshot wounds to the head and face.

He later succumbed.

In addition, there was a 29-year-old man who had sustained gunshot wounds to the shoulder and back.

An ambulance transported him in stable condition to the OKEU Hospital,

The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) said Sunday’s shooting in Roseau occurred around 1:10 am.

Headline photo: Kelvin Polius – deceased

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El alcalde de Aguadilla, Julio Roldán, anunció la creación de un sistema de educación municipal.   Este sistema educativo, tendrá como fin estimular la creatividad, incentivar el uso de la tecnología y el trabajo en equipo de los estudiantes.

“La educación es una inversión para el desarrollo de nuestro pueblo.  Por esta razón, y ante los retos que enfrentamos como País, es importante que busquemos nuevas herramientas para ofrecerle a nuestros ciudadanos.  Es por esto, que recientemente presentamos un proyecto de ordenanza que le dará paso al primer sistema de educación que consistirá en una escuela de excelencia fomentando la educación bilingüe y especializada en deportes”, expresó el Alcalde.

Este Sistema de Educación Municipal, ofrecerá servicios a los niños y jóvenes en edad escolar, desde elemental hasta secundaria, formado por escuelas especializadas y programas y proyectos especiales dirigidos a mejorar y ampliar laeducación de los estudiantes de Aguadilla.  

“La cultura educacional que estamos proponiendo funcionará en base distinta.  Desde implementar ambos, el inglés y el buen español, en nuestros cursos, hasta fomentar la práctica y enseñanzas de deportes como béisbol, baloncesto, volibol y deportes no tradicionales como el golf y el surfing.  Aplicaremos un diseño curricular integrado que asegurará una preparación completa de nuestros estudiantes.           Adicional, utilizará un programa de becas y ayudas económicas que suplirán materiales y equipos necesarios a estudiantes de escasos recursos. Estos incluirán libros, computadoras, materiales y otros”, añadió.              

Entre los lineamientos de este sistema educativo, que fue diseñado por un grupo de profesionales de la educación, maestros y deportistas, se destaca la enseñanza Montessori en tempranas edades, la formación ética y cívica de los estudiantes y una evaluación de conceptos basados en el análisis de problemas.  Además, promoverá que los maestros sean facilitadores y no protagonistas del sistema educativo, ya que alentarán la interacción de los estudiantes al impulsarlo a desarrollar su capacidad analítica.

“Como constructores de un nuevo país y de un nuevo Aguadilla, debemos ofrecerle a nuestros jóvenes las herramientas necesarias para su desarrollo, por eso la formación cívica y ética serán componentes medulares en el diseño curricular.  En adición, las pruebas para evaluar los conocimientos y destrezas aprendidas por los alumnos se basarán en el análisis de problemas y situaciones, no en la memorización o repetición de conceptos.  Con esto, estaremos incentivando el pensamiento crítico y la resolución de problemas de los estudiantes, no un aprendizaje de embotellamiento”, indicó.

“Tenemos que apoyar a nuestros jóvenes ofreciéndoles herramientas que aseguren sus logros.  Debido a esto, este innovador sistema le garantizará a los graduandos una primera experiencia de empleo antes de entrar al mundo laboral. Asegurando una preparación completa, vinculando la educación con la práctica. El fin que perseguimos con esto es devolverle a la escuela la función que tuvo como instrumento integrador de la comunidad puertorriqueña y nos aseguraremos que todo tipo de estudiante reciba una educación de calidad por igual”, finalizó.

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Agentes, adscritos al precinto de Hato Rey Oeste, investigaron una querella de apropiación ilegal en los predios de La Terraza, en el tercer nivel del centro comercial Plaza Las Américas, en Hato Rey. 

Según indicó el querellante, Héctor Ojeda, residente en San Juan, se levantó de su silla de ruedas para ir al baño y dejó en la misma un bulto negro con su wallet, llaves, espejuelos y teléfono celular. 

Luego, cuando el perjudicado regresó a su silla se percató que alguien se apropió del mismo. 

El querellante no valoró la propiedad hurtada. 

La agente Daina Martínez, adscrita al precinto de Hato Rey Oeste, investigó el incidente. 

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