Black Immigrant Daily News

Oversight of fishing and farming in the territory may be seeing major changes soon following Governor John Rankin’s recent approval of the Food Security and Sustainability Act, 2022.

The House of Assembly passed the bill on April 19, Mr. Rankin assented on July 25, and it was Gazetted July 28.

The legislation covers a broad range of topics, including agriculture practices, fishing regulations, environmental protections, slaughtering, import and export regulations, loose livestock, and even stray pets.

Some of the existing laws that formed the foundation for the act were more than 100 years old and in dire need of an update, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said when he announced the bill in July 2020.

The bill saw extensive input from community members, experts and legislators.

Dr. Wheatley, who was the minister responsible for fisheries and agriculture at the time, said in the House that “many, many amendments” were made based on input received. HOA members met for several days in closed-door committee before passing the bill.

New bodies

To oversee the changes, the law provides for the creation of an Agriculture and Fisheries Management Unit and a VI Agriculture and Fisheries Marketing Authority.

This authority would be empowered to develop a corporate model for fishing and farming complexes, with licensed fishers and farmers having the option of purchasing a portion of shares. The authority’s main aim would be to “support the sustainable and economically viable development of the agriculture and fisheries business in the territory,” according to the law.

The complementary management unit would provide policy advice on ensuring the growth of the industries. The minister of agriculture and fisheries is responsible for bringing the law into force.

‘Dangerous dogs’

In early discussions, some community members expressed concern about how the bill addressed “dangerous dogs.” The original bill defined them as “any type of dog that appears to [the minister] to be bred for fighting, or to have characteristics of a type bred for that purpose.”

It also required such dogs to be “destroyed” within 30 days of an order being made.

The final act, however, includes a more conservative definition of “dangerous dogs,” requiring that they put “the public or other animals at risk for injury or death.”

The law also stipulates that the “acts of barking, growling or showing of teeth by a dog are not enough” to label a dog “dangerous.”

Only animals that commit a specific listed act would be destroyed within 30 days, and the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force could step in if necessary under the law.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

According to the National Hurricane Center, as of Saturday, August 27, 2022, two bad weather systems were in or near the Caribbean region. These are described below.

Eastern Caribbean Sea

Over the Eastern Caribbean Sea, the NHC reported a trough of low pressure, producing minimal shower and thunderstorm activity.

Environmental conditions could become more conducive for slow development of this system during the early or middle part of next week while it moves generally westward at 10 to 15 mph across the central and northwestern Caribbean Sea.

The chance of formation through the next five days is low, at 20 per cent.

Central Tropical Atlantic

Over the central tropical Atlantic Ocean, the NHC reported a broad and complex area of low pressure, which is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms.

The interaction of this feature with an approaching tropical wave could support some gradual development of the system during the early and middle parts of next week while it moves westward to west-northwestward at about 10 mph across the central tropical Atlantic.

The chance of formation through the next five days is low, at 30 per cent.

Dry air helping to calm storm development

In addition to the NHC reports, The Weather Channel reported that dry air is present “over parts of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean near and east of the Lesser Antilles,” which “is likely to keep a lid on Caribbean Sea development for the next few days.” An image of the areas of dry air are depicted below.

Areas of dry air

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

See below for a statement from DDL on its plans to establish a World Trade Center in Guyana: 

A team from Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) headed by Executive Chairman Komal Samaroo has ended a weeklong visit to New York which focused primarily on talks with the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) on developments with the World Trade Center, Georgetown, Guyana for which DDL acquired a license early this year.

The DDL team held wide-ranging discussions with James Perry, General Counsel and Mr. Clark Lackert, Deputy General Counsel at the WTCA head office in New York City on issues related to trademarks, geographic indication, market access, branding, global trade and investment policy and strategies for advancing the interest of small enterprises to ensure their sustainability.

Mr. Samaroo also updated the WTCA top officials on progress being made with the retrofitting of the building on High Street, Kingston which will serve as the World Trade Center and with plans for the branding and utilization of the seven-floor facility. Much of the discussion focused on the programs which the World Trade Center in Guyana will initiate and its collaboration with the more than 300 centers in more than 100 countries to promote prosperity through trade.

The WTCA officials presented a number of gifts to the visiting delegation including the WTCA flag and commemorative coin. The World Trade Center, Georgetown, Guyana is scheduled to be formally opened in February 2023. Arrangements are also currently being put in place with a number of relevant agencies and organizations internationally whose work focus on promoting trade among small and medium size enterprises.

The meeting followed a conducted tour of the Freedom Towers which now house the World Trade Center, New York.

“The visit and discussions with the WTCA officials have given us a better idea of how we can best leverage the work of WTC Georgetown not only to expand the market for DDL’s products but to promote trade and help facilitate market access for products from Guyana particularly through training and infiormation sharing among small and medium size enterprises,” says Mr. Samaroo.

“I am really convinced of the tremendous benefit that a World Trade Center in Guyana will offer the business community through its network of relationships with centers around the world. We are also looking at designating one floor of the facility as a tourist attraction, which will serve as a pleasant educational experience for both Guyanese and overseas visitors,” he said.

During the visit to New York the DDL team held a number of media engagements, paid courtesy calls at the Guyana Permanent Mission to the United Nations and the Guyana Consulate.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

Cargos criminales por Actos Lascivos (Artículo 133 del Código Penal) fueron radicados este jueves contra Carlos Igartúa Laguer, de 57 años y residente de Camuy, quien laboraba como agente de la Policía de Puerto Rico, adscrito a la División de Delitos Sexuales, del Cuerpo de Investigaciones Criminales (CIC) de Arecibo, por supuestos hechos ocurridos durante el mes de febrero de 2022.

Según el parte policíaco, surge de la investigación de la sargento Margarita Burgos Rosario, de la División de Delitos Sexuales del CIC de Utuado, que supuestamente Igartúa Laguer cometió el delito contra una mujer, mayor de edad, mientras ejercía sus funciones como agente del Orden Público en Arecibo.

Este caso se consultó con la fiscal Mariela Rullán Declet, de la Fiscalía de Utuado, quien instruyó la radicación del cargo antes mencionado. La prueba se presentó ante la jueza Melissa Santiago Núñez, del Tribunal de Utuado, quien determinó causa y le señaló una fianza de 40 mil dólares.

Igartúa Laguer prestó la fianza señalada y quedó en libertad hasta la vista preliminar pautada para el 16 de septiembre de 2022.

Debido a estos hechos imputados, Igartúa Laguer quedó suspendido de empleo y sueldo por parte del Negociado de la Policía de Puerto Rico.

NewsAmericasNow.com