Black Immigrant Daily News

La presidenta del Centro Unido de Detallistas, Lourdes M. Aponte Rodríguez, resaltó cuán afectado se encuentra el sector comercial a raíz del paso del huracán Fiona, y solicitó al Gobierno agilizar sus movidas para asistir a los dueños de pequeñas y medianas empresas (PYMES), del cual aún no se tiene un número certero de cuántas reiniciaron sus operaciones.

“Este fenómeno trajo consigo tanta y tanta lluvia que, pues, lamentablemente, aunque muchos se hayan preparado, pues, obviamente, hay unas situaciones que no están en el control de nadie. Y todo lo que conlleva las inundaciones, pues, pérdida de inventario, de contenido, definitivamente, pues, hizo grandes estragos al comercio”, expresó la líder.

Según los datos de su matrícula, gran parte aún no cuenta con energía eléctrica, lo que dificulta una reapertura. No obstante, aclaró que tan solo un 15 al 20 por ciento están brindando sus servicios, aunque sea a medias, y que los ubicados en la zona metropolitana han sido los menos impactados.

Respecto a la pérdida económica, Aponte Rodríguez reiteró que es muy temprano para indicar un número, mas aclaró que “las pérdidas han sido bien significativas. Estamos hablando, prácticamente, de lo que es inventario. Es una operación diaria. Al no abrir, pues, no se está produciendo y eso nos coloca en una posición más vulnerable de la que ya estábamos. Pero ya, proximamente […] entrada ya la próxima semana, ya debemos tener un número mucho más claro”, señaló.

En el día de ayer, el gobernador Pedro Pierluisi y el secretario del Departamento de Desarrollo Económico y Comercio (DDEC), Manuel Cidre, anunciaron incentivos de hasta $50,000 para las PYMES, mediante la creación del Programa de Recuperación Económica. Aponte Rodríguez informó que han colaborado con el DDEC para dichos fines. Sin embargo, buscan que se agilicen las tareas.

“Nosotros lo que necesitamos es la agilidad […] Definitivamente, el DDEC ha identificado una cantidad de lo que es el incentivo de emergencia para las PYMES, para las personas que están afectadas [y] pueden solicitar hasta $50,000. Y, obviamente, pues, el portal está ya arriba.  Cualquier cosa, todas las entidades que estamos, [que] están Hecho en Puerto Rico, Cámara de Comercio, Centro Unido de Detallistas, ASORE… Nos hemos unido en esta alianza porque, ante esta emergencia, todos tenemos que poner de nuestra parte y ser facilitadores”, finalizó la líder del CUD al detallar que la aportación que reciban las micro y pequeñas empresas, que a su entender debería ser más debido a los daños, contenido e inventario, es para las que no excedan los $1,500,000 en ingresos durante los pasados años. Además, informó que gestionan más ayuda mediante el Small Business Administration del gobierno federal.

[embedded content]

[embedded content]

[embedded content]

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

The seventh Atlantic named storm of the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season has formed – Tropical Storm Gaston.

The US National Hurricane Centre (US NHC) in its latest update said Tropical Storm Gaston was located about 990 miles West of the Azores.

NHC says there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect however interests in the Azores should monitor the progress of the system.

Source: NHC

At 9 pm GMT (2100 UTC), the centre of Tropical Storm Gaston was located near latitude 34.7 North, longitude 44.4 West. Gaston is moving toward the north-northeast near 17 mph (28 km/h). A turn to the northeast is expected on Wednesday, followed by a motion to the east.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast during the next day or two. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) from the centre.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

News

Moses Gibbons, father of Jerry “Bat” Stewart speaks to Newsday on Tuesday. – ROGER JACOB

The father of one of two security officers who died in the line of duty in La Romaine on Monday evening wants the suspects to feel the full brunt of the law.

But Moses Gibbons, 70, has little faith in the judicial system. He said many perpetrators are not charged, and even when the police charge them, they later walk free.

His son Jerry “Bat” Stuart, 49, who worked with Allied Security Ltd, was shot and killed outside Pennywise Plaza on La Bel Air Road in a heist.

The police later killed four suspects in a shootout and arrested three people. Stuart’s co-worker Jeffrey Peters, 51, was also killed. A third colleague, Peola Baptiste, 57, was shot and remained hospitalised, up to Tuesday afternoon.

Stuart, of Longdenville in Chaguanas, was the father of two adult children.

Gibbons recalled that people began telling the family about the shooting on Monday. One of his grandsons went to the company’s office in Montrose.

“He went to find out if it was true, and they told him it was. At around 8 am today, someone from the HR department came and spoke with relatives,” Gibbons said.

“My son left home before 8 am yesterday to go to the office in Montrose. Everything was normal,” Gibbons told Newsday at his home.

Stuart lived across the street.

Gibbons recalled that in 2007, Stuart’s brother Steve Stuart was killed in a drive-by shooting in the area. He said Steve was among a group of men liming at the roadside near the family’s home when gunmen opened fire.

No one was ever held in connection with the incident. A suspect was killed sometime later in a police-involved shooting.

“Steve was in his 30s. Bat is the second child I lost. Bat’s daughter lives in the US, and his son is here in Trinidad. He was a cool person. He also worked with the union (Estate Management Association.”

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

News

Peola Baptiste –

The daughter of the woman who survived Monday’s deadly robbery in La Romaine has called on the public to donate blood to help save her life.

Peola Baptiste, 57, of Claxton Bay, has gunshot wounds to her head, chest, abdomen, and arms. The mother of six and grandmother of four is employed with Allied Security Ltd as an estate police officer.

Baptiste’s daughter Dianna Wellington told Newsday: “People have been donating. The blood type people give does not matter because when they donate, the staff will use blood from the blood bank. The blood people would replenish the bank.”

“Mum is still in critical condition. But she is responsive. She is not talking, but when we speak to her, she nods her head. She lost a lot of blood.”

Baptiste has about 20 years’ service. Two of her colleagues, Jeffery Peters, 51, and Jerry “Bat” Stuart, 49, died in the attack. Five gunmen ambushed and shot the three while driving out of Pennywise Plaza in La Romaine in a van.

She was in the back seat behind the driver, Wellington said.

Baptiste was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital and later transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mount Hope.

When Newsday visited the family’s home, a male relative said other relatives were visiting Baptiste at the hospital.

Four of the suspected bandits were shot and killed in the La Romaine area after a shootout with the police. They lived in Fyzabad.

The police later arrested three men, including a member of the TT Regiment who is based at the La Romaine army base.

A statement from Allied Security Ltd on Monday night said the “Allied family” lost two dedicated veteran officers with a third in critical condition.

“This traumatic event has left the Allied family shattered and grieving. We truly appreciate the outpouring of support for the victims’ families and our family,” the statement said.

“We continue to evaluate this situation with the focus on the victims’ families. We wish to extend our deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones.”

The police said a fourth security guard, Allister Harris, 47, who works with Phoenix Protective Services at the plaza was also hit. He received minor injuries and was treated and discharged from the hospital on Monday.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

Las autoridades atienden el colapso de un edificio deshabitado en la calle Torres, esquina con la calle Roosevelt, en Ponce.

De acuerdo con la información suministrada, un edificio de concreto de tres pisos, el cual se encontraba en mal estado y aislado mediante perímetro de seguridad, se derrumbó.

Al momento, se desconoce el monto de los daños y no se han reportado personas heridas o afectadas.

Agentes del Negociado de la Policía de Puerto Rico, Bomberos del área de Ponce, junto a personal de la Oficina de Manejo de Emergencias, se hicieron cargo de la situación.

NewsAmericasNow.com