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In this file photo, a masquerader, left, dances with a dame Lorraine at the Tobago Carnival launch on at Shaw Park Cultural Complex. – David Reid

SPICEMAS Corporation (SMC), which is responsible for organising and promoting Grenada’s carnival, will lead a 12-member delegation to Tobago’s carnival from October 28-30.

In a release on Thursday, the corporation said, “This is SMC’s exchange to the Tobago Carnival Committee as part of a carnival exchange launched by the SMC and Grenada Tourism Authority for the promotion of Spicemas and Grenada during the 2022 Carnival period.”

It said St Vincent, St Lucia and Tobago also participated in the exchange.

The corporation observed Tobago is holding its first-ever carnival, under the theme Ritual, Revelry, Release.

“Their carnival is branded as a liberating festival of cultural expressions and freedom from creative constraints, celebrating the emancipation of unbridled energy.”

To compliment the carnival theme, the SMCs delegation will showcase Grenada’s traditional jab jab, vieux corps and short-knee masqueraders, along with its reigning road march and groovy monarchs.

The corporation said besides participating in the carnival activities, the delegation, led by the CEO, will also give radio and television interviews to promote the Spicemas brand and Grenada as a carnival and vacation destination.

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Crime Scene Unit investigators gather evidence outside Pennywise Super Centre, La Romaine on Monday. – Photo by Marvin Hamilton

IN THE wake of Monday’s Pennywise robbery attempt in La Romaine – which left six people dead, including two security guards and four bandits – the head of the San Fernando Greater Chamber of Commerce says the time is right for more businesses to go cashless.

Kiran Singh said the motive behind the robbery attempt was to steal cash and he feels if more and more businesses go digital, in terms of payment transactions, it could be a major deterrent to these kinds of violent crimes.

In a phone interview with Newsday, Singh said many countries around the world had switched to cashless transactions and with a major push for Trinidad and Tobago to move more and more towards a digitised society, businesses should adopt this approach as well.

He said while some companies, especially those whose businesses largely involved delivery of their products, such as bread and beer, had long moved to cashless transactions, the pandemic forced many more to go the route of digital payment, especially at the height of public health restrictions.

“We have seen certain businesses go straight from cash to cashless transactions. Cigarette vans and bread vans have stopped accepting cash. Their workers walk with portable machines that digitally process the payment transactions.

“What we need now (given rising crime) is to expand on that technology so there is no actual cash leaving a business enterprise to the bank. This would, of course, reduce danger to security personnel, business owners and customers,” Singh said.

He added that a cashless transaction system could also reduce the fear some people may have in shopping areas. Singh said a cashless system would reduce the “soft targets” bandits prey on.

“It also speaks to the customer base of the general public, where we should also embark on using more debit cards to purchase goods and services, since the technology is easily available.”

Noting that not everyone can afford a credit card, Singh said the debit card system ought to be used.

For those who do not have a debit card, some kind of convenient payment system can be devised to reduce the petty theft element as well, he suggested.

“In this way we can assist the police in curbing crime, because it is really, really, out of control now.”

Singh added that when violent incidents occur, such as the Pennywise robbery attempt, it can make businessmen think twice about doing business in this country and “rob” the public of a greater variety of goods and services.

There is a fear factor for both the consumer and the businessman, he said.

Singh was also critical of security companies that provide cash-in-transit services with security personnel who are not properly resourced in terms of basic tools and equipment such as armoured vehicles and bulletproof vests.

He warned that society must accept that bandits and other criminals are equipped with powerful weapons.

The police found two AR-15 assault rifles, pistols as well as bulletproof vests after the shootout with the four bandits.

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The e-ticketing system, which is being piloted by the government, is now operational and will begin issuing tickets within the next few weeks.

The system, which has been in development for several months, uses cameras and other technology to accurately monitor traffic, check speeds, and read licence plates for Guyanese vehicles.

The system can also flag any traffic offenders and automatically issue and email traffic tickets to the driver based on customisable parameters.

This system, which will be used for monitoring and enforcement by the Guyana Police Police Force(GPF), is part of President Irfaan Ali’s vision to use modern technology to improve the lives of all Guyanese.

The automated generation and dispatch of e-tickets are expected to improve the efficiency with which fines and penalties are enforced, as well as contribute to the modernisation of the GPF in carrying out its mandate to ensure public order and safety.

The system will also improve coordination and collaboration among agencies involved in traffic ticket processing, such as the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Revenue Authority, and other governmental agencies.

On the first day of testing, the system was able to record close to 10,000 vehicles traversing the new Mandela-Eccles highway, with approximately 1,500 users committing traffic violations such as speeding and not wearing seatbelts.

It is expected to be expanded to many busy areas, removing the need for police officers to monitor traffic and write and process tickets for traffic violations.

This system, which is free of human error and operates 24 hours a day, is expected to encourage drivers to follow traffic laws, promote greater driver discipline on the roads and lower the number of accidents caused by dangerous and reckless driving.

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Four persons – a man, his wife and two children aged 7 and 11 – are now homeless after a fire destroyed their Crabwood Creek house.

Reports are that a pressure pot exploded and ignited a fire.

At the time of the incident, 42-year-old Nalanie Sarjoo and her two kids were at home.She said the kids were on the verandah and she had gone to take a shower, leaving the pressure pot with beans on the stove.

When the explosion occurred and the woman rushed to investigate, she saw the house on fire. As such, the woman grabbed her children and rushed out of the burning building. In the process, she suffered burns to her back. She was unable to save anything.

The family had been living at the house for the past ten years. Hemchandra Bacchus, the husband, said when the house was built, material costs were significantly less, compared to what it will take him to rebuild now.

In addition to the building, he averages losses in excess of $1M in household articles.Officer in Charge of the Corriverton Fire Station Ewart Kesney explained that when firemen arrived on the scene, the building was completely engulfed in flames. The firefighters successfully prevented the blaze from spreading to nearby buildings.

Investigations are continuing. Persons who are interested in helping the family can contact them on 653-7440.

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