September 28, 2022 - Page 7 of 17

BARBUDA: 22 environmental and human rights defenders facing charges for visiting contested luxury tourism construction site – serious concerns over legal intimidation

September 28, 2022/0 Comments/in news /by

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Antigua News Room

Global Legal Action Network and Front Line Defenders are deeply concerned over the repeated targeting of human rights defenders resisting destructive private luxury tourism developments in Barbuda. A group of human right defenders inspecting one of the contested construction sites on the island have been charged with unlawful trespass. Their hearing, where they could potentially face criminal charges, is set to happen on 29 September 2022.

After Hurricane Irma hit the island in 2017, the central Government in Antigua and Barbuda pushed through new laws that enabled construction of a multi-million-dollar luxury tourism resort and a golf course known as the ‘Barbuda Ocean Club’ on a protected wetland, and a private jet airstrip through 300 acres of untouched forest.

Barbudans opposing the private development of their land – which has been held communally by Barbudans ever since the abolition of slavery – have experienced harassment, intimidation, defamation, and criminalization, including threats from the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda himself. Un 2015, following local opposition to the proposal of the first project, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne stated that “economic terrorists” who wanted to “block investment … and keep our people unemployed … would have to face the full extent of the law for any infractions whatsoever”. When Barbudans filed a legal claim against the construction of the international airstrip, Gaston Browne wrote online that “these imbeciles have resorted to their ignorantly destructive ways, trying to undermine a much needed infrastructural project”.

A group of land rights defenders, including an elected member and employees of the Barbuda Council, have repeatedly expressed concern about the human and environmental impacts of the construction, which may put the island at greater risk of future climate events. It is also alleged that the approval of the development’s construction failed to meet the basic legal standards and follow appropriate procedures. In July 2020, after a protest against the main developer, PLH (short for “Peace, Love and Happiness”), Gaston Browne told the press: “Anytime they do anything illegal over there I am sending the police and army … I rather fight them and resign than to turn a blind eye.”

These threats materialized on 18 September 2020, at another peaceful protest against PLH Barbuda, when two Barbudan Council members – Paul Nedd and Devon Warner – were arrested and charged with trespass and breaking COVID-19 rules for not wearing face masks. They were part of the group of 22 locals who attempted to inspect the PLH construction site at Palmetto Point. They came to inspect compliance with the conditions of approval for the project. This move came after the Development Control Authority had issued a non-compliance notice on 31 August alerting PLH its construction activities were not in line with the conditions of approval.

On 1 October 2020, the Eastern Caribbean Court ordered PLH to halt construction at both Palmetto and Coco Points. However, locals and human rights defenders claimed to have witnessed ongoing operations. In January 2021, the same court lifted the injunction on PLH’s activities and issued an order to the Barbuda Council forbidding them from entering PLH Barbuda’s construction area for any reason, even inspection.

The group of 22 locals and human rights defenders, including Paul Nedd and Devon Warner, as well as other Barbudan Council members, are still facing charges for trespass and have been summoned to court multiple times in front of an unknown “virtual complainant”. Despite the requests for disclosure, the complainant’s identity has not been revealed yet. The group of 22 have all been summoned and are due to appear together in court on 27 September 2022. Incidentally, the police offices where the hearing is due to be held were sponsored by no other than PLH.

In June 2021, a group of United Nations Special Rapporteurs issued a joint communication to both the government of Antigua and Barbuda and the US-based private developers, expressing deep concerns “regarding the potential impacts of the Barbuda Ocean Club Project on human rights, including the rights to food, water and sanitation, housing, and a healthy environment, as well as cultural rights”. The UN Special Rapporteurs referred to the arrest of various concerned Barbudans. In a reply, PLH stated that close to 40 people trespassed PHL’s leased land and denied the arrest or the charges faced by other than two of the 22 locals.

Front Line Defenders and Global Legal Action Network strongly condemn the prolonged prosecution process, judicial harassment and repeated intimidation against Barbudans land defenders. These organizations call on the authorities of Antigua and Barbuda to drop the charges, stop the criminalization and defamation against land defenders in Barbuda and to take the necessary measures to enable them to continue to safely defend their collective rights.

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THA Tourism Secretary disappointed by budget

September 28, 2022/0 Comments/in news /by

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

Tobago

File photo: THA Secretary for Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation, Tashia Burris.

THA Secretary of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation Tashia Burris is unhappy with the $2.5 billion allocated to the Tobago House of Assembly for fiscal 2023.

Burris was a guest on the Tobago Updates morning show on Wednesday, after Minister of Finance Colm Imbert’s budget presentation on Monday.

She commented, “I was left feeling a little disappointed certainly, but I would wait for the presentation by the Minister of Finance to see what he is looking at in terms of what the ministry plans to do over the next fiscal.”

She said as she sat in the public gallery listening in, she expected “some strategic, progressive, bold moves being made by the government to really move the conversation about diversification forward.”

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High interest in Guyanese products by US states – Ambassador

September 28, 2022/0 Comments/in news /by

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: INews Guyana

US Ambassador to Guyana Sarah Ann Lynch

…urges Guyanese businesses to capitalise on interest

Several states in the United States are interested in Guyanese products, and with trade between the two countries exceeding US$1.4 billion in the first half of the year, US Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch is urging businesses to capitalise on this interest.

On Monday Lynch spoke at a forum themed “Exporting to the US”. While there, she revealed statistics on trade between Guyana and the US, which has exceeded US$1.4 billion in the first half of the year.

She also spoke of American interest in goods from Guyana and the need for Guyana to increase its export competitiveness. When it comes to bilateral trade between Guyana and the US, the Ambassador was optimistic that this number will grow as Guyana’s economy grows.

“We at the embassy have a small but strong economic and commercial team and we are always happy to offer market insights and advice, to all of you. We have entrepreneurial booths; we do training from time to time.”

US Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch

“Also, we continue to collaborate with the Guyanese and American private sectors, offering extensive entrepreneurship training and mentorship, as well as connecting folks to potential partners. The US has many states that would be interested in Guyanese products. So please consider logistical support, alongside of the state which you intend to be your first market.”

She encouraged Guyanese businesses interested in trading with the US, to participate in trade missions. This, Ambassador Lynch noted, will expose them to industry leaders and allow them to foster partnerships.

“Each state has its own trade and developmental agency and there are always trade shows to consider attending. Though I do advise you to apply well in advance if you need a visa…and there are local resources and chambers who also have valuable experience to share,” Ambassador Lynch said.

Changing trends

Meanwhile, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) Chairman Komal Samaroo in his own presentation, also bolstered Ambassador Lynch’s point about the importance of Guyana being able to competitively produce and export goods.

He made it clear that the conditions under which companies such as his once traded with the US, have changed. This includes the preferential trade arrangements that have evaporated with the globalisation of free trade.

DDL Chairman Komal Samaroo

“In pursuing your business development, you need to make that determination – which segment of the market are you targeting? If you are in the commodity segment, you will have few customers and they as your business partner will generally guide you on the legal requirements and the standards required for them to import your product.”

“Invariable in this type of arrangement you will become part of the supply chain of a manufacturer or packer and competitive price, and reliability of supplies become important criteria for successfully growing your business,” Samaroo said.

In recent years there have been a number of new, but important trends that are driving some of the changes that can be of interest to producers in the Caribbean. He gave examples of some of the factors that have changed the way trade is done, including the rise in millennials and the increased use of social media marketing

World Trade Center

Samaroo also attributed the increased self-awareness of customers who want safe, clean and green products, as well as their increased desire to know what is in the products. All the more reason why the setting up of the World Trade Center in Guyana is so important.

“Products that are successfully marketed generally are those that capitalise on these trends in their design and marketing approaches. It is exactly because of the complexity of the international marketplace and the need to build connections and get relevant information that DDL has obtained a licence to set up the World Trade Centre of Georgetown, Guyana.”

“Connecting Guyanese businesses with potential partners around the world and accessing relevant information through a network of over 300 World Trade Centres around the world will be a major benefit to the Guyanese businesses seeking an increasing share of global trade,” Samaroo said.

It was announced back in April of this year that Guyana would be the home of the first World Trade Center (WTC) in the Caribbean Community (Caricom), following several months of negotiations between DDL and the New York-headquartered World Trade Center Association (WTCA).

According to Samaroo, work has already begun on modifying the building to accommodate the activities of the WTC, Georgetown, Guyana, and they are expecting the building to be operational in the first half of 2023.

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Guyana seeking to adopt new tourism themes as COVID-19 fades

September 28, 2022/0 Comments/in news /by

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: INews Guyana

…pandemic experience constituted a powerful enabler, driver of change – Tourism Minister

Coming out of almost three years of COVID-19, several tourism themes have been explored across the world and Guyana is seeking to capitalise on some of these to redefine and create a solid sector.

World Tourism Day 2022 is observed under the theme “Rethinking Tourism”.

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond during her address at an event hosted by the US Ambassador, explained that much of the rethinking is not new, having being considered even before COVID-19 hit.

“The experience of the pandemic was a compelling manifestation of saying ‘seeing is believing’ as we began to see and experience the positive effects of different patterns of human activity. We not only imagined a world where things could be done differently but I think, many people resolved that we should not return to pre-pandemic attitudes.”

“The pandemic experience constituted a powerful enabler and driver of change and it is this driving force that is behind the call for rethinking tourism. Even before the pandemic began, it was appreciated that tourism needed to be rethought and reimagined,” she relayed.

Minister of Tourism Oneidge Walrond

From the rethinking of tourism, the Minister outlined that several themes are emerging and some are relevant to Guyana. Along with demand shaping to have consistent visitors, she said community-based tourism is a good move.

“One of these themes is the move toward demand shaping in order to reduce numbers at a destination at any single point in time…Some may argue that this pertains to destinations where high numbers threaten the destination’s capacity to sustainably deal with them. But even here in Guyana, faced that we are with the capacity constraint, such demand shaping can be useful as we look toward growing our tourism market.”

Economic, social impact

Meanwhile, another major theme is ensuring a wider economic and social impact from tourism.

Walrond identified, “With respect to social and economic development, for us, inclusion means that the services we deliver and the programmes we implement must benefit all Guyanese. This means all Guyanese, regardless of who they are, where they live, ethnic origin, political persuasion or any other characteristic.”

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch focused on modernising the industry, which mostly revolves around enabling online access to products and information, lowering the high prices of excursions, and facilitating easier payment systems.

“Could airlines flying to Kaieteur Falls offer online booking? Could airlines work together to fill planes to ensure individuals or small groups are also able to see the majesty of Kaieteur Falls? Is there a way for costs to become more affordable to ensure as many Guyanese as possible can enjoy this jaw-dropping and stunning experience?”

She also identified, “How about online booking for restaurants, tourism services and events? Tickets to everything from concerts to – yes – cricket matches – could be offered online. Many tourists note that the only way to book things in Guyana is via WhatsApp, and to find the right WhatsApp is not easy. Perhaps even ferry slots for cars could be booked in advance, allowing for more reliable transportation and vacation planning,” the diplomat suggested.

Data shows that over 150,000 visitors have been recorded arriving in Guyana in the first half of the year and according to stats from the Ministry of Finance’s Mid-Year Report, over 150,000 more are expected in the second half of 2022

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$90M extortion probe: Journalists slapped with conspiracy charges, released on bail

September 28, 2022/0 Comments/in news /by

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: INews Guyana

Two journalists, 49-year-old Alex Wayne and Gary Eleazar, 41, were on Tuesday slapped with two counts of conspiracy charges when they appeared at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court.

The duo was arrested on Saturday after they were caught extorting monies, during a sting operation, from an auto dealer in exchange for the removal of a “libellous” article from a social media platform.

However, they pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them by Magistrate Fabayo Azore. As such, they were granted bail in the sum of $100,000 each and the matter was adjourned to November 1, 2022.

It was reported that the article in question was published on the Facebook page of Guyana News Network (GNN), which purports to be a “news agency”, with the auto dealer’s photograph alleging that he is involved in illegal activities – something which he said is untrue but caused him to be “embarrassed” and his “reputation was tarnished”. The site is said to be operated by an overseas-based political activist.

The Police on Sunday confirmed that as investigations intensified, investigators would have obtained voice recordings of the political activist, who has ties to the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), and an overseas-based Guyanese businessman, both demanding $90 million from the local auto dealer in order to remove the article published about him.

As such, investigators said that they were looking for an overseas-based businessman, who is presently in Guyana. He was taken to court last year for allegedly importing illegal fuel into Guyana, for further questioning into the matter.

It was further reported that Eleazar, who has access to the social media page, along with Wayne approached the auto dealer separately and requested $10 million instead to remove the article from social media.

It was at this point that the auto dealer went to the Police on August 29 and filed a report about the extortion. This resulted in the Police setting up the sting operation to catch the two journalists, who are reportedly close associates of the overseas-based businessman.

The intelligence-led operation was conducted on the East Coast of Demerara on Friday. During the sting operation, both Wayne and Eleazar went to the businessman to extort cash.

As a result, investigators then gave the businessman some money, along with certain instructions. The two reporters were then seen arriving at the location and going to the businessman. The trio engaged in conversation during which Wayne and Eleazar demanded $1 million in order to remove the post from the GNN Facebook page.

In fact, Wayne took out his computer and handed same over to Eleazar, who went to the website and attempted to remove the post but then claimed that the password that he was in possession of, was not working at the time for some reason.

As a result, the $1 million was handed over to the two journalists as a down payment in keeping with their demands. The duo collected the money and indicated to the businessman that they would return sometime after to remove the post and collect the outstanding monies.

However, as Wayne and Eleazar were about to leave the business establishment, they were intercepted by the Police and told of the allegation. The officers then conducted a search during which a portion of the money was found on Eleazar, while another amount was found on Wayne.

Additionally, two cellular phones and a laptop were immediately seized from the duo. Further searches were conducted at their homes. A laptop and three hard drives were recovered from Eleazar’s residence and nothing further was found at Wayne’s home.

During a video and audio interview, Wayne admitted to investigators that he acted in concert with Eleazar and the overseas-based businessman to create and publish the false article about the local auto dealer on GNN’s

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Bird-hunting trip turns deadly at Garden of Eden

September 28, 2022/0 Comments/in news /by

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: INews Guyana

…family calls for Police to reopen investigation

By LaWanda McAllister

A 31-year-old father of three, who has been identified as Simon Peters of Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was found dead in a trench at Garden of Eden Backdam on Thursday afternoon by his father, after leaving with his friend for a bird hunting trip.

The dead man’s father, John Peters told Inews on Tuesday said after his son left their home on Thursday afternoon at about 15:00h, all efforts made to contact him thereafter proved futile.

The man said after realising that something was amiss, his son’s wife began calling his friend’s phone, but those calls went to voicemail.

He said hours later, his son’s friend went to their home asking for Simon, which caused them to become worried.

“They left to go catch birds, and he come late and ask me where is my son because he don’t know where he is. He said he and my son went together and then he go one side and my son go the other side…and he said when he come out to come home, he see me son bird on the road, he phone and he gun,” the father said.

“He said after he didn’t see me son, he walk and he come home. He said he went to my son house and then he go back to the conservancy where they was checking for bird. He said he went and come back again. When he come back, he said he come and ask me for ‘Sio’ [the son’s nickname],” he said.

The man said that he told his son’s friend that he did not see Simon, and insisted that they return to the area where his son’s belongings were found.

“He tell me he call for Sio and he in hear no noise and that was like around 7:30 (19:30h), I ended up going back to the place. I take a torchlight and me and he go and look. I ask he where is the last place where you pick up his things and he pass and go up straight.”

“When he walk up he said he see my son in a yellow jersey up the road but I don’t know is who he see…because my son didn’t have on no yellow jersey at the time. He go home for the next time and come back to the spot again. When he come I ask him to show me the bamboo my son cut and he show me the spot.”

“He walk lil more up and he didn’t see my son, but my son was right where he walked at the side laying down there. I don’t know how he couldn’t see him when he wasn’t in a corner or anything. I don’t know the cause of that. I walked behind and I see my son and take him up from where he went,” the man explained.

John Peters said he remembered lifting his son up and putting him on the concrete, and from his observation, his son seemed as though he had died sometime before they got there.

“Right away I got my nephew’s car and we took him straight to the hospital and the doctor pronounced him dead and from there, the hospital called the Police.”

Following the incident, John Peters said an autopsy was conducted on his son’s body and the results revealed that he died from blunt trauma coupled with drowning.

The family believes that the man was murdered and claimed that something about his friend’s story does not add up. “We believe that he was murdered.”

The family is calling for the Police to reopen their investigation and a thorough probe to be conducted into the incident.

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Urgen al DRNA atender recursos naturales turísticos del oeste afectados tras el paso de Fiona

September 28, 2022/0 Comments/in news /by

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Radio Isla TV

El vicepresidente de Discover Puerto Rico, nombre oficial del Puerto Rico Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), Tomás Ramírez, reclamó acción por parte del Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales (DRNA) para atender y diligenciar proyectos de restauración en las zonas protegidas bajo la agencia, y que también fungen como atracción turística en el país, luego de que el huracán Fiona las afectara, inclusive, desapareciendo algunas.

El experto indicó que están “comenzando a hacer un inventario porque muchos de los atractivos icónicos de Puerto Rico, no solamente de la zona oeste, sino de Puerto Rico, fueron severamente afectados. Muchos están bajo el control de Recursos Naturales y queremos hacer el inventario y comenzar a comunicarnos con ellos, ya que algunos habían sufrido daños con María y, como sabes, nuestro Departamento de Recursos Naturales ha estado bien inactivo en los pasados cinco años”.

A modo de ejemplo, compartió que la zona Las Salinas, en Cabo Rojo, tuvo fallas en uno de sus diques para el 2017, y ahora, tras el paso de Fiona, el espacio está a punto de perderse luego de inundarse. El efecto podría ser adverso sobre microorganismos del lugar. Las Salinas es una zona con más de 500 años de estar en pie, según Ramírez. Por otra parte, describió que, al momento, no hay camino para llegar al faro del municipio, al igual que está obstruido el paso a Playuela. Además, el muelle para pescadores y lanchas de guías turísticas, así como los caminos a La Mata de la Gata y Playita Rosada, en Lajas, no están.

Ramírez destacó que el DRNA, luego de María, solo cerró los espacios y balnearios, pero recalcó que no puede suceder de nuevo. No obstante, quiere darle una oportunidad a la nueva secretaria, Anaís Rodríguez, para enmendar lo que se hizo en el pasado.

“El dinero está. El dinero se aprobó después de María. Me consta que hay cientos de proyectos para el área suroeste que están aprobados y tienen el dinero asignado, pero Recursos Naturales estuvo acéfalo por mucho tiempo porque la persona que estaba ahí no tenía las competencias y ahora tenemos que unirnos todos y ese es mi llamado”, expresó el vicepresidente.

Reiteró, además, que la economía del suroeste, en particular, se verá afectada si no se atiende pronto la zona, lo cual pudiera agudizarse por la falta de energía eléctrica.

“No tenemos energía eléctrica y, probablemente, seamos de las últimas áreas que tengamos energía, pero estamos operando con generador. Estamos dando servicio. Este fin de semana estuvimos llenos a capacidad”, explicó al detallar que, en algún punto, tuvieron una operación limitada por la falta de diésel, pero que entiende que las reservaciones futuras pudieran afectarse, aunque las del mes de octubre están en pie.

Ramírez explicó que hoy, miércoles, y mañana, jueves, las asociaciones turísticas se reunirán con la Compañía de Turismo para establecer planes de trabajo y salvaguardar el empleo de 86 mil personas en el área turística y unas 64 mil en la de restaurantes.

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Anticipan vaguada cerca de la isla dejará lluvia hasta el viernes

September 28, 2022/0 Comments/in news /by

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Radio Isla TV

El meteorólogo Emmanuel Rodríguez, del Servicio Nacional de Meteorología (NWS, por sus siglas en inglés), informó que hasta este viernes la isla experimentará “tardes activas” debido a los efectos de una vaguada cerca de la zona que ocasionará inundaciones urbanas, crecidas de algunos ríos y deslizamientos en la zona montañosa.

“Estamos viendo cómo se está acercando una vaguada a la región, así que comienzan a entrar unos aguaceritos bien aislados sobre los municipios del este, pero es en horas de la tarde cuando la vaguada se combine con los efectos locales, que debe generar lluvias más importantes, principalmente, para la Cordillera Central, los municipios del oeste y, posiblemente, también desde El Yunque hasta los municipios del este central o algunos de la zona metropolitana”, explicó Rodríguez.

El experto explicó que aunque los suelos no están saturados como hace días debido al huracán Fiona, se prevé el desbordamiento de ríos, por lo cual instó a la población a ejercer precaución.

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Protestan contra LUMA Energy en Humacao

September 28, 2022/0 Comments/in news /by

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Radio Isla TV

En horas de la mañana de hoy, miércoles, se reporta una manifestación, por un grupo de ciudadanos, frente a las facilidades de la oficina técnica de la compañía LUMA Energy, ubicada en la carretera PR-3, barrio Cataño, en Humacao.

Alrededor de 12 personas se encuentran en el lugar en reclamo por el plan de energización y la cancelación del contrato de la privatizadora.

Personal del Negociado de la Policía del distrito de Humacao se encuentran en el lugar dirigiendo el tránsito y manteniendo el orden y la seguridad en el área.

Hasta el momento, no se han reportado incidentes violentos.

Nota relacionada: Aviso: Protesta contra LUMA Energy en Humacao