Black Immigrant Daily News

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Various unit within the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force were tasked with reducing serious crimes, particularly relating to gang related activities.

The officers have recorded recent success, and three individuals have been charged pursuant to the Anti-Gang Act, Chapter 3.18 of the Revised Laws of Saint Lucia.

On Thursday, October 6, 2022, several units, including the Major Crimes Unit, Special Services Unit, The Traffic Enforcement Team and the Criminal Investigations Department, executed a series of Warrants to Search for Property at varying locations.

During that time, arrests of suspects were effected. Consequent to the operation, charges were preferred as follows:

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1. Marvin Gabriel, a thirty-three (33) year old resident of Bois Patat, Castries, was arrested and charged for Participating in Gang Related Activity as a Gang Leader.

2. Jaheim Jules, a nineteen (19) year old resident of Bois Patat, Castries, was arrested and charged for Committing an Indictable Offence Associated with a Gang.

3. Kendal Chadwick, a twenty-eight (28) year old resident of Bois Patat, Castries, was a charged for Committing an Indictable Offence Associated with a Gang.

The three were escorted before the First District Court where they are currently awaiting a bail hearing.

The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force remains resolute in its commitment to achieving our crime prevention mandate.

We implore all citizens with information regarding criminal acts to contact our various station lines or the Crime Hotline at 555.

SOURCE: Royal Saint Lucia Police Force. Headline photo: Officer takes part in police operation (File photo)

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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Black Immigrant Daily News

High-Grade Jamaican Leaf is a new player in the local tobacco market, and the company is seeking to cash in globally on the growing preference for hand-rolled or handmade cigarettes.

Handmade cigarettes are relatively less expensive compared to Factory-made (FM) cigarettes, and this trend has been driving the demand for Roll-Your-Own (RYO) tobacco products across the world.

That is why the principals of the company, siblings Brandon Cargill and Krystal Cargill, have invested over US$175,000 in developing a distinctly Jamaican brand.

“High-Grade Jamaican Leaf only uses the finest hand-selected premium tobacco that is packaged in Jamaica. Our leaf is dark brown and produces a very intense smooth flavour, one of the only tobacco brands that have a wide range product line,” Brandon said.

“We currently do not offer any marijuana strains. Just tobacco products and non-tobacco accessories,” Cargill said.

Some of the product lines include tobacco wraps, honey leaf cones, doob tubes, metal rolling trays, pocket ashtrays and the brand’s signature High-Grade Jamaican Leaf Pre-Crushed Grabba.

“Our products are amazing,” an effervescent Brandon said.

The product is distributed currently throughout the Caribbean and United States. The company currently employs 10 persons with planned expansion for 2023.

“We currently have 10 in-house staff members with planned expansion for 2023. We employ the best personnel in the market, source fine quality tobacco, choose reputable business partners and serve the best customers out there,” he said.

Jobs in the expansion operation will range from entry-level positions in production, sales, and distribution to upper-level management positions in processing, manufacturing, and supply channel logistics.

“We actively work to enrich local Jamaican communities by providing good services, jobs, and foreign exchange through the roll-your-own (RYO) market,” Brandon said.

Cannabis is an industry with a growing user base as states and countries move to legalise, particularly for medical needs. But it’s also becoming increasingly competitive to operate in, and consolidation is beginning to take shape.

“Our market-share aim for the next two years is three per cent and continuing to scale up operations to increase opportunities for greater profitability and expand our footprint in the roll-your-own market by continuous improvement for product innovation, building and solidifying customer loyalty, deploying effective advertising, and pricing products efficiently for customers. We could not be more passionate about this company and are dedicated to doing everything the right way,” stated Krystal.

“It is extremely important to us to treat cannabis with the reverence it deserves.”

Krystal believes that brand awareness is the biggest challenge facing High-Grade Jamaican Leaf to this end, the company is currently working with local talent in Jamaica to build recognizability in the marketplace.

“We are trying to be market leaders in everything we do from our packaging to our marketing strategies. I believe the industry needs to move beyond simplistic branding strategies like the leaf and that companies should see themselves as lifestyle brands and not simply tobacco products, and that’s what we are at High-Grade Jamaican Leaf, a lifestyle brand,” Cargill said.

Cargill’s own personal experiences informed his decision to get involved in the industry.

“High-Grade Jamaican Leaf was born from my earlier experience with smoking cigars and strong interest in the rich history behind tobacco rooted in Jamaican culture. I quickly took a liking to cigars but noticed there was a lack of quality when it came to Roll Your Own tobacco and tobacco paired with cannabis,” he said.

He observed that most RYO tobacco companies used a low-quality leaf that offered a less-than-stellar experience. He moved quickly to remedy this problem.

“High-Grade Jamaican Leaf was created to consistently provide premium tobacco and tobacco products by using hand-selected high-quality dark tobacco for a noticeable, different premium user experience,” he concluded.

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Imagining a future like our past-Anthony Smith – Response to crime in Antigua – open letter.

By Anthony Smith, Jr.

I remember when it was common practice to leave your key under the mat, or even under a stone in your yard. No hassle, no fuss. Whoever came home first would simply get the key and open the door.

I remember when we often left a window closest to the front door partially open. Whoever came home first would put their hand through the window in the direction of the door. They would simply turn the key that had been left in the lock and open.

The worst-case scenario was to leave the key with your neighbour.  We didn’t cut keys for everyone in the house. Wow! What a time that was.  Do you remember such a time?

I’m not a fan of the phrase “the good old days;” but if we are going to be honest, gone are those “good old days.”

In those days, we were free.  Of course, we were not careless or ignorant to the possibility of crimes taking place. We were, indeed, careful, but not panicked. Certainly, we didn’t have to be in this constant state of military alert as if we were the police or security officer.

These massive steel security bars were not part of our reality. As a matter of fact, we were shocked to see them in other countries when we travelled.  But we now have to build large concrete walls for our properties and install high-tech security systems.

These are very expensive undertakings for the citizens of our beautiful Antigua and Barbuda and have caused us to become prisoners in our own homes.  Meanwhile, our political leaders live in luxury and safety at the expense of the citizenry, leaving us to fend for ourselves.

How many “Breaking News” headlines must we read in the papers or watch on ABS-TV before this government gets serious about crime detection, prevention and solution? When will the government give the Police Force the necessary, sorely needed resources and training?

We may not have the resources of a Scotland Yard, but we can do better. “For de people sake,” we must do better. The surge in crime is too much for us.  It is too much for the homeowner, the businessperson, the little children and the elderly.

It is obvious that the ALP Parliamentarians are protected in their fancy mansions, isolated and insulated in their bubble.  But in the meantime, and until we get a government that cares about us, we, the citizens, must do the best we can.

And so, since we don’t have caring leadership in the present administration, let us come together.  Let us partner with the Police and other stakeholders.  This may involve community policing, neighbourhood watches, and other forms of people-organizing.  It may even mean pooling resources to employ a security patrol in our various villages.

All Saints West, I know you can benefit from something like this. We have been abandoned by this government. They have left us out in the cold, while at the same time hoarding all of the blankets.

So let’s organize; let’s keep an eye out and maintain vigilance; but, more so, let us elect a more caring and compassionate government to see about our affairs.  A government that is more innovative and will partner with the Police to protect the people of this land.

We need a government that will invest in the development of the Police.  Such development goes beyond firearms and use of force. It is comprehensive and includes – but is not limited to – training in technology, psychology, statistics and trends, among other things.

Maybe then, we will all be able to say, “I remember when;” not only as something good from the past, but as a reality for generations going forward.

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