Black Immigrant Daily News

 When the Caesar’s Real Estate/HAIROUN Beer Greggs Twenty/20 Softball Cricket Tournament continued at the Greggs Playing Field last weekend, Bank of St Vincent and the Grenadines All Stars defeated Hard Hitters by 54 runs in a match reduced to 17 overs because of a late start.

The scores: Bank of St Vincent and the Grenadines All Stars 176-5  off 17 overs (Elton Williams 63 not out, Antonio Barker 41, Jemoth Brackin 3-15), Hard Hitters 122 off 16 overs (Gideon Deweth 39, Lenroy Dalzell 3-20).

Owia Shottas beat Rasfarco by 52 runs in match also reduced to 17 overs because of a late start.

The scores: Owia Shottas 168-8 off 17 overs (Zimroy Baptiste 36 not out, Geovanni Collins 4-25, Jamie Edwards 3-51), Rasfarco 116 off 16 overs (Zienniah Smart 42, Kurton Lavia 3-8).

Kombat Warriors won from Predators by 5 wickets in another match that was reduced to 17 overs because of a late start.

The scores: Predators 94 off 16.5 overs (Darren John 37, Dwayne Williams 4-9, Kerwin Browne 4-10), Kombat Warriors 98-5 off 11 overs (Lesroy Richards 32, Junior King 3-27).

Sion Hill Tallawahs beat Dr. Thomas Injectors by 105 runs. The match was reduced to 17 overs because of a late start.

The scores: Sion Hill Tallawahs 171-9 off 17 overs (Erwin Williams 93, Chestor Keil 4-34, Winston Holder 3-23 runs), Dr. Thomas Injectors 66 off 10 overs (Denson Hoyte 5-15).

And the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force won from Caesar’s Real Estate Nar Fren Dem on a faster scoring rate after rain forced the abandonment of the match with Caesar’s Real Estate Na Fren Dem on 82-2 off 9.2 overs in reply to the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force’s 163 off 19.5 overs.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) wants to know what is the next step in light of the grave breach of privacy of students and their families by the alleged “Computer Science pre-test” conducted by code.org and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Deeming the pre-test “a survey, not a test” to gather data on Barbados’ population with first-form students between the ages of 10 and 12 years old as unethical, DLP Education Chair Melissa Savoury-Gittens wants government officials to step forward and speak up on how this could have happened under the watchful eye of the Ministry of Education (MOE).

Referring to the prime minister’s speech on the world stage recently about morals and ethics, she asserted, “Yet this slide through your front door!”

supposed this was a food programme and it contained poison, how could ‘Sorry’ be enough?

Acknowledging that in the apology issued by the IDB for “inadvertently” leaving in the questions earmarked by the MOE for removal, Savoury-Gittems explained that she understands teachers and other adults were given the “pre-test” as much as three weeks ago and they flagged the questions as intrusive and out of line, yet some were told “these are the answers they want”. Also, she said that she was reliably informed that the students were informed they had to answer all of the questions – “you must finish it”.

Having re-read the IDB brief statement, which was issued last night (October 5), Savoury-Gittens is not pleased with the fact that the statement does not indicate that in light of the issues raised by rightfully so irate and annoyed parents and guardians the data will be destroyed, but instead, the IDB basically communicated that the questions which were to be removed have been removed now and this implies the next cohort of students to take the “pre-test” will not be subjected to those questions. Noting, this not only raises the question of ethics, but this could taint the data as one set of students wrote a different pre-test to others to come, she urged that this cannot be the only solution on offer to appease and placate parents.

Amongst her other pertinent questions that she wishes to hear or see answered speedily, Savoury-Gittens asked where were the permission slips for guardians before the survey was given? Why was the Ministry not privy to seeing the final copy with the questions removed as requested before it was administered? Why call it a test and not a survey? Will students be disadvantaged according to the responses? Will the data collected be used still? Is the data being sold internationally? Will nothing happen to the IDB? Is this story going to blow over in a few days and nothing is done? Is this data collection part of the exchange between government and the IDB for the $40 million loan for education?

Savoury-Gittens said that for the six hours daily that students are in the care of the MOE at school, parents want to know their children’s best interests are at heart. They wish to know that no harm will befall their child. They wish to know their children will not be traumatised. She said, “supposed this was a food programme and it contained poison, how could ‘Sorry’ be enough?” She said these questions about sexuality, gender identity, depression, self-harm and even suicide could have poisoned children’s minds and attitudes and have lasting repercussions depending on their personalities.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Alain Richard, président de la Fédération des yoles rondes de Martinique

Présent dimanche au François lors des courses de bébé-yoles et de yoles rondes organisées dans le cadre de la fête patronale de la commune, Alain Richard a tiré un premier bilan de la 36e édition du Tour de Martinique et évoqué les perspectives de la saison à venir.

France-Antilles Martinique

1176 mots – 06.10.2022

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Basseterre, St. Kitts (October 5, 2022) – The Prime Minister received a courtesy call from Mr. Didier  Trebucq, the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator (RC) for Barbados and the Eastern  Caribbean, Mr. Kenroy Roach, Senior Development Coordinator, Strategic Planner and Team Leader to the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and Mr. Cosbert Woods, UN Country Coordination Officer for St. Kitts and Nevis on Tuesday, October 4th, 2022. 

The discussion included the successful engagements at the 77th Session of the United Nations  General Assembly held last month, September 13 – 26, 2022, as well as talks of collaboration with  the various UN agencies to align our priorities of building a resilient and sustainable island state,  especially as it relates to climate change, connecting our national development strategy with  technical and financial road mapping. 

The Prime Minister stated, “We will continue to work locally with Cosbert Woods our UN Country  Coordinator towards achieving and maintaining the UN sustainable development goals”.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

A presiding judge in Jamaica will have the authority to prescribe whether a defendant who is granted bail should wear an electronic tracking device or ankle bracelet when the new Bail Act 2022 takes effect.

The Act also states the circumstances under which a defendant may be denied bail, including those who commit murder, and if the crime was committed in certain places such as within a Zone of Special Operation (ZOSO).

The Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Marlene Malahoo Forte, tabled the long-awaited Bill that will give rise to the new Bail Act, in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Section 8 (5c) of the Bill stipulates “the wearing by the defendant of an electronic tracking device to allow for the monitoring of the movements of the defendant, being a device in accordance with such specifications and characteristics as shall be prescribed”.

Another notable provision is contained in Section 14 of the Bill which outlines that a person who absconds while on bail faces up to five years in prison for the offence if convicted in a Parish Court and up to seven years if the conviction is before a Circuit Court. Of note is that this conviction will run consecutive to the offence for which the defendant was before the court in the first place.

A defendant is determined to have absconded if he (a) fails to surrender to custody; or (b) having reasonable excuse for failing to surrender to custody, fails to surrender to custody as soon as possible after the time originally appointed for the defendant to surrender to custody.

Meanwhile, as was previously stated by Malahoo Forte, persons before the court on murder will likely have bail denied. According to Section 7 (2) bail is denied if (a) the offence is murder and where self-defence does not arise on the prosecution’s case.

According to the bill, bail is also denied if the murder was committed within a ZOSO, in any area in respect of which a state of public emergency is in force under the Emergency Powers Act or any area within which a cordon is established or a curfew is imposed, under section 50B of the Constabulary Force Act.

Additionally, bail could be denied where the deciding official is satisfied that there are grounds for believing that the defendant, if released on bail, would: fail to surrender to custody; commit an offence while on bail; or interfere with witnesses or otherwise obstruct the course of justice, whether in relation to himself or any other person.

And, bail could also be denied where a firearm was used in the commission of the offence; where the defendant came into possession of the firearm unlawfully, or where the firearm is a prohibited weapon as defined in section 2 of the Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction and Regulation) Act.

Bail may also be denied to a defendant who is charged with or convicted of an offence punishable with imprisonment if the deciding official is satisfied that the defendant should be kept in custody for the defendant’s protection or, where the defendant is a child, for the defendant’s welfare.

Malahoo Forte explained that one of the primary reasons why the Bail Act of 2000 is being repealed and replaced is that all statutes enacted prior to the replacement of chapter three of the Constitution of Jamaica with the new Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms in 2011 must be reviewed, “especially those which engage fundamentally guaranteed rights and freedoms”. The review is to ensure they comply with the Charter.

The Bill will go to a Joint Select Committee of the Parliament before it is debated and passed into law.

Malahoo Forte, in remarks on the House floor, urged her colleagues to read the Bill carefully before making any pronouncements either way.

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