Black Immigrant Daily News

Cattle farmers from Belladrum, a village located in Region Five (Mahaica – Berbice) are thelatest group of cattle farmers to benefit from the Ministry of Agriculture’s improved geneticmaterial programme.

During a simple exercise held at the Paradise Community Centre ground, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha handed over a breeding bull to the farmers’ group, noting that the government was keen on making the necessary resources available to farmers as part of the government’s efforts to develop both the beef and dairy industry.

Two weeks ago, His Excellency President Dr. Irfaan Ali hosted a community meeting withresidents from Belladrum and other surrounding villages to listen to issues faced in the area.

While engaging the Head of State, cattle farmers from Belladrum indicated that they had taken note of the government’s efforts to boost the cattle industry. They said that they were desirous of expanding their herds but needed the necessary genetic material to do so.

In responding to their request, President Ali told the farmers that an animal would be made available to assist with developing their herds.

The breeding bull that was handed over to the farmers

Minister Mustapha while presenting the animal to the farmers said that the government has a proven track record of delivering on commitments made to the citizens of the country.

“We are here to deliver on a promise made by the President to the farmers of this area. Every farmer from the area must have access to the animal. A system has to be set up to that every farmer can benefit. When you met with the President you requested a breeding bull and we are here, just two weeks after President Ali made that commitment to deliver it. When the President and the government make commitments, we ensure we deliver,” he noted.

He also told farmers about some of the plans and programmes that are currently ongoing to develop the sector in the region.

“Region Five is slated for major development in the agriculture sector. Almost 90% of thepeople in Region Five depend on Agriculture. The government has expended large amounts of money on the MMA Scheme and other parts of the region. This year alone, we’ll complete four farm-to-market roads in the region so that farmers can have better access to their farmlands.”

“New pastures are being developed. The GLDA is currently working with IICA on a pasturedevelopment programme where grass seeds were brought in from Brazil to assist withimproving existing and developing new pastures. The GLDA also secured 64 breeding bulls from Miami to develop our breeding programme. We are also doing artificial insemination in both cattle and small ruminants around the country. The ministry is also engaging Brazil to develop a programme to conduct embryo transfer. So, you can see clearly that the government is working to develop the sector,” Minister Mustapha said.

The minister further disclosed that Cabinet recently approved a project valued at approximately $700 million that will see the construction of a state-of-the-art abattoir at Onverwagt.

Additionally, Minister Mustapha told the farmers that the ministry will also assist them withtheir land preparation and drainage and irrigation needs, noting that when farmers areempowered to produce, both the country and the economy benefit.

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On Thursday, 3rd November, the St. Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC) Inc. announced assistance totaling EC$89,105.26 to three members, bringing its total assistance for the year thus far to EC$597,547.72.

Mario Reyes, President of the St. Lucia Golf Association, received a cheque for EC$5,000.00 from SLOC Inc. President, Alfred Emmanuel, to be used to assist the Grow Well Inc. programme, which helps disadvantaged youths build character through sports. Emmanuel said he was pleased that the Grow Well programme continues to offer opportunities for youngsters regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds.

“I have always welcomed programmes like these because there is the misconception that you have to be of a particular complexion and you’re supposed to be living in a particular locale in this country if you are to play golf,” Emmanuel said. “No one can be happier than me when I see who the participants are in this Grow Well programme.”

Emmanuel added: “It brings joy to my heart and I have no doubt that those kids are not intimidated by complexion or where they come from. And, not too long from now, most of them will be household names. I wish them every success in that programme and hope the (golf) association will see the need to extend such a programme throughout the length and breadth of the country. If they can achieve that, let me give them the assurance that the SLOC Inc., under my leadership, will be ever ready to assist because these are the things that I like to see.”

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Another association that was earmarked to receive a cheque at Thursday’s handover ceremony but no representative showed up was the St. Lucia Aquatics Federation (SLAF). An amount of EC$24,429.00 will go towards assisting the association’s in hosting the 30th OECS Swimming Championships to be held from 11th-13th November in Saint Lucia.

According to Emmanuel, this amount brings the total amount disbursed by SLOC Inc. to the sport of swimming this year to EC$58,885.06.

The SLOC Inc. has also paid airfares totaling $55,261.30 to assist the St. Lucia Rugby Football Union’s team of 12 athletes and 3 officials participation in a qualifying tournament in Mexico. To date, he said, the SLRFU has received a total of EC$83,261.30 from SLOC Inc. this year.

The SLOC Inc. is also assisting national swimmer Jayhan Odlum-Smith’s participation in the Fina World Cup in the U.S. to the tune of US$1,625.00.

SOURCE: St. Lucia Olympic Committee Inc. Headline photo: SLOC Inc. President, Alfred Emmanuel, left, hands over the cheque for EC$5,000.00 to Mario Reyes, President of the St. Lucia Golf Association, on Thursday morning.

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Remembrance Day Ceremonies will take place on Sunday, November 13; followed by a public holiday on Monday, November 14 in observance of veterans who lost their lives in the line of duty.

The Grand Cayman ceremony will be held at the Cenotaph outside Elmslie Memorial United Church in George Town – which will also be streamed live on CIGTV channels.

The Cayman Brac ceremony will take place in front of the War Memorial Cenotaph in Stake Bay.

Ceremonies are open to the public, and will start precisely at 10.45 a.m. Attendees and participants are asked to be assembled and seated by 10.30am.

The public is being asked to be mindful that road closures around the events will occur to ensure safe passage of the parade.

Individuals or religious organisations who wish to pay their respects by laying wreaths at the Cenotaph or the War Memorial, please email protocol@gov.ky by Monday, November 7.

Everyone attending the ceremony is encouraged to wear a poppy.

Donations for poppies are encouraged but discretionary. Donations are used to assist veterans or their widows to ensure that they receive the help they need to live with comfort, dignity and appreciation.

Poppies can be collected from the Government Administration Building on Grand Cayman and the District Administration Building on Cayman Brac.

(Source: Cayman Islands Government)

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A two-week gun amnesty is to take effect on Saturday, November 5 following the approval of the Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction and Regulation) (Firearms Amnesty) Order 2022 by the Senate, on Friday, November 4.

The amnesty is slated to end at midnight on Saturday, November 19.

The Order, which will facilitate the amnesty, was moved by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator Matthew Samuda. It was approved by the House of Representatives on November 1.

Samuda said the amnesty is the last opportunity for those who hold or are in possession of illegal firearms or ammunition, to avoid significant prison sentences, and forms an important milestone in Jamaica’s fight against illegal guns.

He urged those possessing illegal firearms or ammunition to make full use of the amnesty.

“There is significant data… to show that members of gangs cannot be rehabilitated in three and a half years, which has been the average of many of our firearm sentences; this changes that,” the minister said.

Matthew Samuda (file photo)

“This gives us a fresh start in the war against illegal firearms. It is not a panacea, it’s not a silver bullet, it’s a part of a suite of investments, a suite of interventions (and) legislation, which must come together for us to break the back of this scourge,” Samuda added.

Breaches of the new Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction and Regulation) Act, 2022, which is now in effect, will result in penalties ranging from 15 years to life imprisonment.

The minister said once the amnesty expires, the full force of the law is expected to be applied to anyone found in possession of an illegal firearm or ammunition.

Samuda stated that firearm amnesties, such as the one that is the subject of the Order, are not unique to Jamaica, because they have been used successfully around the world as an operational tool to reduce the high levels of armed violence resulting from the proliferation of firearms and ammunition.

He further said for the last 25 years, Jamaica recorded, on average, 1,270 murders annually, the vast majority of the homicides have been committed with illegal firearms, adding that the firearm is the weapon of choice for murders and other acts of crime and armed violence in Jamaica.

The minister said since 2018, the security forces have taken more than 3,200 illegal firearms from the streets, and in excess of 53,000 rounds of ammunition. Each year, the forces have seized upwards of 625 firearms.

He added that as at October 31, 2022, a total of 652 firearms had been seized, representing an 11 per cent increase over the 585 that were recorded for the same period in 2021.

Peter Bunting (file photo)

“I want to emphasise that the aim of this measure is not to reveal the identities of the persons who comply with the amnesty. The amnesty is also intended to provide an opportunity for licence holders who are in possession of expired authorisations to surrender their weapons to the (Firearm Licensing) Authority (FLA),” he said.

The conditions for the surrender of firearms or ammunition are outlined in the Order. These may be handed over to a sub-officer or senior sub-officer on duty at any police station; any designated officer at a Firearms Licensing Authority (FLA) location; or to an attorney-at-law on behalf of an individual seeking the amnesty, for delivery to the nearest police station.

Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, Peter Bunting, said the Opposition is in support of all efforts to tackle the issue of crime in the country, “so long as the methods employed are within the ambit of our laws and constitution.”

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