UNC questions cost of PM’s residence in Tobago

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

News

Dr Roodal Moonilal . File photo by Jeff K Mayers

Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal is calling for an independent investigation into the cost of construction of the Prime Minister’s Tobago residence. He said the cost, as stated in documents received from Udecott, had gone from a initial budget of $25 million to $63 million.

Speaking at the UNC’s virtual meeting on Sunday, he said a request had been made for the cost during the Standing Finance Committee.

“When we were in office, I told Kamla Persad-Bissessar that Udecott said it would cost $20 million and she said that money could be better spent elsewhere, and that Udecott should either revise the budget or shelve it. We can now confirm that $48 million was already paid to the company, with a further unpaid balance of $15 million. We are calling for an unbiased enquiry as to who the contractors were and why the cost was so high.”

Moonilal also asked why the PNM was using TTT as a resource to broadcast its political meetings for free.

“During the standing finance committee, we asked what was the revenue collected from broadcasting political meetings. The information we received was that there had been at least six PNM political meetings aired during the fiscal year for which no payments were received and no payments were outstanding. No political meetings of other parties were aired.”

The MP also asked for details of the 2,500 cameras which the PM recently announced would be acquired at a cost of $18 million. He asked whether this figure included the system needed to run the cameras, what the specifications were, what the tendering process had been, and whether the cameras would be able to capture information which could be used as evidence in a court of law.

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‘Maak kennis met tennis’

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: De Ware Tijd Online

Opening Suriname Tenniscentrum Tekst en beeld Ricky Wirjosentono PARAMARIBO — “Gelet op het aantal deelnemers vandaag kunnen we zeggen dat

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WATCH: Security guards protest following recent court ruling Loop Jamaica

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News
Loop News

1 hrs ago

Security Guards Protest In Cross Roads

NEWYou can now listen to Loop News articles!

A number of private security guards mounted an orderly protest in Cross Roads, St Andrew on Monday, relative to the lack of clarity about their status within their respective companies following a recent court ruling that such guards should not be contract workers, but staff members who are entitled to the typical staff benefits in any corporate entity nationally.

While outlining longstanding grouses, the protestors cited the recent court ruling, which they said they are depending on to bring significant improvements to their working arrangements and benefits.

Notably, while the court ruling related directly to guards within only one or two specific security company/companies, it is imperative that it has the same implications for all private security guards within such companies across the country.

Above, speakers from among the protesters spell out their issues and some expectations going forward, which were captured on video by Loop News.

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Man accused of kidnapping and beating his child’s mother granted bail, but will face High Court on first charge next year

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Antigua News Room

REAL NEWS: A 43-year-old man accused of kidnapping and beating the mother of his child was recently granted bail in the St. John’s Magistrates’ Court.

Reports say his attorney, Wendel Robinson, pleaded extensively with the court to grant him bail, and the prosecution did not object since it was the man’s first offence.

However, Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh was very skeptical about releasing him. Therefore, ahead of her decision, she conferred with the alleged victim, asking whether she was afraid of the man and was comfortable with bail being granted.

The woman appeared for the bail hearing with an eye that was swollen shut as a result of being struck in the face. However, she said she was not afraid of her child’s father and was not concerned that he the offense would be repeated since she would not be alone.

Therefore, Walsh granted the accused bail in the sum of $5,000, with a cash deposit of $1,500 and one surety.

The man has to report to the Grays Farm Police Station three days a week – Monday, Wednesday and Saturday – and an order was made to surrender his passport to the Court.

In addition, he was instructed, in no uncertain terms, to stay away from the victim and to have no contact with her directly or indirectly before the matter is completed. He was further warned not to call her on the phone or send her any text or Whatsapp messages.

If he breaches any of the bail conditions – in particular, interfering with his ex-girlfriend – his bail will be revoked and he will be placed on remand.

The man faces four charges – three separate counts of battery and a kidnapping charge that is indictable and has to be tried in the High Court before a judge and jury.

It is alleged that the man took the woman against her will by forcing her into his car and drove to several locations, where he allegedly beat her. The woman had to seek medical attention as a result of the ordeal.

Committal proceedings are set for the New Year.

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Abdulah slams Hinds over Rose Hill gunfire comments

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

News

David Abdulah. – Photo by Roger Jacob

MOVEMENT for Social Justice political leader David Abdulah slammed National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds for what he said were inappropriate statements that Hinds made about a shooting incident near Rose Hill Primary School last week.

Responding to questions on the matter from Opposition MPs in the House of Representatives on November 4, Hinds said, “The actual shooting incident took place about 200 metres from the school.”

School administrators, Hinds continued, told him in the presence of the police that “they were satisfied that at no stage in that event, were the children at peril, or any physical harm.”

He accepted that the sound of gunfire was traumatising and troubling for everyone.

Hinds said the school is overseen by the Catholic School Board and the board has ensured that the students have been taught certain safety practices over the years.

“The children reacted accordingly.”

Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal asked Hinds if he was the author of a Facebook post which claimed that a video which showed students lying on the floor of their classroom while gunshots were heard, was misleading and the students “were not in any imminent danger.”

Hinds did not answer the question.

He said the police will increase the number of static patrols in the area around the school.

“In other words, they remain on that and surrounding locations far more permanently.”

Hinds said the police will also offer counselling sessions for staff and students.

During a virtual news conference on Sunday, Abdulah described Hinds’ statement as totally inappropriate and totally disgusting.

Regardless of where the shooting incident happened, he said the students would have been traumatised.

Abdulah said MSJ members from different parts of TT, told him there are some places where people discharging firearms is a regular occurrence.

He added that a bullet fired from a high-powered assault weapon could travel considerable distances.

Abdulah said Hinds’ statement provides further evidence that he is not fit to serve as national security minister.

On moves by police and other law enforcement agencies to stem the flow of illegal firearms into TT, Abdulah said the MSJ had long advocated a solution for this.

“Fix the damn scanners.”

Abdulah reiterated that once scanners at the airports and seaports are working properly, it will stem the flow of illegal guns into TT.

He said the MSJ will issue a statement this week to reiterate all of the policies it has with respect to dealing with crime.

Abdulah added that no other political party in TT would ever do that.

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Vistors: Chaguaramas boardwalk ‘looks horrible, run-down’

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

News

Newsday reporter Nicholas Maraj points to a broken board at the Chaguaramas Boardwalk on October 26. The condition of the boardwalk has been allowed to deteriorate over the past four years. – Photo by Ayanna Kinsale

Visitors are troubled about the bad condition of Chaguaramas boardwalk and are appealing to the relevant authorities in two letters written to Newsday in October.

In one letter, C Alexander asked, “What is going on with Chaguaramas boardwalk? Has the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) been asleep for the past eight years?” In the other, J Ali asked the Minister of Tourism, “When last have you visited the boardwalk? It looks horrible and run-down.”

The CDA built the boardwalk to provide visitors with a usable space for commerce and recreation. Former chairman of the CDA Danny Solomon said in an interview in 2012, “It’s our mission to make Chaguaramas a clean, eco-friendly environment.”

He said the CDA’s mandate was “to make Chaguaramas a world-class eco-tourism destination, entertainment and business centre.”

The boardwalk, located on the Western Main Road along part of the sea front of the northwest peninsula, was built in two phases and cost $40 million. The first phase of the boardwalk was opened in 2012. The second phase, a 1,300-foot extension of the first, opened in December 2014.

The Chaguaramas Boardwalk remains in a state of disrepair on October 26. – Photo by Ayanna Kinsale

Solomon said the boardwalk – particularly the second phase, which included recreational facilities such as gazebos, rock-climbing, cooking areas and more – was the CDA’s plan to build family life in a healthy, safe and fun environment.

When Newsday visited, it was covered with sand and litter and its solar-powered lights were broken. Several boards were lifting, and some were missing or broken, making it dangerous for visitors to walk on.

Surrounding benches have become severely dilapidated. There were half-full bins and abandoned, dilapidated lifeguard booths. Stalls that were once occupied by food vendors are now closed and empty.

The seashore is visibly polluted and the sea dirty, frothy, brown and full of debris, even though the CDA launched CEPEP Marine in 2012, which was intended to clean up the coastline in the area.

The pond, located near the gazebos, is now moss-filled, green, surrounded with overgrown bush, and is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

The restrooms were locked. There were six foot-taps in front of the restroom but only two were working.

One woman there said she visits every day to bathe. When Newsday asked what she thought of the state of the boardwalk, she said, “It is disgusting and dangerous.

Where is the maintenance people for here (the boardwalk)? Every government facility is supposed to have constant maintenance.”

David Rampersad, another regular visitor to the boardwalk, commented on the restrooms, “Could you imagine, there are toilets here and they don’t even open it for people to use? Every Saturday people would come to clean the toilets, then lock them again when they leave.”

CDA Corporate Communications manager, Karen Clarke-Rowley, told Newsday that e-mail was her preferred means of communication for comments but an e-mail sent to her received no response to date.

Chairman of the CDA Gupte Lutchmedial and the line minister for the CDA, Planning and Development Minister Pennelope Beckles, could not be reached for comment.(With reporting by Nicholas Maraj.)

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Casimir Suggests Temporary Return To Online Learning – St. Lucia Times News

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: St. Lucia Times News

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Gros Islet MP Kenson Casimir suggested a temporary return to online learning as he, Education Minister Shawn Edward and others surveyed flood damage to the Dame Pearlette Louisy Primary school on Monday morning.

“I am very proud of the government for providing laptops to all our kids, so you know we may have to go back to online learning for some time at the Dame Pearlette Louisy and of course at some of the other institutions in Gros Islet,” Casimir stated.

The Ministry of Education announced the closure of the Dame Pearlette Louisy and the Corinth Secondary Schools due to the impact of Sunday’s flooding, which devastated the North of Saint Lucia.

Casimir, Minister for Youth Development and Sports, described the event as a troubled time for his constituency.

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He estimated that Gros Islet had suffered millions of dollars in damage.

And he echoed the concern Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre and National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) Director Maria Medard expressed at a news conference on Monday about the indiscriminate dumping of garbage in the rivers.

“We as a people can do better in terms of the way we treat our rivers – the way we dump garbage. We can see the remnants of what happened when we do things indiscriminately in our constituency and of course, in Saint Lucia,” the MP declared.

Nevertheless, Casimir said he was proud of his people who came together to assist each other amid the calamity.

He recalled that those who suffered no damage reached out to help others in distress.

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7-jarige jongen doodgereden, bestuurder rijdt door

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: De Ware Tijd Online

PARAMARIBO — De 7-jarige voetganger Amoko Shapildo is zondag aangereden door een personenauto aan de Oost-Westverbinding, ter hoogte van km

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Stage et interclub de boxe française pour nos boxeurs

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Guadeloupe FranceAntilles

Savate. Challenge de la Toussaint Gwada Boxing Club

Romain MATTIO
r.mattio@agmedias.fr

Les boxeurs du Gwada boxing club prêt à en découdre. De g.à.d : Allan Bredon, Stéphane Feuillard et Grégory Houblon. • GWADA BOXING CLUB

Samedi après-midi au gymnase de Dothémare, les pratiquants de la savate s’étaient donnés rendez-vous pour une après-midi de compétition. Une bonne mise en jambe pour reprendre la saison, surtout que ce challenge ponctuait une semaine de stage.

Ce challenge de la Toussaint organisé par le Gwada
boxing club vient ponctuer une semaine de stage en Guadeloupe pour
des clubs invités. Au total, Saint-Martin, le Boxing club de
Baie-Mahault et u

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Violence Prevention Alliance touts drum therapy to curb violence Loop Jamaica

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News

With high levels of violence within the Jamaican society, the Violence Prevention Alliance is touting drum therapy as a viable alternative to tackling trauma and stress that tend to cause violent behaviour among some individuals.

Drumming has been used by the alliance in several children’s homes across the island, resulting in improved conduct among children.

The declaration was made by Chair of the Violence Prevention Alliance, Dr Elizabeth Ward, as she addressed a forum hosted by the National Committee on Non-Communicable Diseases on Wednesday.

The forum was held under the theme, “Effects of violence and its relationship to increasing NCD (non-communicable disease) risks”.

In focusing her presentation on the benefits of drum therapy, Ward admitted that she initially did not believe that the method would have worked in curbing certain NCDs that contribute to violent behaviours.

“One of the things that we found that really can be an intervention, that’s affordable, that’s accessible, and can really help with dealing with trauma, is drumming, and if you asked me about this a couple of years ago, I would have said you must be joking,” she said.

“Drumming; we really look into it and see now that it enhances well-being, it boosts the cardiovascular system, it boosts your energy, it improves your blood circulation, it helps to burn calories, it helps to neutralise stress, it lowers blood pressure, and it relieves depression, anxiety, even suicidal ideation, and that has been proven,” Ward explained.

According to her, a recent study examined the positive effects drum therapy has on the brain of young people.

Dr Elizabeth Ward

She elaborated that, “They (researchers) did FMRI, which is functional magnetic resonance, and what they found in the results in that period after the end of the eight weeks, (is) there was an increase in functional brain capacity.

“There was (also) an increase in the areas, especially where inhibitory control activities are, and where actions of an outcome and self-monitoring and self-regulation are active in that part of the brain.

“So, it improves cognition and well-being of both well people and people who are ill, but this is actually to show you after the eight weeks what they actually saw, the areas of changes in the brain after the therapy was done,” said the Violence Prevention Alliance chairwoman.

Meanwhile, Ward outlined some positive results from drum sessions conducted at several children’s homes locally.

“So, we been doing this with children’s homes, and this is us (during the sessions) with caregivers from the children’s homes.

“We did it in six (children’s) homes and they asked us to do it in six more, and now they want to do it in nine more,” she revealed.

While admitting that it was “very slow” in getting the data from the drum sessions that were conducted, Ward said the reports received thus far are positive relative to the change in behaviour of children.

“(It is) very slow on getting the data, and (we) probably need a lot of help if we are going to have to do that, but there are reports of improvements in behaviour…, and now it’s three hours every week for the children in the children’s homes,” she declared.

“Especially for the lockdowns during COVID, they (the children) were so excited about having their drumming, and their behaviour improved,” stated Ward.

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