Black Immigrant Daily News
Police in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Michael Adolph, whose body was found in a well at the Tabatinga Housing Scheme on Thursday at about 16:00h.
Police have since taken the body out of the well.
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
Two rangers, who are former employees of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) are feared drowned after the boat in which they were travelling capsized in the Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
The missing men are Terrance Thomas and Germaine LaRose.
Reports are that the incident occurred sometime between 03:00h and 04:00h on Thursday.
Reports are that the rangers, along with the captain of the vessel and another man, were on board at the time of the accident.
The captain and the other passenger managed to swim ashore, but the two rangers were not seen. The boat, which was loaded with fuel and other items left Imbaimadai and was heading to Jawalla, also in Region Seven.
Speaking with this publication on Thursday evening, a senior village official said that a search party was formed, but the two men were not found.
According to the official, while the boat and engine were not located, several drums of fuel, zinc sheets, and other items that were in the boat were found floating in the water.
GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison told this publication on Thursday evening that a report was received about the incident, but he cannot confirmed if the missing men were current or former employees of the agency.
He said that he was told that one of the men is a former GGMC employee and he has since sought further information.
Police have since launched an investigation.
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
– Advertisement –
Asserting that cruise ship visitors get information about places to avoid in Castries, the President of the Saint Lucia Craft and Dry Goods Vendors Association, Peter ‘Ras Ipa’ Isaac, has called for stepped-up security in the capital.
“‘Avoid Broglie Street, avoid the Chaussee, avoid Jn Baptiste Street’ – They tell them that on these cruise ships,” Isaac declared during an appearance this week on the DBS Television programme – Newsmaker Live.
“That’s why sometimes it is said that only twenty-five percent of the cruise passengers disembark,” he explained.
At the same time, Isaac was sure that being on the ship was quite an experience.
– Advertisement –
As a result, he questioned whether the vessel would encourage everyone to disembark.
Nevertheless, he explained that there’s a need for more security in the country.
“We need people to be sure that the areas where the vendors are selling are safe,” Isaac asserted.
“I am not saying that the police can be everywhere, but police must be there and the people must be given the kind of assurance that they are secure,” he told programme Host Timothy Poleon.
And he indicated that when cruise passengers disembark, they should feel they could walk the streets of Castries with no one snatching their chain or bag and fleeing.
“If we cannot give people these type of assurances then we are in a lot of trouble,” Isaac warned.
Headline photo: Peter ‘Ras Ipa’ Isaac
– Advertisement –
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
Tekst en beeld Ricky Wirjosentono PARMARIBO — Alle vier coaches wier team zondag begint aan de play-offs in de vrouwen
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
Un ancien détenu radicalisé tenant des “propos incohérents”: la justice belge a livré de premiers éléments sur le profil de l’assassin présumé d’un policier jeudi soir à Bruxelles, un suspect qui avait cherché le matin même…
Un ancien détenu radicalisé tenant des “propos incohérents”: la justice belge a livré de premiers éléments sur le profil de l’assassin présumé d’un policier jeudi soir à Bruxelles, un suspect qui avait cherché le matin même à être pris en charge par des psychiatres.
Présenté comme “Yassine M.”, un Belge de 32 ans né et domicilié à Bruxelles, le suspect était fiché par l’agence belge d’analyse de la menace terroriste (Ocam), a révélé vendredi le parquet fédéral lors d’une conférence de presse.
“Il était connu de la justice pour des faits de droit commun qui lui ont valu d’être détenu entre 2013 et 2019”, a-t-on ajouté de même source.
Selon le récit du parquet de Bruxelles, il s’était présenté le matin des faits dans un commissariat de la capitale belge en demandant d’être “pris en charge au niveau psychologique”.
“Il tenait des propos incohérents, parlait de la haine contre la police”, a raconté le procureur de Bruxelles Tim De Wolf.
Après avis d’un magistrat, il a été accompagné par des policiers à l’unité psychiatrique de l’hôpital Saint-Luc, où il a été pris en charge par des infirmiers.
Il a ensuite pu quitter l’hôpital dans des conditions que l’enquête devra éclaircir.
Selon le procureur, Yassine M. “ne remplissait pas les critères légaux” pour un internement d’office car il était “volontaire” pour recevoir des soins. Une loi de 1990 encadre strictement les restrictions de liberté pour les personnes souffrant de troubles psychiatriques.
L’agression mortelle s’est produite jeudi vers 19H15 (18H15 GMT) sur la commune bruxelloise de Schaerbeek, dans le quartier de la gare Bruxelles-Nord.
Le suspect, armé d’un couteau, a attaqué un véhicule de police arrêté à un feu rouge, et le policier au volant a reçu “un coup à la hauteur de la gorge”, a détaillé le parquet fédéral.
L’assaillant s’est ensuite déplacé vers le passager, frappé au bras droit. Ce dernier a pu appeler d’autres policiers, il a dit avoir entendu le suspect crier “Allah Akhbar” (“Dieu est le plus grand”), selon la même source.
Yassine M. a été la cible de tirs de riposte par une patrouille arrivée en renfort, et “blessé par balle”, il a été conduit à l’hôpital.
Le policier frappé à la gorge, Thomas M., 29 ans, n’a pas survécu, tandis que son collègue, Jason P. (23 ans) “a été admis aux urgences où il a été opéré cette nuit”, toujours selon le parquet fédéral. Il est désormais hors de danger.
Dès jeudi soir, le Premier ministre Alexander De Croo a rendu hommage à la victime et à toute une profession “qui risque sa vie au quotidien pour assurer la sécurité de nos citoyens”. La ministre de l’Intérieur Annelies Verlinden a dénoncé une “violence inacceptable”.
Un syndicat de policiers a annoncé une journée d’action le 28 novembre, évoquant “l’événement de trop”.
Au-delà du profil psychologique du suspect, l’enquête ouverte pour “assassinat et tentative d’assassinat dans un contexte terroriste” devrait se pencher sur son parcours carcéral.
En prison, où il purgeait une peine pour “vol avec violence”, son comportement s’est dégradé à partir de 2015, a dit à l’AFP une source proche du dossier. Il a été placé dans une “section Deradex” (réservée aux détenus radicalisés).
Selon l’Ocam, Yassine M. était mentionné sur “une banque de données commune contenant environ 700 noms”, partagée par tous les services de sécurité en Belgique.
La liste recense “les extrémistes et terroristes connus dans le pays qui font l’objet d’un suivi prioritaire”, a précisé à l’AFP un porte-parole de l’agence fédérale.
Depuis les attentats jihadistes de Bruxelles (32 morts le 22 mars 2016), la Belgique a été le théâtre de plusieurs agressions contre des militaires ou des policiers.
La dernière attaque considérée comme “terroriste” s’était produite à Liège (est) le 29 mai 2018, quand un délinquant radicalisé de 31 ans avait tué par balles deux policières et un étudiant en criant plusieurs fois “Allah Akbar”. Il avait ensuite été abattu par les forces de l’ordre.
mad/alm/am
Le procureur de Bruxelles Tim De Wolf (g) lors d’une conférence de presse au lendemain d’une attaque au couteau contre un policier, le 11 novembre 2022 à Bruxelles
• NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
Un policier sur les lieux d’une attaque au couteau, le 10 novembre 2022 à Bruxelles
• Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD
Des policiers sur les lieux d’une attaque au couteau, le 10 novembre 2022 à Bruxelles
• HATIM KAGHAT
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
The land met the sea on Tuesday evening when vendors mingled with yacht brokers and crew during one of the first events of the Charter Yacht Society’s annual BVI Fall Charter Yacht Show.
“My family has been provisioning for yachts since the seventies, so we’ve been doing this for a long, long time,” said Aragorn Dick-Read, owner of Good Moon Farm. “My father would bring in all kinds of exotic and foreign stuff from all over the world to supply boats, and now I’m supplying everthing that’s local.”
Mr. Dick-Read’s farm was one of nearly three dozen businesses represented at Vendors’ Night.
The turnout pleased CYS Executive Director Janet Oliver. “It’s probably the biggest that we’ve ever had,” Ms. Oliver said. “We have about 35 businesses represented tonight.”
However, the number of boats registered for the show — 27 — was lower than hoped, Ms. Oliver explained. In 2019, just before the pandemic, 50 boats participated in the fall event. Nevertheless, this year’s turnout was not exactly bad news, she said.
“We would’ve expected more, but actually the VI is in high demand since Covid-19, so the vast majority of our members are on charter,” she said. “We have 27 boats, which is more than last year, but it’s not really our standard.”
Ms. Oliver added that the season has started earlier than usual and that she expects a strong tourist season.
“Charters began as early as October,” she said.
“We have some members who have closed out their calendars for the year.”
On Tuesday, vendors were busy setting up stalls near Peg Leg’s during the day.
Mr. Dick-Read and others remained focused on what the brokers and their clients were looking for in land-based services.
“People come expecting to find local food,” he said. “When they come to the supermarkets and see all exported food, they get very disappointed.”
Ms. Oliver said the Vendors’ Night is geared toward connecting vendors like Mr. Dick-Read to the yacht industry.
“These are the businesses that look to the industry to be their clientele, and the reverse: These businesses help make the guests’ vacation of a lifetime a good experience,” she said.
Last year, the event was held in a nearby location on Nanny Cay due to Covid-19.
“We had everyone bring their own tents,” Ms. Oliver said. “Last year we had to have a certain amount of distance, and it created much more of a marketplace where people were able to customise their own booths better.”
However, this year’s venue worked out well too, she added.
The yacht show started on Sunday with an orientation where new crewmembers met at Peg Leg’s, according to organisers.
The next day, yacht crew were welcomed as they registered during the late afternoon hours. In the evening, they were invited to socialise at Omar’s in Nanny Cay.
Tuesday was the first day that brokers were invited to view the boats. Registration began early in the morning, and then brokers were invited to take a trip to Anegada aboard a Virgin Charter Yachts vessel.
There, brokers got a chance to visit the conch shell mound, tour the sister island, and eat lunch before returning to Tortola.
Those who opted out of the tour had the opportunity to view yachts and talk to crewmembers.
The show continues today with yacht viewings and the annual cocktail contest sponsored by Mount Gay Rum. During the evening, a crew and broker dinner and an awards ceremony will be held.
The final day of the show is tomorrow when all events will wrap up by noon.
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
The Recovery and Development Agency — which was established to oversee major recovery projects after hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the territory in 2017 — will be allowed to continue its work until the end of 2025 if the House of Assembly okays an amendment to the RDA Act that Cabinet approved last month.
The RDA was formed in April 2018 for an initial period of five years and would have dissolved next April, but Cabinet members decided on Oct. 5 to extend its lifespan by two years and eight months, according to a recently published summary of the Cabinet meeting that day.
The timespan was decreased from the three years and eight months that RDA Chairman Ronnie Skelton requested, which would have kept the RDA in effect until the end of 2026. Mr. Skelton asked for the extension “to allow completion of projects already in progress or that are scheduled to commence in 2022,” according to the Cabinet summary.
Instead of agreeing to Mr. Skelton’s request, the Premier’s Office responded by giving “formal intent for an extension of two years and eight months to Dec. 31, 2025,” according to the Cabinet summary.
The Cabinet also decided on Oct. 5 that the Premier’s Office should ask the Attorney General’s Chambers to prepare an amendment to clause 22 of the RDA Act to postpone the dissolution.
Additionally, the Cabinet approved various conditions to the extension: that the RDA should not take on projects that would extend beyond its lifespan; that the agency transfer its knowledge and skills to relevant government agencies in collaboration with the Premier’s Office; that the agency report on a semi-annual basis to the Cabinet on its progress; and that the RDA present a winding-up plan by Nov. 30, 2024.
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
There are at least 10 different types of soil in the Virgin Islands, and each one has unique properties that can help people understand what areas are more susceptible to disasters like landslides, according to a scientist visiting the territory.
To augment this knowledge, a soil study on all the major islands in the territory and the establishment of a soil laboratory are underway with the help of a scientist from the University of Portsmouth in
the United Kingdom.
Professor of Geoinformatics and Disaster Risk Reduction Dr. Richard Teeuw, along with Department of Disaster Management Director Jasen Penn and Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour Joseph Smith-Abbott, hosted a press conference Tuesday morning to announce the launch of the study.
The VI currently lacks digital soil maps — a critical gap in datasets needed for environmental management, according to Dr. Teeuw.
“Soil mapping dates back in the Virgin Islands probably to the early 1950s — maybe even earlier than that, particularly for agricultural purposes,” said Mr. Smith-Abbott. “This particular initiative is very important because it’s decades in the making.”
He added that the project will create more robust digitised maps that will inform decisions related to construction, waste management, and more.
Mr. Penn said the survey will also help the DDM do its job.
“The work we do in terms of risk reduction and planning for future hazards relies on good information. When it comes to the makeup of our soil, details matter,” Mr. Penn said. “Knowing whether a particular parcel is more or less clay, more or less bedrock, etcetera, gives us insight into how vulnerable that parcel is to hazards like earthquakes and landslides.”
The study will also provide guidance for land development, help map areas susceptible to erosion and landslides, and help determine soil sustainability for construction and waste disposal, Dr. Teeuw explained.
Additionally, the findings will highlight soil types that have good fertility and water retention for agriculture, he said.
A final report is scheduled for March 2024.
The data collected in the project will be accessible to various government agencies, officials explained.
“This means that the information gained from this study won’t sit on shelves gathering dust,” Mr. Penn said. “We’ll have it on hand for our daily work.”
He added that the project can be “built upon” for future projects and studies.
The study went through several grant funding steps be- fore taking off, officials explained.
Through UK aid via the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Darwin Initiative for Biodiversity, a proposal was set out for the scientists to conduct a multi-purpose soil survey with the VI government.
VI project partners include the DDM, the National Parks Trust, the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, the MNRL, the Environmental Health Division, the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, and the Town and Country Planning Department.
In January, Dr. Teeuw will return along with two other University of Portsmouth scientists to conduct surveys focused on waste management, civil engineering, and water-and-soil chemistry.
Next June, four scientists focusing on how the soils affect construction and biodiversity will conduct training for government officials, Dr. Teeuw said.
By January 2024, the group will publish maps and guidelines on soil sustainability for various types of land use and assessments of climate change impacts, he added.
Dr. Teeuw plans to submit a final report by March 2024 and then host an online workshop highlighting key project outputs, he said.
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
Audience members at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College hung on to the words of poets, essayists, novelists, filmmakers and other speakers last week during the second annual BVI Literary Arts Festival.
The three-day event — themed “Unwritten, Unspo- ken, Unknown” — featured internationally acclaimed writers from around the region taking part in panel discussions, workshops, and other sessions celebrating the literary arts in the Caribbean from last Thursday through Saturday. Featured artists and performers included Kei Miller of Jamaica, Tiphanie Yanique and Celeste Rita Baker of St. Thomas, Grenada-born Tobias
Buckell, Desiree Bailey of Trinidad and Tobago, Ana Portnoy Brimmer of Puerto Rico, Sharma Taylor of Jamaica, and more.
“Dear loves, when you fall in love, you’ll be certain that it’s something special about the other person. Isn’t that what the songs on the radio make you think?” Ms. Yanique read from her novel Monster in the Middle during a Friday panel discussion themed “Future Tense: Caribbean Imaginary.” “Or maybe you’ll be smart enough to know that it’s also something special about you because that is what the therapists on TV get paid to help you understand.”
During the panel, Ms. Yanique, Mr. Buckell, Ms. Baker and Ms. Taylor also spoke about climate change, writing in dialect, and the contribution of Caribbean literature to world literature, among other themes.
“The natural environment and where you are in relation to the sea — there are these things that happen that are very visible in our work: the fact that we are very vulnerable,” Mr. Buckell said.
Ms. Taylor agreed.
“That vulnerability is very important,” she said. “This is why it’s so important that we get our voices out so future generations can know what it’s about. The importance of Caribbean literature is that we’re in conversation with other societies here and in the future. We’re here; we deserve to be heard. We’re just as viable as everybody else who is writing.”
Mr. Buckell added that if Caribbean writers “don’t imagine our future, someone else will.”
“If that someone else is not us, then someone else is taking control of our future,” he said.
The panelists also fielded several questions from students in the audience.
The fiction writers’ panel was among several sessions held from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Friday at the college.
Other discussions centred around topics like ancestry, lineage, political development in overseas territories, economic development, climate change, and journalism on crisis situations. Among the attendees were about 100 high school students from Tortola and the sister islands.
On Friday night, a showcase at Sushi Bar featured emerging local writers as well as acclaimed Trinidadian performance poet Derron Sandy.
On Saturday, workshops on publishing, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, children’s literature and other literary arts were held at Maria’s by the Sea. The Department of Culture also hosted a book fair.
Heavy rains that evening postponed the final public event of the festival: a poetry slam with a grand prize of $1,000 for the first-place winner and $250 for the runner-up.
The literary festival began last year as part of the government’s Culture and Tourism Month activities in conjunction with HLSCC.
The purpose of the event is to create a space where lovers of the literary arts can “engage in focused discussions on cultural identity while marketing the works of local authors,” according to the festival’s website.
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
The Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Narcotics Division disrupted a transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating between the United States (US) and Jamaica, following the seizure of a large quantity of cocaine with an estimated value of over $100m in Ocho Rios.
Eight cruise line passengers were taken into custody. Reports are that the eight people – all US nationals – earlier disembarked the vessel which arrived in Ocho Rios from Miami, Florida, St Ann on Wednesday, November 09.
At about 1:30 pm, they were re-boarding the vessel for departure, and anomalies were detected in their luggage. During a search by members of the Narcotics Division, a total of twenty-four packages containing cocaine weighing just over 17 kilograms (38 pounds) were found concealed in their bags. The passengers were arrested for breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act.
However, their identities are being withheld pending further investigations. The seized has an estimated street value of US $850 000.00 Investigations continue.
NewsAmericasNow.com
