Black Immigrant Daily News

The BVI Electricity Corporation has signed a new short-term contract with Sol Petroleum to supply fuel for the company through August, leaders said during a press conference on Nov. 8.

“These contracts are critical to the operations of the organisation and to ensure that we have a steady supply of petroleum products necessary to provide a steady supply of electricity to thFe residents of the Virgin Islands,” said BVIEC Chairman Rosemarie Flax.

She noted that Sol Petroleum has been supplying the corporation since June.

“It makes it easier and more reliable when we can depend on partners that are operational in the BVI, especially in times of inclement weather and hurricanes,” she said.

BVIEC General Manager Leroy Abraham said both Sol Petroleum and Delta Petroleum BVI expressed interest in supplying fuel, but Delta disclosed that it would not be able to get access to number two diesel.

He noted that the previous fuel contract with Delta came to a premature end because of product shortages.

History

Delta originally outbid Sol last October to win a five-year contract to supply number two diesel fuel through 2026.

But Sol later stepped in to provide number two diesel fuel and other services after a falling out between Delta and BVIEC in May, during which both entities publicly accused each other of making misleading statements.

While the BVIEC said Delta could not honour the contract it signed, Delta claimed supply issues were to blame and said it had offered a different type of fuel that the utility rejected.

At the time, Sol was the only bidder to tender an offer to supply the petroleum products, offering a price of about $51.3 million for the 2022-2023 period, the BVIEC said at the time.

Most of that money — about $50.4 million — would go to supply number two diesel to the Henry Wilfred Smith Power Station in Pockwood Pond, according to the utility. Sol also bid nearly $268,000 to supply lubricating oil to the same station for the same period and about $618,000 to provide No. 2 Diesel to the Anegada Power Station, according to the utility.

On Nov. 8, Mr. Abraham said, “Things are very volatile in the world right now, so I don’t know what level of assurance there is, but Sol has given its assurance it will do everything possible to ensure that they continue to supply the BVI Electricity Corporation. If for whatever reason there’s no more diesel fuel in the world, then there’s nothing all of us can do at that point.”

Subsidy

Deputy Premier Kye Rymer, who is also the communications and works minister, said in a press conference on Oct. 28 that residents should see some financial relief in the form of a subsidy for residential electricity until the end of the year. This includes a 50 percent subsidy for the fuel surcharge on electricity bills for October and November, and a 100 percent subsidy for December.

“Government is doing this to ease the burden that is being faced by residents due to increases in oil and fuel prices on the international market, which has been ongoing since the Russia-Ukraine conflict escalated in February,” he said.

If prices don’t begin to fall soon, Mr. Rymer said he would speak with the premier about finding funding to continue the subsidy.

Mr. Abraham said on Nov. 8 that the Ukraine invasion is unprecedented, but that he is hopeful it will normalise by early next year. He added that part of the reason for the short-term contract is the expectation that fuel prices will soon decrease.

“We do know that it’s not going to last forever, but none of us have a crystal ball with regards to the extent of time,” he said.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Volunteerism has been a key part of the Cayman Islands society and is what helps to make us a special community. In this Q&A, the General Manager of Cayman Meals on Wheels, Jennifer West, talks about volunteerism and the satisfaction that comes with helping others.

What are three reasons you decided to get involved with the relevant organisation or to help in your personal capacity?

When I saw the opportunity to work for an organisation that gives back to our seniors, the main reason I decided to get involved was that our seniors have done so much for our country and I saw it as a way to give back to them, second, it is so satisfying making an immediate difference on a daily basis and third, knowing that by doing something so simple as providing a meal takes the worry away from someone’s life is satisfying.

How long have you been involved with Meals on Wheels?

I have been involved with Meals on Wheels since December of 2019, however, I have been an active member in the community, helping different charities and persons from a very young age through numerous organisations.

Describe your three happiest moments being a volunteer.

It is really hard to choose only three moments, but a vivid memory I have is during lockdown when delivering meals to a family who had not eaten because they had no transportation and no food left at home. One of the greatest joys in serving with Meals on Wheels is hearing the many stories that the seniors share about their lives. It is like getting a first-hand look into history. Another happy memory is something that happens on a daily basis and that is seeing the smiling faces of the seniors and their hands reaching out for their meals with gratitude.

What’s your role as general manager of Meals on wheels?

Coordinating the four community kitchens that provide 335 daily meals. I am also responsible for the daily operations, fundraising, and communication with seniors and their families to name a few. There are 3 staff, 12 Board Directors, 130 active volunteers, 335 seniors. In 2019 Meals on Wheels served 215 seniors, we grew to 525 in 2020.

What do you feel helping people to progress?

Absolute satisfaction.

What drives you to remain involved with your organisation?

Knowing that I am able to provide food security during one of the most challenging times the world has ever faced!

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Black Immigrant Daily News

News

Justice Alice Yorke-Soo Hon.

CONVICTED killer Peter Radgman is seeking to convince the Court of Appeal to allow fresh evidence – a psychiatrist’s assessment of him – in his challenge of his conviction in 2019 for a murder ten years earlier.

In May 2019, Radgman was convicted of murdering Kooldip “Rishi” Maharaj.

Maharaj was smothered to death with a polo shirt and beaten to death with a crowbar at Radgman’s apartment at Allfield Trace, Lowlands, Tobago on June 13, 2009, after the two men had a fight. At the trial, there was evidence that Ragdman had been drinking before the incident.

Radgman’s lawyer Bindra Dolsingh has complained about the trial judge’s handling of the case and has also made a fresh evidence application to admit a report by Prof Gerard Hutchinson, who diagnosed him in 2022 with alcohol-use disorder.

Dolsingh has submitted it would be in the interest of justice to admit the report, because if it had been before the jury that convicted him, it was likely they could have returned with a different verdict.

Presiding over Radgman’s appeal are Justices of Appeal Alice Yorke-Soo Hon, Gregory Smith and Vasheist Kokaram.

On Thursday, assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Sabrina Dougdeen-Jaglal questioned Hutchinson about this report.

Hutchinson said he could not say how intoxicated Radgman would have been at the time of the incident, or the effect the disorder would have had on him.

Dougdeen-Jaglal said the evidence of Ragdman’s drinking was available at the time of the trial. Dolsingh admitted this and could not say why it was not introduced then.

She also argued the report was deficient on key issues relating to Radgman’s trial defences of provocation/self-defence and diminished responsibility, now being raised on appeal.

“Those questions remain unanswered and unaddressed. The report does not assist him (Radgman) in support of any of his defences and it falls short and should not be admitted.”

However, Dolsingh argued the psychiatrist’s findings could not be dismissed, as there was a “strong probability” Radgman suffered from the condition at the time of the offence.

The judges have reserved their decision on Radgman’s appeal.

Radgman was also represented by Chris Seelochan and David Carter.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

N.C.B. Foundation has renewed its commitment to supporting students studying digital subjects at the CSEC level through the National CSEC Bursary Programme.

While the Foundation has been providing assistance to students sitting Principles of Accounts (P.O.A.) and Principles of Business (P.O.B.) since 2003, it will now lend its full support to students of Information Technology (IT) to help them prepare for the emergence of in-demand jobs requiring this subject.

To date, the foundation has invested approximately $229 million in the programme, enabling over 107,000 student entries through the national subsidy programme – one of its many initiatives aimed at supporting young leaders in pursuit of future success. The programme works in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information (MOEYI) subsidy, and therefore helps to ensure that all students can meet the minimum subject requirement for admission into tertiary level institutions or to advance in the workplace.

According to Nadeen Matthews Blair, CEO of N.C.B. Foundation, “We are delighted to continue supporting Jamaican secondary students with CSEC subsidies for Information Technology. The support of this subject helps to put students on the right path for tertiary studies, which is also aligned with the foundation’s goal of enabling Jamaica’s digital transformation by expanding our pool of digital producers.”

N.C.B. Foundation continues to collaborate with local and international organisations to support students who share this passion for innovation and digital transformation. While the application process for the subsidy remains the same, students applying must have an average of 70 per cent or higher in their subject area from the list of qualifying schools across the island. Special consideration is also given to PATH students and wards of the State, who qualify with 50 per cent or higher.

For schools to qualify to submit students, they must have had a 90 per cent sit rate in the prior year’s examination in the confirmed subject areas. Qualifying schools must submit their information via the online application portal at www.myncb.com/CSEC, between November 9 and 23, 2022.

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News

Photo courtesy the Rural Development and Local Government Ministry

As of 11 pm on Wednesday, the Mt Pleasant Road in Carolina, Couva, became passable to drivers.

Flooding made the delapidated road near the bridge collapse early Wednesday, cutting off the community to road traffic.

Photo courtesy the Rural Development and Local Government Ministry

But a statement from the Rural Development and Local Government Ministry on Thursday morning said the ministry, together with the Works and Transport Ministry, Chaguanas Borough Corporation, and “several helpful residents,” fixed the problem.

This remedial work on the bridge, the statement said, was done on an interim basis and is scheduled to be addressed through the Rural Development Company (RDC).

On Wednesday, Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh had called on Rural Development and Local Government Minister Faris Al-Rawi and Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan to intervene immediately.

In response to the issues being temporarily resolved, the Opposition MP expressed gratitude on behalf of the residents of Carolina, Springvale, Forres Park, Basta Hall, Milton and everyone who uses the Carolina Road daily.

Photo courtesy the Rural Development and Local Government Ministry

He added that the temporary reinforcement of the bridge was based on his intervention with officials from the two ministries, the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation (CTTRC) and RDC.

Indarsingh added, “Over to you, Minister Faris Al-Rawi and your ministry, for the award of a contract which will facilitate a full overhaul of the Carolina Bridge.”

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