Hunt on for man who fled before start of MP Bloomfield’s murder trial Loop Jamaica

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News

A high-level manhunt is under way by the police for Simeon Sutherland, the man charged in connection with the murder of then People’s National Party (PNP) Member of Parliament (MP) for East Portland, Dr Lynvale Bloomfield.

Sutherland absconded bail on Wednesday.

He was to stand trial in the Home Circuit Court in Kingston for the politician’s 2019 stabbing death at his home in Portland, this after several months of delay.

However, when his name was called at least three times to come inside the courtroom in downtown Kingston on Wednesday, Sutherland was nowhere to be found.

The court was informed that before the start of court, the accused and his parents were at the office of his lawyer, Peter Champagnie.

Sutherland’s mother reportedly claimed that her son was dropped off at the entrance to the Supreme Court building, but said she noticed that he did not go towards the building.

Instead, the accused man man reportedly walked away and did not stop, even while his parents attempted to drive him down.

Sutherland’s mother was ordered by High Court Judge, Justice Leighton Pusey, to be taken into custody to pay her son’s bail bond of $800,000.

A bench warrant was also issued by the judge for Sutherland’s arrest.

Champagnie has also asked the judge to release him from the matter.

Speaking to reporters after the court proceedings, Champagnie expressed surprised at the actions of his client.

“What took place in court today is absolutely surprising, that’s the first thing, and barring any… reasonable excuse for the absence of Mr Sutherland, I would not want the message to be received that it is okay for you to have access to legal representation in the form of myself…, to take leave of the process and re-engage at a subsequent occasion time… and believe that you can have access to representation.

“It doesn’t work like that. We are a part of the justice system and it ought to be respected,” declared Champagnie.

When asked if Sutherland was set to plead guilty ahead of the scheduled start to his trial, the attorney said he would not want to say “yes or no” to that question.

He said if Sutherland is brought back to court, he would not want to prejudice the matter, resulting in members of the public being “sensitised” relative to “a course of action”.

Bloomfield was found dead with multiple stab wounds at his home in Passley Gardens, Portland on the morning of February 2, 2019.

Sutherland was arrested by investigators assigned to the Major Investigative Division (MID) days later, but after denying knowledge of the murder, was initially released by the police.

He was re-arrested shortly after evidence reportedly linked him to the scene of the crime.

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Man charged with recent murder of cop in Maxfield Avenue area Loop Jamaica

Black Immigrant Daily News

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

13 minutes ago

Constable Brian Martin

NEWYou can now listen to Loop News articles!

Twenty-year-old Jermaine Hamilton, otherwise called ‘Alex’, of Maxfield Avenue, St Andrew, has been arrested and charged following the death of 21-year-old Brian Martin, a police officer of Barbican, St Andrew, on Saturday, October 15 of this year.

Hamilton has been charged with murder, four counts of wounding with intent, and illegal possession of firearm.

Reports from the Hunts Bay police are that Constable Martin and the other persons who were subsequently injured, were patrons at a wake in Frog City in the Maxfield Avenue area, when men alighted from a motorcar and opened gunfire at the group of persons.

When the shooting subsided, Martin and three others were found with gunshot wounds.

They were all taken to hospital, where Martin was pronounced dead and the others were treated and released.

Hamilton was apprehended on Monday, October 17, and was later pointed out on an identification parade and subsequently charged.

Another suspect, Kevin Ruddock, otherwise called ‘Haji’, was fatally shot during a confrontation with the police on Friday, October 28.

Hamilton court date is being finalised.

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DNA Announces New Candidate in Rural West

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Antigua News Room

The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) is pleased to announce the new candidate for the St. John’s Rural West Constituency – Col. Stephen Richardson.

The vacancy arose following the resignation of the previous candidate.

Col. Stephen Richardson is the Chairman & Creative Director of a local Hospitality, Development and Real Estate company.

DNA President, Joanne Massiah, stated “I am delighted to have Col. Richardson as our candidate. We have a shared vision for local and reputable foreign direct investments generally and for creating better opportunities for youth. Further, we are strident in our views that a better and fairer Antigua and Barbuda is possible!”

The DNA is committed to delivering our motto, Prosperity for All, through our adherence to the principals of Transformational Leadership.

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Sponsoring : Melchie Da?lle Dumornay s’engage avec Adidas et entre dans l’histoire

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Le Nouvelliste


Les fans et sympathisants du football qui suivent Corventina sur les r?seaux sociaux ont pu voir ce message publi? dans la matin?e de ce mercredi 2 novembre : <>. Une petite phrase simple, mais c’est une mani?re pour elle de d?clarer qu’elle s’est engag?e officiellement avec l’?quipementier allemand, sans toutefois fournir de d?tails concernant le montant de la transaction ni la dur?e du contrat.

Avec ce nouveau contrat, Corventina rentre un peu plus dans la l?gende vu qu’elle a d?j? d?croch? pas mal de distinctions, les unes plus convoit?es que les autres, entre autres, le ballon d’or (U17), le soulier d’or (U20), meilleure jeune joueuse du dernier championnat senior de la CONCACAF tenu au Mexique, sans oublier le troph?e r?compensant la meilleure jeune footballeuse du monde des moins de 20 ans, d?cern? en 2021 par Goal.com. Les observateurs les plus avis?s voient la possibilit? pour elle de ravir un jour le fameux ballon d’or attribu? chaque ann?e par France Football.

A en croire une source bien inform?e et proche de l’attaquante du Stade de Reims (France), l’?quipementier allemand, qui ?tait en concurrence avec son grand rival am?ricain (Nike) pour avoir la perle du football f?minin ha?tien, signe avec Corventina un contrat qui s’?tend sur plusieurs ann?es et Adidas souhaite vivement faire de la Grenadi?re une star plan?taire.

Si Melchie Da?lle Dumornay reste jusque-l? la seule joueuse de la s?lection ha?tienne de football qui s’est engag?e avec un ?quipementier international, avant elle, c?t? gar?ons, deux Grenadiers : Wilde-Donald Guerrier avait sign? dans un premier temps avec Nike avant de rejoindre Puma alors que Charles H?rold Jr avait en 2017, lui aussi, s’?tait engag? avec l’?quipementier allemand, Adidas.

Dans ce petit jeu, Melchie Da?lle Dumornay, dite Corventina, apr?s s’?tre engag?e avec Adidas, a fait son entr?e dans le cercle tr?s ferm? des footballeurs (euses) ayant sign? avec un ?quipementier de renomm?e internationale. Reste ? savoir juste o? Corventina pourra arriver dans l’histoire du football f?minin mondial.

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Winston Duke, Sheryl Lee Ralph to appear in Savage X Fenty show Loop Barbados

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Barbados News

Rihanna has tapped Caribbean celebrities to participate in her upcoming Savage Fenty show.

Tobago-born Winston Duke and Sheryl Lee Ralph, whose parents are Jamaican, are among the stars featured in the fashion experience.

A release from Amazon said Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 4 would feature performances by global musical artists including Anitta, Burna Boy, Don Toliver, and Maxwell.

There will be special appearances from ?ngela Aguilar, Avani Gregg, Bella Poarch, Cara Delevingne, Damson Idris, Irina Shayk, Joan Smalls, Kornbread, Lara Stone, Lilly Singh, Marsai Martin, Precious Lee, Rickey Thompson, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Simu Liu, Taraji P. Henson, Taylour Paige, Winston Duke, Zach Miko, and many more.

Rihanna dropped the lineup reveal via her Instagram account.

Speaking on the Jimmy Fallon show on Monday ahead of the second installment of the Black Panther movie, Duke revealed he would be a part of the show.

“The legs will be oiled and they will be out,” he said, “I will be a Savage Fenty man.”

During an appearance on Live with Kelly and Ryan, Ralph said that Rihanna called her to ask if she would walk in her show.

“This is no Victoria Secret fashion show baby, this is something on a different level. When I saw the choreography, when I and her vision and what she had walking through the mountains, I was like alright then,” she said.

Since its launch, the Savage X Fenty show has shaken up the industry with its diverse array of bodies and genders. Last year, the show won an Emmy award for its choreography.

Savage X Fenty show Vol 4 will stream exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide from November 9.

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Nipsey Hussle’s Baby Mother Insists She Has Full Custody Of Daughter Despite Reports

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

The mother of Nipsey Hussle’s daughter, Emani Dior Asghedom, is back in court fighting for custody of the 13-year-old child.

Tanisha Foster wants custody of her daughter and claims that a court had granted her care and control of the child in the past, but she remains in the custody of Nipsey Hussle’s family.

On Wednesday, Foster, who goes by the name ‘Chyna Hussle’ on Instagram, shared a visitation order document from January 1, 2012, issued by the Judicial Court of California. Foster claims she was granted custody of Emani, and Nipsey only had weekend visitation rights.

The document showed that Hussle had custody of Emani from Friday to Monday every weekend of the month. The document appeared to be attached to a custody order, but she did not share the custody order. Emani was born in 2008 and will turn 14 years old in November. Her custody has been a source of contention and ongoing dispute between the family of Hussle since his death.

During his life, Emani resided with her father, but after his death in 2019, Foster has taken the rapper’s family members to court to secure custody. On Tuesday, Hussle’s older brother, Sam Asghedom, who is the court-appointed administrator of his estate in relation to probate proceedings, filed a status report on his handling of the rapper’s estate where he outlined the ongoing challenge with the custody battle.

In the report, Sam writes that guardianship of his niece is still pending. Emani and her half-brother Kross are the sole beneficiaries of Hussle’s multimillion-dollar estate, but Nipsey’s family is accusing Tanisha of not only being an unfit parent but possibly seeking to get her hands on the $2 million Emani would be entitled to after probate is completed.

After Nipsey’s death, his family applied for guardianship of Emani, and his sister Samantha Smith, brother Sam and grandmother Angelique were named joint guardians.

Foster, who had agreed to the guardianship in 2019, filed a motion for custody in 2022 to reverse the order. In the document, she claimed that she had agreed due to her “own financial limitations; her desire to maintain the standard of living and family contact the minor had experienced with the paternal family before her father’s death, and upon the verbal assurances that each of them would act in the best interests of Emani.”

She said that after the order was granted, the family not only had complete control of Emani but also did not give her any financial assistance and reduced her visitation.

Foster’s motion asked for custody and for the court to appoint a “neutral experience financial planner” to manage her daughter’s inheritance money.

“There are no circumstances or events in my life that would disqualify me from regaining my exclusive role as Emani’s parent. There is no longer any need for guardianship. Emani routinely asks me when are she and I going to be able to live together. She longs to be with me as her mother. I am begging the court to terminate the existing guardianship,” she wrote.

In 2019, TMZ reported that the rapper’s family told the court that Foster was not a good parent and would likely waste her daughter’s inheritance left to her by her father as she seeks to live a lavish lifestyle she can’t afford for herself.

Nipsey’s grandmother Angelique who helped raise the rapper, passed away last month. She was also one of the guardians of Emani.

The court has yet to rule on the outcome of the case, but custody and guardianship orders are usually granted for the best interests of the child, as determined by the court.

Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed in 2019 outside his clothing store in Los Angeles.

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Kaarsjes branden voor dierbare op Allerzielen

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: De Ware Tijd Online

Tekst en beeld Arjen Stikvoort PARAMARIBO — “Het is geweldig elk jaar zo. De leukste tijd om te komen, is

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La Corée du Nord tire trois nouveaux missiles, alerte au Japon

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Martinique FranceAntilles

La Corée du Nord a lancé jeudi trois nouveaux missiles, déclenchant une alerte dans une île au large de la péninsule coréenne ainsi qu’au Japon, au lendemain d’une salve inédite de tirs qui a porté…

La Corée du Nord a lancé jeudi trois nouveaux missiles, déclenchant une alerte dans une île au large de la péninsule coréenne ainsi qu’au Japon, au lendemain d’une salve inédite de tirs qui a porté à son comble la tension dans la région.

Selon l’état-major interarmées sud-coréen, trois missiles balistiques, l’un à longue portée et deux à courte portée, ont été lancés jeudi matin par le Nord en direction de la mer du Japon.

Les sirènes d’alerte aérienne ont retenti pour le deuxième jour consécutif dans l’île sud-coréenne d’Ulleungdo, située à 120 km à l’est de la péninsule coréenne, ont rapporté les médias locaux.

Le ministre japonais de la Défense Yasukazu Hamada a précisé que le Japon n’avait pas été survolé par un de ces projectiles, contrairement à ce que les autorités avaient indiqué plus tôt.

“Le missile a été détecté comme ayant le potentiel de survoler l’archipel japonais et une alerte (spéciale) a été émise, mais après avoir vérifié ces informations, nous avons confirmé que le missile n’avait pas traversé l’archipel japonais, mais avait disparu au-dessus de la mer du Japon”, a dit M. Hamada. “Nous sommes en train d’analyser la raison” de cette disparition, a-t-il ajouté.

Les chaînes de télévision japonaises ont diffusé jeudi matin des avertissements aux habitants des régions de Niigata, Yamagata et Miyagi, dans le nord du pays, en leur demandant de rester à l’abri, et le service de trains à grande vitesse Shinkansen a été brièvement suspendu.

“Le barrage continu de missiles jour après jour est un outrage et ne peut être toléré”, a déclaré jeudi le Premier ministre japonais Fumio Kishida.

Le 4 octobre, un missile balistique nord-coréen avait survolé le Japon pour la première fois en cinq ans.

Mercredi, la Corée du Nord avait déjà tiré 23 missiles, dont l’un avait franchi la “Ligne de limite du Nord” (NLL) qui prolonge en mer la frontière terrestre intercoréenne, tout en restant dans les eaux internationales.

“Invasion territoriale”

Selon l’armée sud-coréenne, c’était la première fois depuis la fin de la guerre de Corée en 1953 qu’un projectile nord-coréen terminait sa course aussi près des eaux territoriales du Sud.

Le président sud-coréen Yoon Suk-yeol a estimé que ces tirs constituaient “une invasion territoriale de fait”. Les autorités du Sud ont fermé plusieurs couloirs aériens au-dessus de la mer du Japon pour “assurer la sécurité des passagers des lignes vers les Etats-Unis et le Japon”.

L’armée nord-coréenne avait ensuite effectué une centaine de tirs d’artillerie près de la frontière intercoréenne à l’est de la péninsule. Le Sud a riposté en lançant trois missiles en mer, près de la zone où avait amerri l’un des projectiles du Nord.

Cette démonstration de force par Pyongyang intervient au moment où la Corée du Sud et les Etats-Unis mènent les plus importants exercices aériens de leur histoire dans la région. La Corée du Nord considère ce type de manœuvre comme une répétition générale à une future invasion de son territoire.

Cet exercice, baptisé “Tempête  vigilante” ( Vigilant Storm), constitue “une manœuvre militaire agressive et provocatrice visant la République populaire et démocratique de Corée”, a affirmé le régime nord-coréen, qui a menacé Séoul et Washington de “payer le plus horrible prix de l’histoire”.

Les Etats-Unis et la Corée du Sud avertissent depuis des mois que la Corée du Nord s’apprête à réaliser un essai nucléaire, qui serait le septième de son histoire et le premier depuis cinq ans.

Fin septembre, le régime de Kim Jong Un avait adopté une nouvelle doctrine proclamant le caractère “irréversible” du statut de puissance nucléaire du pays, rendant impossible tous pourparlers futurs au sujet de sa dénucléarisation, et se réservant le droit de mener des frappes préventives.

Cette proclamation avait été suivie, en septembre et octobre, d’une longue série d’essais de missiles, présentés par Pyongyang comme des simulations “nucléaires tactiques”.

Les récentes séries de tirs “sont des célébrations préliminaires à leur futur essai nucléaire”, a prédit Ahn Chan-il, chercheur spécialisé sur la Corée du Nord. “Cela ressemble aussi à une série de tests pratiques pour leur déploiement nucléaire tactique”, a-t-il dit à l’AFP.

cld/ceb/roc/lpa

Un écran dans une gare de Séoul diffuse des informations sur les derniers lancements de missiles par la Corée du Nord, le 3 novembre 2022
• Jung Yeon-je

Les habitants de Séoul regardent les informations à propos des tirs de missiles du Nord
• Ayaka MCGILL

NewsAmericasNow.com

La Corée du Nord tire trois nouveaux missiles, alerte au Japon

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Guadeloupe FranceAntilles

La Corée du Nord a lancé jeudi trois nouveaux missiles, déclenchant une alerte dans une île au large de la péninsule coréenne ainsi qu’au Japon, au lendemain d’une salve inédite de tirs qui a porté…

La Corée du Nord a lancé jeudi trois nouveaux missiles, déclenchant une alerte dans une île au large de la péninsule coréenne ainsi qu’au Japon, au lendemain d’une salve inédite de tirs qui a porté à son comble la tension dans la région.

Selon l’état-major interarmées sud-coréen, trois missiles balistiques, l’un à longue portée et deux à courte portée, ont été lancés jeudi matin par le Nord en direction de la mer du Japon.

Les sirènes d’alerte aérienne ont retenti pour le deuxième jour consécutif dans l’île sud-coréenne d’Ulleungdo, située à 120 km à l’est de la péninsule coréenne, ont rapporté les médias locaux.

Le ministre japonais de la Défense Yasukazu Hamada a précisé que le Japon n’avait pas été survolé par un de ces projectiles, contrairement à ce que les autorités avaient indiqué plus tôt.

“Le missile a été détecté comme ayant le potentiel de survoler l’archipel japonais et une alerte (spéciale) a été émise, mais après avoir vérifié ces informations, nous avons confirmé que le missile n’avait pas traversé l’archipel japonais, mais avait disparu au-dessus de la mer du Japon”, a dit M. Hamada. “Nous sommes en train d’analyser la raison” de cette disparition, a-t-il ajouté.

Les chaînes de télévision japonaises ont diffusé jeudi matin des avertissements aux habitants des régions de Niigata, Yamagata et Miyagi, dans le nord du pays, en leur demandant de rester à l’abri, et le service de trains à grande vitesse Shinkansen a été brièvement suspendu.

“Le barrage continu de missiles jour après jour est un outrage et ne peut être toléré”, a déclaré jeudi le Premier ministre japonais Fumio Kishida.

Le 4 octobre, un missile balistique nord-coréen avait survolé le Japon pour la première fois en cinq ans.

Mercredi, la Corée du Nord avait déjà tiré 23 missiles, dont l’un avait franchi la “Ligne de limite du Nord” (NLL) qui prolonge en mer la frontière terrestre intercoréenne, tout en restant dans les eaux internationales.

“Invasion territoriale”

Selon l’armée sud-coréenne, c’était la première fois depuis la fin de la guerre de Corée en 1953 qu’un projectile nord-coréen terminait sa course aussi près des eaux territoriales du Sud.

Le président sud-coréen Yoon Suk-yeol a estimé que ces tirs constituaient “une invasion territoriale de fait”. Les autorités du Sud ont fermé plusieurs couloirs aériens au-dessus de la mer du Japon pour “assurer la sécurité des passagers des lignes vers les Etats-Unis et le Japon”.

L’armée nord-coréenne avait ensuite effectué une centaine de tirs d’artillerie près de la frontière intercoréenne à l’est de la péninsule. Le Sud a riposté en lançant trois missiles en mer, près de la zone où avait amerri l’un des projectiles du Nord.

Cette démonstration de force par Pyongyang intervient au moment où la Corée du Sud et les Etats-Unis mènent les plus importants exercices aériens de leur histoire dans la région. La Corée du Nord considère ce type de manœuvre comme une répétition générale à une future invasion de son territoire.

Cet exercice, baptisé “Tempête  vigilante” ( Vigilant Storm), constitue “une manœuvre militaire agressive et provocatrice visant la République populaire et démocratique de Corée”, a affirmé le régime nord-coréen, qui a menacé Séoul et Washington de “payer le plus horrible prix de l’histoire”.

Les Etats-Unis et la Corée du Sud avertissent depuis des mois que la Corée du Nord s’apprête à réaliser un essai nucléaire, qui serait le septième de son histoire et le premier depuis cinq ans.

Fin septembre, le régime de Kim Jong Un avait adopté une nouvelle doctrine proclamant le caractère “irréversible” du statut de puissance nucléaire du pays, rendant impossible tous pourparlers futurs au sujet de sa dénucléarisation, et se réservant le droit de mener des frappes préventives.

Cette proclamation avait été suivie, en septembre et octobre, d’une longue série d’essais de missiles, présentés par Pyongyang comme des simulations “nucléaires tactiques”.

Les récentes séries de tirs “sont des célébrations préliminaires à leur futur essai nucléaire”, a prédit Ahn Chan-il, chercheur spécialisé sur la Corée du Nord. “Cela ressemble aussi à une série de tests pratiques pour leur déploiement nucléaire tactique”, a-t-il dit à l’AFP.

cld/ceb/roc/lpa

Un écran dans une gare de Séoul diffuse des informations sur les derniers lancements de missiles par la Corée du Nord, le 3 novembre 2022
• Jung Yeon-je

Les habitants de Séoul regardent les informations à propos des tirs de missiles du Nord
• Ayaka MCGILL

NewsAmericasNow.com

Comfortable in tattooed skin

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: The BVI Beacon

Upstairs of a motorbike showroom in Manuel Reef, one of the artists at Steven Nguyen’s body art shop searched the internet for “best cancer tattoos for men.”

The tattoo he was planning was a commemoration for his client’s mother.

“I have about four of them,” said the client, who asked not to be named, while pointing at other ribbons on his arm. “This is going to be my 22nd tattoo altogether.”

The tattoo — which featured his mother’s middle name, Dolores — was to be inked on his neck.

To design it, Mr. Nguyen and the tattoo artist sat in front of a computer, tweaking it to perfection.

Ten years ago, tattoo shops offered booklets of designs that customers could browse, but today the process is typically digitised, Mr. Nguyen said.

A customer can look up any design online, and the artist can draw the concept with an illustration programme and print it out onto adhesive paper that sticks to the skin.

After that, the artist can trace the design before ever bringing the needle to the body, ensuring accuracy, which is particularly important when words are involved in the design.

But while tattooing has changed rapidly in recent years, the Virgin Islands has not kept pace with related legislation. In fact, there is currently no legislation in the territory that regulates the practice.

Gov’t inspection

There are at least two body art studios in the territory that offer tattoos. The newest is Mr. Nguyen’s shop, Esme Body Art Studio, which opened in August.

Before opening, Mr. Nguyen acquired a trade licence and underwent an inspection from the Environmental Health Division. And in the absence of tattoo-specific VI legislation, he carefully follows standard safety and health protocols that would be required in other countries, he said.

Stacy Mather said he did the same after he and his brother opened Lion Ink Studio in 2015. But he has also been pushing for regulations for years.

Long before opening his studio, which was destroyed in Hurricane Irma, he proposed a draft tattoo-and-piercing safety legislation to the government for consideration in 2008.

He was later told it had been “lost,” he said.

Like Mr. Nguyen, Mr. Mather said his studio secured a trade licence and was cleared to practise after passing an inspection by the Environmental Health Division.

It also followed the standards of the American Piercing Association and other accreditation bodies, he said.

Unregulated operations

But in the absence of regulations, Mr. Mather said, people in the territory have inked tattoos without trade licences or health permits for years.

“People would migrate from other Caribbean countries, and they would come here and they would practice,” Mr. Mather said. “Back then, their sterilisation process for tattooing was pressure cookers with Clorox water and that kind of stuff. Some of them, in their countries [tattooing is] regulated, and in the [VI] it wasn’t regulated.”

Now, he said, many at-home tattoo artists have professional equipment including single-use needles.

But regulation, he added, is still needed.

“If we don’t regulate it, we’re going to have more young people getting tattoos in homes, in corners, and they’re going to have bad experiences,” he said.

In regulated tattoos shops, he explained, set rules can discourage bad decisions.

“Any shop in the world has parameters,” Mr. Mather said. “For example, in St. Thomas, it’s illegal to tattoo below the wrist. It’s illegal to tattoo below Mr. Mather said that VI leaders are being “irresponsible” by not addressing the lack of regulations here.

“They don’t think it’s necessary right now, because they think if you go and you do something to your body, it’s your own risk,” he said.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development didn’t respond to requests for comment.

All walks of life

Reasons for getting tattoos differ from person to person. Mr. Nguyen’s client described tattooing as “stress relief.”

For Mr. Mather, tattooing is a way of telling his life story. “Part of body art for me is showing a part of myself that I don’t normally show,” he said. “For some of us, it’s a ritual.”

Mr. Mather noted that he and his brother have tattooed people from all walks of life, including lawyers, doctors and preachers.

“The derogatory connotation of a person who had tattoos was a drunken sailor. We’ve passed that. I think sometimes we live in a bubble and we don’t realise it in the [VI],” Mr. Mather said. “In the [VI] we believe that if you have tattoos you won’t get a job. The rest of the world doesn’t believe that anymore.”

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