BREAKING: WINAIR acquires two ATR 42-500 series aircraft

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Antigua News Room

WINAIR announced Friday that it has acquired two ATR 42-500 series aircraft.

The first ATR aircraft will be delivered March 2023. This aircraft will provide service to Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Dominica, and Port au Prince.

The second ATR aircraft will be delivered April 2023, this aircraft will provide service to Antigua, Tortola, St. Lucia, Barbados, with further analysis/review of route expansion to other destinations ongoing.

WINAIR’s growth comes after six years of ACMI-lease partnership with Air Antilles Airlines based in Guadeloupe. The ACMI-lease demonstrated the viability of the ATR operation and created this opportunity for WINAIR’s growth.

“Our partnership with Air Antilles will continue to evolve, strengthening WINAIR’s and Air Antilles’ route structure in the Caribbean, also providing commonality of fleet type” statedMichael Cleaver, President & CEO.

This ushers in a new era for WINAIR, the National Carrier of St. Maarten, operating its own ATR aircraft thus enhancing our current business model. This preparation/ planning has taken one (1) year of intensive analysis and studies done, ensuring this was the best aircraft for WINAIR’s future growth. This strategic plan has the support and approval of the Shareholders and the Supervisory Board of Directors of WINAIR.

WINAIR is working closely with Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE) and St. Maarten Civil Aviation Authority (SMCAA) for the processes to continue and ensure all requirements of regulatory bodies and all regulations are fulfilled. Safety and security is of the utmost importance; all processes require approval by SMCAA for the introduction of the ATR fleet type in St. Maarten.

The expansion of WINAIR’s fleet requires additional qualified personnel, and local employees/ residents are being utilized wherever possible. Training of existing flight and maintenance personnel, as well as re-certification of additional staff is ongoing.

With the introduction of the ATR aircraft WINAIR is better equipped to respond to customer demand, changing market needs and support St. Maarten and our stakeholders for the future.

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CoP: New vehicles for police by year-end

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

News

File photo: Acting Police Commissioner McDonald Jacob.

BEFORE the end of the year, the police expect to receive 85 new vehicles to add to their fleet as they intensify patrols to curb serious crimes.

Speaking at the police media briefing at the police Administration Building on Thursday, acting Police Commissioner Mc Donald Jacob also said the vehicles will arrive in tranches. The first will be between 25 and 30 vehicles within the next two weeks and another 60 before year-end.

Jacob said they will be used as the police intensify their patrols, especially within the next six weeks, to curb serious crimes, in particular murders.

Also speaking at the briefing was acting DCP Erla Christopher, who said police leave will be restricted as part of the intensification aimed at reducing murders.

It has been predicted that this year’s murder toll will surpass the 2008 record figure of 550, with 537 recorded murders at the time of the media briefing.

Christopher said officers will be taken from specialised units to augment the manpower needed. Jacob said the recent batch of 110 officers along with special reserve police officers will add to the available manpower.

Asked about the murder solve rate, given the numbers occurring at present, Jacob said: “The current solve rate for serious crimes is an average of 33 per cent.

“As it relates to murders, it will be around 12-13 per cent. As I said, it may be there now, but in the next three months it may reach 17-20 per cent.”

With the increase in technological advances the police will improve their detection rate, he said, adding that the majority of the murders, 67 per cent, are gang-related.

He also said people are avoiding assisting the police. but seek to get justice themselves.

A major factor in the murder toll is the use of guns, he said.

For the year, 564 people have been charged with possession of guns. A total of 625 guns have been found to date, including 106 high-powered rifles. Of those charged, Jacob said 60 per cent were repeat offenders.

He called on the powers that be to bring back the bail amendment which seeks to deny bail to those charged with firearm possession or firearm-related offences for at least three months. The Bail (Amendment) (Extension of Duration) Bill 2022 was defeated in the Senate in July after five independent senators sided with the Opposition.

The bill required a three-fifths majority, and the government wanted to extend the life of the bill for a year after the end of the sunset clause of three years in August.

“Give us another chance,” Jacob said, adding that his officers have been trained and ready to have cases started within the three months while bail is denied.

The law was assented to on August 5, 2019, and allowed magistrates and judges to deny bail for 120 days to people charged with specific offences under the Firearms Act, the Anti-Gang Act, the Sexual Offences Act, the Dangerous Drugs Act, the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Trafficking in Persons Act. To be so treated, such individuals would have had to be previously convicted of a serious crime. The law stipulated that the case against the accused must begin within the 120-day period.

As the police seek to step up their efforts, they have done away with the 482-GARY phone number used under the previous police commissioner, Gary Griffith. Instead they have a new cell phone number 736-TTPS, which Christopher said will be accessed at the level of Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner of Police office from Monday. She added that this is yet another avenue for people to come forward with information directly to the executive of the police service confidentially.

–

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PM: I did not put up a slate for PNM election

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

News

Prime Minister Dr Rowley. File photo/Sureash Cholai

THE Prime Minister claims he deliberately did not put up a slate for the People’s National Movement’s (PNM’s) upcoming internal election, because his candidates would possibly have been unopposed.

But Dr Rowley quickly added that although he has not selected a slate, “I did not say I am not associating with a slate.”

He was addressing a Leadership In Service campaign meeting on Thursday night at the Caroline Building, Pump Mill, Scarborough, Tobago.

Rowley said the PNM was in transition and he decided to put the interest of the party first.

“I know, without fear of contradiction, that had I selected a dozen or so people and said, ‘This is my slate,’ that most of them would have been unopposed, because there would have been a sentiment that ‘They are running on the political leader’s slate, holding on to his coat-tail, and I can’t beat him and I am not taking part in the election.’”

Such sentiments, Rowley said, are not what is called for at this time.

“At this time of transition, what is called for is for the cream to rise to the top on its own strength. So I said I am not putting up a slate.

“You know what that means? Let me see who genuinely wants to serve this party and has what it takes to come out and stand up and say, ‘I would like to offer myself for this position’ – and that is the person you really want.”He said the Leadership In Service slate represents the future of the PNM.

“I am not a betting man. But sometimes I will take a small wager that somewhere in the group that was presented here tonight, or very close to this group, is the leadership of the PNM in the next four to five to six to seven years.

“And it would not have been handpicked by me, in the outgoing political leader who chose his best friend or his family of his partner. They came up individually on their own, some surprisingly so.”

He used Terrence Beepath (contesting the post of field officer) and Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly (vice-chairman) as examples.

“You know how long Terrence Beepath has been around the PNM. I never see him running for office. When Nyan was selected, after she chose the wrong constituency, and was placed in the right place, where she doesn’t want to move from because they don’t want her to move…Today, she is going to be the first female vice-chairman of the PNM.”

Rowley said he first met Jeniece Scott, who is contesting the post of youth officer, at UWI St Augustine.

“I didn’t even know she was a PNM. Next thing I saw her in general council Today, after she was encouraged to serve the people of Arima on the hill, she is going to be on the executive of the PNM.”

He added the members of the slate have come from all over the country.

‘It is because of that, I can tell you – I have been in this job for seven years as prime minister and for 12 years as political leader – I intend to take a vacation next year, because I am allowed a month’s vacation every year.

“I haven’t taken any for nearly seven years. I am taking one next year, at least one, because I know I will be leaving the party and the country in good hands. You don’t have to be afraid. This country, in the PNM hands, is in good hands.”

Energy Minister Stuart Young, PNM Tobago Council leader Ancil Dennis, THA Minority Leader Kelvon Morris and Tobago MPs Ayanna Webster-Roy and Shamfa Cudjoe were among those who spoke at the meeting.

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Koi Carper en Ruckers trekken seriestand in evenwicht

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: De Ware Tijd Online

Tekst en beeld John Zaalman PARAMARIBO — Koi Carper en Ruckers hebben de spanning teruggebracht in de mannenhoofdklasse play-off van

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Bedrijfsleven formuleert concept local content policy

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: De Ware Tijd Online

‘Het idee is niet nieuw’ door Euritha Tjan A Way Wilgo Bilkerdijk van de Asfa vindt dat het concept ‘local

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Mondial-2022: les organisateurs font volte-face, pas d’alcool autour des stades

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Martinique FranceAntilles

Il faudra faire sans la bière d’avant et d’après-match: les organisateurs ont fait volte-face deux jours à peine avant le début du Mondial-2022 au Qatar, en interdisant la vente…

Il faudra faire sans la bière d’avant et d’après-match: les organisateurs ont fait volte-face deux jours à peine avant le début du Mondial-2022 au Qatar, en interdisant la vente d’alcool à proximité des huit stades.

Cette décision jette une ombre sur les promesses des autorités de ce petit émirat gazier conservateur d’alléger l’application de sa législation durant cet événement planétaire qui devrait accueillir plus d’un million de supporters du monde entier. 

Pour la FSA, l’association des supporters anglais, attendus par milliers à Doha lundi pour leur premier match contre l’Iran, “cette volte-face de dernière minute illustre un problème plus large: l’absence totale de communication et de transparence du comité d’organisation envers les supporters”. 

“S’ils peuvent changer d’avis d’un coup d’un seul, les supporteurs nourriront des inquiétudes compréhensibles sur leur capacité à respecter leurs promesses sur d’autres questions, relatives au logement, au transport et questions culturelles”, selon l’association.

Depuis sa désignation pour organiser cet événement planétaire en 2010, obtenue à la surprise générale aux dépens des Etats-Unis, le Qatar est en butte à de nombreuses critiques: accusations de corruption pour l’emporter, sort réservé aux travailleurs migrants, respect des droits des femmes et des personnes LGBTQ+, impact environnemental du tournoi…

“Pression considérable”

Les organisateurs vont peiner à éteindre ces critiques et, comme l’a enjoint le patron de la Fifa Gianni Infantino, à se “concentrer sur le football”. D’autant que selon le quotidien britannique The Times qui l’a révélé, ce revirement est le résultat d’”une pression considérable” exercée par les dirigeants qataris dont la famille régnante.

Au lendemain de l’officialisation du forfait du Sénégalais Sadio Mané qui a été opéré jeudi “avec succès” du péroné droit en Autriche, une autre star, le Portugais Cristiano Ronaldo, est attendue dans la soirée au Qatar. Les derniers à arriver dans l’émirat seront les Brésiliens de Neymar samedi soir, à la veille du match d’ouverture Qatar-Equateur.

Pour ne pas trop subir la pression et les contrecoups du divorce brutal entre CR7 et son club de Manchester United, les Portugais vont s’installer très à l’écart des autres sélections, à l’est de la ville. 

Ronaldo rejoint donc à Doha Messi l’Argentin, Mbappé le Français mais aussi l’Allemagne et l’Angleterre, déjà à pied d’oeuvre au Qatar.

Les Anglais affronteront les Iraniens, qui seront très observés s’ils décidaient d’exprimer leur soutien aux manifestants dans leur pays et leur condamnation de la répression.

Leur capitaine, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, a affirmé jeudi que le choix de célébrer ou non un but au Mondial-2022 en soutien aux manifestations dans son pays, relevait d’une “décision personnelle” des joueurs.

“On est là pour respecter le maillot et notre équipe nationale, apporter de la joie au peuple iranien. La question de la célébration est une décision personnelle, propre à chaque joueur”, a-t-il insisté.

Escorte de F-16

Signe que cette Coupe du monde se disputera dans une ambiance très particulière, la sélection polonaise a été escortée par des avions de chasses F-16 dans l’espace aérien du pays, encore sous le choc de l’explosion d’un missile à Przewodow, village situé à 6 kilomètres de l’Ukraine, qui a tué deux personnes en début de semaine.

La roquette, qui a fait craindre une escalade dans l’invasion russe de l’Ukraine, aurait été tirée par la défense aérienne ukrainienne dans le but d’intercepter les attaques russes. 

Cette escorte “est une bonne chose, cela montre le soutien que nous apportons à nos joueurs”, a déclaré le ministre de la Défense, Mariusz Blaszczak.

Acteurs importants de ce Mondial, les arbitres seront aussi mis à l’honneur vendredi avec une journée média qui leur sera consacrée.

Les 36 arbitres de champ, dont trois femmes, seront au centre de l’attention pendant quelques heures en espérant qu’elle se reporte sur Ronaldo et Cie une fois le Mondial débuté.

bur-ng/ep/fal

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Mondial-2022: les organisateurs font volte-face, pas d’alcool autour des stades

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Guadeloupe FranceAntilles

Il faudra faire sans la bière d’avant et d’après-match: les organisateurs ont fait volte-face deux jours à peine avant le début du Mondial-2022 au Qatar, en interdisant la vente…

Il faudra faire sans la bière d’avant et d’après-match: les organisateurs ont fait volte-face deux jours à peine avant le début du Mondial-2022 au Qatar, en interdisant la vente d’alcool à proximité des huit stades.

Cette décision jette une ombre sur les promesses des autorités de ce petit émirat gazier conservateur d’alléger l’application de sa législation durant cet événement planétaire qui devrait accueillir plus d’un million de supporters du monde entier. 

Pour la FSA, l’association des supporters anglais, attendus par milliers à Doha lundi pour leur premier match contre l’Iran, “cette volte-face de dernière minute illustre un problème plus large: l’absence totale de communication et de transparence du comité d’organisation envers les supporters”. 

“S’ils peuvent changer d’avis d’un coup d’un seul, les supporteurs nourriront des inquiétudes compréhensibles sur leur capacité à respecter leurs promesses sur d’autres questions, relatives au logement, au transport et questions culturelles”, selon l’association.

Depuis sa désignation pour organiser cet événement planétaire en 2010, obtenue à la surprise générale aux dépens des Etats-Unis, le Qatar est en butte à de nombreuses critiques: accusations de corruption pour l’emporter, sort réservé aux travailleurs migrants, respect des droits des femmes et des personnes LGBTQ+, impact environnemental du tournoi…

“Pression considérable”

Les organisateurs vont peiner à éteindre ces critiques et, comme l’a enjoint le patron de la Fifa Gianni Infantino, à se “concentrer sur le football”. D’autant que selon le quotidien britannique The Times qui l’a révélé, ce revirement est le résultat d’”une pression considérable” exercée par les dirigeants qataris dont la famille régnante.

Au lendemain de l’officialisation du forfait du Sénégalais Sadio Mané qui a été opéré jeudi “avec succès” du péroné droit en Autriche, une autre star, le Portugais Cristiano Ronaldo, est attendue dans la soirée au Qatar. Les derniers à arriver dans l’émirat seront les Brésiliens de Neymar samedi soir, à la veille du match d’ouverture Qatar-Equateur.

Pour ne pas trop subir la pression et les contrecoups du divorce brutal entre CR7 et son club de Manchester United, les Portugais vont s’installer très à l’écart des autres sélections, à l’est de la ville. 

Ronaldo rejoint donc à Doha Messi l’Argentin, Mbappé le Français mais aussi l’Allemagne et l’Angleterre, déjà à pied d’oeuvre au Qatar.

Les Anglais affronteront les Iraniens, qui seront très observés s’ils décidaient d’exprimer leur soutien aux manifestants dans leur pays et leur condamnation de la répression.

Leur capitaine, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, a affirmé jeudi que le choix de célébrer ou non un but au Mondial-2022 en soutien aux manifestations dans son pays, relevait d’une “décision personnelle” des joueurs.

“On est là pour respecter le maillot et notre équipe nationale, apporter de la joie au peuple iranien. La question de la célébration est une décision personnelle, propre à chaque joueur”, a-t-il insisté.

Escorte de F-16

Signe que cette Coupe du monde se disputera dans une ambiance très particulière, la sélection polonaise a été escortée par des avions de chasses F-16 dans l’espace aérien du pays, encore sous le choc de l’explosion d’un missile à Przewodow, village situé à 6 kilomètres de l’Ukraine, qui a tué deux personnes en début de semaine.

La roquette, qui a fait craindre une escalade dans l’invasion russe de l’Ukraine, aurait été tirée par la défense aérienne ukrainienne dans le but d’intercepter les attaques russes. 

Cette escorte “est une bonne chose, cela montre le soutien que nous apportons à nos joueurs”, a déclaré le ministre de la Défense, Mariusz Blaszczak.

Acteurs importants de ce Mondial, les arbitres seront aussi mis à l’honneur vendredi avec une journée média qui leur sera consacrée.

Les 36 arbitres de champ, dont trois femmes, seront au centre de l’attention pendant quelques heures en espérant qu’elle se reporte sur Ronaldo et Cie une fois le Mondial débuté.

bur-ng/ep/fal

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Une fumée suspecte à RICOU

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Guadeloupe FranceAntilles

rédaction Web guadeloupe

Dans la nuit de jeudi à Vendredi, des personnes ayant aperçu une fumée suspecte au niveau de l’hôpital RICOU ont alerté les secours.

En effet, peu après 1h du matin, les secours se sont rendues sur les lieux après avoir été alerté pour une fumée suspecte.

Il s’agissait d’un feu de mobilier vétuste se trouvant à l’intérieur de la chapelle, située dans l’enceinte de l’hôpital RICOU. 

Cette structure d’une superficie d’environ 70 mètres carré à été impactée à 80%. Le feu a été éteint à l’aide d’une lance.

Les moyens engagés pour cette intervention sont 2 fourgons incendies, un véhicule de secours et d’assistance aux victimes, 13 sapeurs pompiers ainsi qu’EDF et la police nationale. 

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J’can man sentenced to 18 months in US prison in ghost gun scheme Loop Jamaica

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News

A 30-year-old Jamaican man, Audley Reeves, was on Thursday sentenced to 18 months in federal prison in the United States where he was convicted of fabricating “ghost guns”.

This is according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.

Reeves will likely be deported to Jamaica after he completes his sentence.

According to court documents and statements, in late 2021, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force learned that John Lee Ortiz and others were selling ghost guns. These are homemade firearms that do not contain serial numbers or other identifying marks, thus preventing them from being traced to the owner, seller, or manufacturer of the weapon.

As part of building their case, investigators made controlled purchases of seven handguns, a Bushmaster .223 caliber rifle, and numerous rounds of ammunition from Ortiz in December 2021.

“Most of the handguns had no serial numbers and had plastic lower receivers that appeared to be made with a 3D printer. Reeves was identified during the investigation as the fabricator of the ghost guns,” the US Attorney’s Office said.

It shared that Reeves and Ortiz were arrested on January 5, 2022. On that date, a court-authorized search of an apartment on Church Street in East Hartford revealed six fully assembled firearms, approximately 25 partially assembled firearms, three high-capacity magazines, various firearm parts, and tools used to construct firearms.

Reeves was reportedly present in the apartment at the time of the search, and a 3D printer in the apartment was in the process of printing stock of an AR-15-style rifle.

In audio and video recordings made during the controlled purchases, Ortiz boasted that he had the connections to get the guns sold while his “Jamaican boy” was the “brains of the operation”.

He also acknowledged that Reeves wanted out and even relocated to Massachusetts. However, Ortiz convinced him to return to the ghost gun business.

On August 24, 2022, Reeves pleaded guilty to engaging in the business of manufacturing firearms without a licence. He has been released on a US $50,000 bond and is required to report to prison on January 6.

On November 8, Ortiz pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a licence, and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 3.

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National rollout of NIDS set for 2023 Loop Jamaica

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News

The Government is looking towards the national rollout of the National Identification System (NIDS) in the second quarter of 2023, following the completion of a pilot programme in December.

Minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Floyd Green, gave an update on the project during his presentation at the Jamaica Technology and Digital Alliance (JTDA) BizTech Conference 2022 on Thursday, at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston.

NIDS, an electronic form of identity, will provide a comprehensive and secure database for capturing and storing the personal information of citizens and non-nationals ordinarily resident in the country. Members of the Jamaican diaspora will also be able to register for the new identification card.

“There is no doubt that the NIDS will be the safest identification system that we have in the country, and not just Jamaica but internationally,” the minister said.

The system is protected by blockchain technology and conforms to standards stipulated by the Data Protection Act, 2020, and the National Identification and Registration Act, 2021.

Twenty-four post offices across Jamaica will be retrofitted to serve as enrolment centres. The facilities will be outfitted with high-speed Internet and technological devices to accommodate enrolment.

Green emphasised that NIDS is a necessary component in the country’s digital transformation process.

“We do not want to be left behind. I think we here in Jamaica can appreciate that any sustainable digital future has to be built on identity and being able to [verify] those who will interact with the technology,” the minister said.

“We appreciate that as the world evolves, we have to find ways to utilise the technology to make the provision of government services more efficient, and this is what NIDS is about,” Green added.

JIS News

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