Black Immigrant Daily News

Jamaican recording artiste Jah Cure will continue serving his six-year sentence for attempted manslaughter in The Netherlands, a judge ruled on Tuesday.

The ‘Longing For’ singer appeared in court on Tuesday for a pro forma hearing. He is scheduled to return to court on November 1.

“Yesterday was another pro forma court date, where the judge decides on the continuation of the incarceration. The court has decided to keep Jah Cure incarcerated,” Tuscha Essed, press officer at the Public Prosecution Office to the Court of Appeals in the Netherlands, told Loop News on Tuesday.

In March 2022, Jah Cure, 43, whose real name is Siccature Alcock, was acquitted of an attempted murder charge, but convicted of the lesser offence of attempted manslaughter on March 22 in relation to the stabbing of a promoter over unpaid money in October 2021. He was sentenced to six years in prison in The Netherlands.

Following the sentence, Dutch prosecutors appealed to the court against the acquittal of the attempted murder charge.

There is still no hearing date scheduled for a new trial, so Jah Cure could find himself with a longer prison sentence if prosecutors have their way. In the meantime, he is sitting in limbo.

“There is no (substantial) hearing date scheduled yet, hence the pro forma hearing,” Essed said.

According to Dutch law, in a pro forma hearing, while an inmate is awaiting a court date for the actual trial, a judge has to decide about the incarceration (whether to keep a suspect incarcerated or not) every 90 days, these are the pro forma hearings.

“Once we have the entire dossier files ready (which goes through several administrative steps after the first trial), the hearing will be planned. The court of appeal looks over the case again and their ruling will overrule the previous ruling by the district court,” Essed explained.

Jah Cure is no stranger to the criminal justice system as he has had other brushes with the law. He was convicted of rape and illegal possession of a firearm in April 1999 and served eight of a 15-year sentence in prison. He was released in July 2007.

Jah Cure is known for the hit songs ‘Longing For’, ‘Love Is’, and ‘True Reflection’ (Prison Walls). His 2015 album, ‘The Cure’, which included the songs ‘That Girl’, ‘Rasta’, and ‘Life We Live’, earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album that year.

— Claude Mills

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News

Councillor for Penal Shanty Boodram, right, speaks out againt the central Government at a media conference at the Opposition Leader’s office, Charles Street, Port of Spain. Boodram along with Henry Awong (L), chairman at Couva /Tabaquite /Talparo Regional Corporation flanks St Augustine MP Khadijah Ameen. – Jensen La Vende

THE Prime Minister, while absent from the planned meeting with the councillors, aldermen and mayors, was on “stand-by.”

In a telephone interview with Local Government and Rural Development Minister Faris Al-Rawi on Tuesday, Newsday was told that the planned meeting was confirmed by all intended attendees.

On Monday night, after a decree by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar for her members not to attend the meeting, Dr Rowley did not attend.

Al-Rawi said Rowley, who had availed himself for the hard questions in an open forum with all the relevant authorities in local government, remained on “stand-by” after UNC members absented themselves.

“It was unfortunate that the leader of the UNC decided to rob the UNC representatives who are close to the ground to have an opportunity to ask the hard questions of the Prime Minister.”

In UNC’s Monday night Virtual Report, Persad-Bissessar said the proposed meeting was a “hypocritical public-relations gimmick” and called on her members to “make me proud” by boycotting.

All but one councillor, Samuel Sankar of Kelly Village/Warrenville, boycotted the meeting.

At a media conference at the Opposition Leader’s Office, Charles Street, Port of Spain, 11 councillors spoke out on what they called neglect by the central government in one form or another.

Leading the charge was shadow local government minister Khadija Ameen who questioned if Al-Rawi was preparing the country for the postponement of the local government elections, which are constitutionally due by March next year.

All but one of those who spoke complained of a lack of funding. Marcus Girdharie, who represents Marabella South / Vistabella said the only reason the San Fernando Regional Corporation was getting funds was to ensure that voters supported the PNM. He said of all his fellow councillors he is the only one that can boast of receiving well over 50 per cent of the allocated funding.

Chaguanas Mayor Faaiq Mohammed said his corporation has a shortfall of $3.5 million which he said would result in job cuts if the central government did not release allocated funding.

This was supported by Ameen who said there are some 300 workers facing unemployment as a result of lack of funding throughout the country.

As councillors and aldermen rotated positions to flank Ameen at the media briefing, they complained about a lack of funding and other forms of support. Shanty Boodram, councillor for Penal, said all UNC-led corporations were neglected and called for the government to release the funding.

Boodram was one of two women who spoke, the other was alderman Dianne Bishop in the Tunapuna Regional Corporation who questioned why the Self Help programme was disbanded as there were many in her burgess and other parts of the country in need of assistance.

Chairman of the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation Anil Juteram complained that the regional corporation was forced to provide truck-borne water for the area as the authorities neglected them continuously.

Kenwyn Phillip, councillor for Manzanilla/Fishing Pond, said when the corporation was led by the PNM, there was little problem in releasing funds to complete projects.

When asked why not attend the meeting with the PM and Local Government Minister to raise the concerns rather than having a media conference, Ameen said attending made no sense as there were multiple past meetings with other government officials that yielded no fruit.

She added that there were monthly meetings with heads of corporations with government officials and nothing comes out of it.

“They do not listen to us, they do not take our requests into consideration. You have heads of sections, heads of corporations meeting every month, nothing comes out of it. Every meeting you have to sit and listen to Faris Al-Rawi speak until you get sick of him talking fluff and nonsense, no solution.”

She added that the councillors spent valuable time with their burgesses rather than attend the meeting as that was their priority. She said nothing prevented the PM from attending the meeting whether or not the UNC was there. She said he used their absence as an excuse to stay home.

She said the central government, out of spite, would disburse monies to regional corporations a day before the end of the fiscal year knowing that it could not be spent so it could reclaim the money and boast of having saved millions in the fiscal year.

Al-Rawi, during his interview, described Ameen’s claims as “nonsensical” saying he rejected all of it. He said he had been on the ground and met with the councillors across the political divide to support the people.

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Sports

In this file photo, Roston Chase (R) of Saint Lucia Kings hits four runs as Denesh Ramdin (L) Trinbago Knight Riders watches during the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League semi-final at Warner Park Sporting Complex on Sep. 14, 2021, in Basseterre, St Kitts. – Photo courtesy CPL T20

THE Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has confirmed Torginol Paints as the tournament’s official paint for the next three years.

On Wednesday, a CPL media release said, “Torginol Paints will be working with Hero CPL to bring colour to the Biggest Party in Sport with the company supporting the tournament with pitch markings across the region. Torginol will also bring colour to the fans with face-painting for supporters at the group games and finals in Guyana.”

Torginol Paints, based in Guyana, has cemented its position as one of the premier paint manufacturers across the region.

Torginol Paints CEO Rakesh Puri expressed his company’s enthusiasm for the partnership.

“We’re pleased to be sponsoring the CPL, the league that has become the second most-watched T20 tournament worldwide. Cricket is a huge part of life in Guyana and the Caribbean, and we’re honoured to be a part of the CPL, which brings together fans from all over the world.”

Hero CPL’s commercial director Jamie Stewart is anticipating the partnership.

Stewart said, “Hero CPL is all about colour, from our vibrant logo and graphics featuring the colours of Carnival, to the bright pigments of fan-filled stadiums around the region, and deep blues of the Caribbean Sea. We are delighted to welcome the colours of Torginol to the CPL family, as we celebrate the tenth year of world cricket’s most colourful event.”

The 2022 Hero CPL will take place from August 31-September 30. The tournament will be played across four countries, with games in Trinidad and Tobago, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and Guyana.

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Prime Minister Andrew Holness has received official congratulations from the Government of the United States of America on Jamaica marking 60 years of political independence.

During a call with Holness on August 8, US Vice President Kamala Harris extended best wishes to the Government and people of Jamaica.

Harris committed to providing support to Jamaica. She announced that the US Government will provide US$2 million to support the creation of a Cyber Centre of Excellence in Jamaica for the benefit of the wider Caribbean region.

Holness welcomed the announcement and thanked Harris for the commitment. The leaders also discussed the importance of more significant investment in cybersecurity.

“I was delighted to receive warm wishes from the US Government. Jamaica and the US continue to enjoy long-standing close ties, with Jamaica’s large diaspora in the US. The Government and people of Jamaica are grateful for the continued investment in and support of our nation. The enhancement of our cybersecurity capabilities is a priority area for the Government, and I am, indeed, pleased that the US Government will assist in establishing a cyber centre of excellence in Jamaica which will serve the region.”

Both Holness and Harris welcomed the progress made on three short-term joint US-Caribbean committees launched by President Joe Biden and the Vice President in June to develop concrete solutions that urgently address food security, energy security, and financial challenges confronting the region.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness (left) and US Vice President Kamala Harris (File photo)

Monday’s call follows Holness’ meeting with the Vice-President on March 30, where they discussed security, COVID-19 recovery, and economic growth, among several other issues.

The Prime Minister also participated in a virtual meeting that Vice President Harris held with Caribbean leaders on April 29. And on June 10, he called on Government heads of the Americas to create a new blueprint for regional cooperation at the 9th Summit of the Americas convened by President Biden and the Vice President in Los Angeles, California.

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Health, Wellness & Elderly Affairs Minister Moses Jn Baptiste has expressed concern over health care in Saint Lucia.

“I am concerned about the standard of health care throughout Saint Lucia,” he said on Monday when reporters raised the matter of health care at the OKEU Hospital.

Jn Baptiste said the government was working with the Millennium Heights Medical Complex (MHMC) board to remedy several situations.

The Complex comprises Owen King EU Hospital, the National Mental Wellness Centre, and Turning Point Rehabilitation Centre facilities.

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“We are working with the board to ensure that the protocols are improved, and that is the same with the St Jude Hospital,” the Vieux Fort North MP disclosed.

In addition, he said work was ongoing to improve primary health care infrastructure and systems.

The Minister explained that MHMC staff had been working under’ tremendous pressure’, especially at the height of the COVID-19 crisis.

And he explained that nurses leave the system every month, creating a shortage.

“I understand the need for us to continue improving the standards, but I want to assure you that the Board of the Millennium Heights Medical Complex is working to ensure that we do so,” the Minister told reporters.

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