Black Immigrant Daily News

More than 133 hours of audio and video recordings are included in the United States’ evidence against former Premier Andrew Fahie, former BVI Ports Authority Managing Director Oleanvine, and her son Kadeem Maynard, according to a document a US prosecutor filed last week in the Southern District Court of Florida.

If played back-to-back without interruption, those recordings would last for more than five full days. The audio and video files — which were turned over as part of the discovery process — include recordings of meetings and phone calls that were secretly taped by US agents and informants, as well as files extracted from a Samsung Note 10 phone and other electronic devices belonging to Mr. Fahie and Ms. Maynard, according to a Sept. 12 document filed by US Attorney Juan Antonio Rodriguez in response to a standing discovery order.

Reports, messages

Other items provided to the defence during the discovery process include US Drug Enforcement Administration reports, phone and computer data, WhatsApp messages, Puerto Rico law enforcement reports, and bank records, the filing noted.

Much of this material was provided in June and July, but after this initial disclosure the US government received additional video recordings and other data from Mr. Fahie’s and Ms. Maynard’s electronic devices, according to the US attorney. “Due to the voluminous amount of data and technical formatting issues, the government’s [information technology] department was enlisted to assist with the copying of the files onto external drives provided by counsel for [Mr. Fahie and Ms. Maynard],” the filing noted.

“This data was provided to [Mr. Fahie] on or about Aug. 17, 2022, and to [Mr. Maynard] on or about Sept. 7, 2022. The government is engaged in discussions with counsel for [Ms. Maynard] and expects to receive an appropriate medium for the file transfer shortly.”

Trial set for January

The trio’s trial initially was scheduled to begin on July 18. But in keeping with usual practice in such cases, it was pushed back to Jan. 16 after the defendants’ attorneys asked for more time to prepare.

Following their arrests in April, Mr. Fahie and Maynards were indicted by a Florida grand jury on May 10 for conspiracy to import a controlled substance, conspiracy to engage in money laundering, and attempted money laundering.

They are accused of conspiring to import cocaine into the US. Mr. Fahie is currently on house arrest in his daughters’ rented apartment in Florida, where he has been since he was released on bail after spending about six weeks in custody at the Federal Detention Center in downtown Miami.

Mr. Fahie’s lawyer secured a $1 million bond offer after a month-long battle with prosecutors, and he was released on June 13 after his childhood friend and prominent VI businessman Albion “Bobby” Hodge posted a $500,000 bond and satisfied a Nebbia requirement by proving that the money was not the proceeds of crime.

Besides the $500,000 corporate surety bond posted by Mr. Hodge, Mr. Fahie also had to post a $500,000 personal surety bond co-signed by himself, his daughters, and his friend Devon Osborne.

As part of his corporate surety bond conditions, Mr. Fahie is required to undergo 24/7 GPS monitoring, and he is prohibited from leaving his daughters’ apartment even for attorney visits. He also had to sign an extradition waiver, which he did the day of his release. The Maynards were denied bail and remain in custody pending the trial.

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door Valerie Fris PARAMARIBO —  “We kampen al jaren met het probleem dat het ministerie van Openbare Werken en Verkeer

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart has slammed the government as being confused and incapable of effective action as he shed further light on the filing of a motion of ‘Lack of Confidence in the Government’ in Parliament on Wednesday.

“We have, in the Cayman Islands today, a government beset by controversies of its own making; mired in confusion and internal division, and incapable of effective action,” explained McTaggart.

“Our islands are facing significant challenges, and we cannot afford a government asleep at the wheel. There are those in government whom we believe wish to see the country progress and are very capable if given the opportunity and the right environment,” said McTaggart, who noted that the motion was seconded by Deputy Opposition Leader Joseph Hew.

McTaggart said that “several of them have spoken to us about their frustrations with the current leadership, or lack of leadership, and the general unease in their Caucus”.

The opposition leader said he is urging those who have expressed their frustration to join the Opposition and vote in favour of the motion when it comes to Parliament.

He said that by voting in the affirmative, they will be voting for a “fresh start” and will have “taken a patriotic step” in helping rescue “our Islands from a state of malaise”.

According to McTaggart, the Opposition had from the outset, “tried to be constructive” and to “offer our ideas to a government that lacked experience and had no coherent programme”.

He added: “I offered to work with the premier on the national COVID response and the re-opening of our economy. I gave him a range of suggestions to help families facing the cost-of-living crisis. I warned the Finance Minister during the budget session that his budget plans ignored the looming dark clouds of increasing inflation.

“He ignored those warnings, and the country is suffering because of it. We have also brought motions to Parliament seeking to drive forward action that will benefit our people. These have been ignored or, at best, taken up grudgingly and after needless delay. But ultimately, with no real action.”

McTaggart said that the business of effective government is proving impossible due to what he described as a lack of leadership from the current premier and the apparent divisions within the Cabinet and Government Caucus, while the cost-of-living crisis is escalating.

“Families face considerable hardship while many local businesses grapple with rocketing costs and a squeeze on profits. The government forecasts that Cayman’s economy will still not have recovered to its pre-pandemic level by the end of this year, 20 months after the PACT government took office. It is clear where the accountability for failure needs to lie,” McTaggart noted.

For his part, Hew said these “failures to deliver results” for Caymanian are further compounded by ineffective governance.

Hew said: “We have seen ministers breaking the Code of Conduct that they themselves devised. We have seen ministers making policy announcements that they have to walk back due to a lack of support from their colleagues and the public.

“In recent days, we have seen the divisions in the PACT government revealed again, with both the premier and a minister claiming credit for supposedly getting Speaker Bush to agree to step down as Speaker; and with the premier publicly reprimanding his minister for not showing restraint.”

Dr McKeeva Bush walked away from the post following a widely publicised incident at an official function recently. The matter was being probed by the police.

Hew added: “Members of the public are also concerned about the lack of implementation of many common-sense measures suggested by the Opposition to address the cost-of-living crisis affecting families. The Premier and his Government have done little to assist our people. And then only after being prodded by the Opposition to act.”

Hew also lamented the lack of sittings of Parliament to tackle the various problems being confronted by the country and consequently any remedies while noting that the country deserves better.

McTaggart took up that theme: “Yes, the country deserves better, and we need an alternative government that is ready to step in and take the action our country needs.

Our people need action from the government to support them through the challenges ahead. The country needs action that only an experienced Progressives-led government can deliver.

“We hope responsible members of the government will be persuaded by the debate that we will put to Parliament and that they will support our motion of no confidence. The Progressives, along with a coalition of the capable, can then look to form a government to take the country forward over the two and a half years that remain before the next general election.

“Given the challenges facing the country, new experienced leadership offers the best route to putting in place the government and the programme of action that the Cayman Islands need.

“Cayman is crying out for strong, capable leadership. Our people need action from the government to support them through the challenges ahead. The country needs action that only an experienced Progressives-led government can deliver.”

In closing, Mr McTaggart said, the convention in the Westminster system of government demands that a motion on a lack of confidence in the government is a matter, which ought to be dealt with expeditiously.

He said such a motion places the government in an untenable position and a position of uncertainty.

“So, we expect this motion to be dealt with when the Parliament next meets on October 5th, 2022,” he said.

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MURDERED: Allied Security guard Jerry Stuart. –

OFFICIALS from Allied Security Services say the company is assisting relatives of employees Jeffery Peters and Jerry Stuart, with funeral arrangements.

The two were killed during a robbery attempt shortly after they and another guard, Peola Baptiste, left the Pennywise Plaza in La Romaine on Monday to drop of the day’s earnings at the bank.

Four bandits were later killed by police during a shootout at a house. Baptiste, who was also shot, remained warded in critical condition at hospital up to press time.

The company said in a release on Thursday, that it stands in solidarity with the families, friends and co-workers of Peters and Stuart, and and all other people affected by the incident, as they continue to cope with the aftermath of the fatal attempted robbery.

MURDERED: Allied Security Services guard Jeffery Peters –

“As we mourn the loss of our friends and colleagues, our primary focus is on assisting with funeral arrangements, immediate short-term needs and a multi year assistance package,” the Allied Security release said.

“The relevant departments have already begun expediting financial support and benefits to families.”

The company said it will also offer care and counselling to members and staff affected by the incident.

Police said Peters, Stuart and Baptiste exited Pennywise Plaza in La Romaine in an unmarked van at about

5 pm on Monday. When they turned on to La Bel Air Road, a white car pulled in front of the van and bandits got out and sprayed it with bullets.

The bandits then took cash bags out of the van and sped off. A report was made and police soon went in hot pursuit of the bandits who later abandoned the car, got into another vehicle and made their way to the house where they were met by police and were killed in a shootout.

The dead bandits were identified as Deaundre Montrose, Greg Dodough and brothers Kyle and Keyon Ramdhan.

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