Black Immigrant Daily News
PARAMARIBO — Vrijdag is in het perscentrum van het Kabinet van de President, de presidentiële werkgroep Onderzoek Sabaku Village geïnstalleerd.
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Black Immigrant Daily News
Cuba a reçu des offres d’assistance de nombreux pays après son appel à l’aide pour faire face au gigantesque incendie d’un dépôt pétrolier frappé par la foudre qui a engendré des explosions dans lesquelles au moins une personne a été tuée, 121 blessées et 17 encore portées disparues.
Quelque 1.900 personnes ont été évacuées de la zone sinistrée, située dans la banlieue de Mantanzas, ville de 140.00 habitants à 100 kilomètres à l’est de La Havane, d’où était visible l’énorme panache de fumée noire obscurcissant le ciel.
“Un corps a été retrouvé sur le site de l’accident”, a déclaré Luis Armando Wong, directeur de la Santé de Matanzas, lors d’une conférence de presse.
Cinq blessés sont dans un état critique, trois dans un état très grave et 28 sérieusement atteints, selon un dernier bilan communiqué sur le compte Twitter de la présidence.
Parmi les blessés figure le ministre de l’Energie, Livan Arronte.
Les 17 personnes disparues sont des pompiers “qui se trouvaient dans la zone la plus proche de l’incendie” lorsqu’une explosion a eu lieu.
L’incendie s’est déclaré vendredi soir quand la foudre a frappé l’un des réservoirs du dépôt pétrolier. Au petit matin, le feu s’est ensuite propagé à un deuxième réservoir.
Face à la difficile maîtrise de l’incendie qui “pourrait prendre du temps”, selon le président cubain Miguel Diaz-Canel, Cuba “a demandé l’aide et les conseils de pays amis ayant une expérience dans le secteur pétrolier”.
Les réponses ne se sont pas fait attendre et le président cubain a exprimé sur Twitter sa “profonde gratitude aux gouvernements du Mexique, du Venezuela, de la Russie, du Nicaragua, de l’Argentine et du Chili, qui ont rapidement offert une aide matérielle par solidarité face à cette situation complexe”.
“Nous sommes également reconnaissants de l’offre d’assistance technique des Etats-Unis”, a-t-il ajouté. Le vice-ministre des Affaires étrangères Carlos Fernandez de Cossio a déclaré que la proposition américaine “est déjà entre les mains de spécialistes pour une coordination adéquate”.
L’ambassade des Etats-Unis à La Havane avait plus tôt affirmé être “en contact” avec les responsables cubains, précisant que, malgré le régime de sanctions en cours contre le parti unique au pouvoir, “la loi américaine autorise les entités et les organisations américaines à fournir des secours et une réponse aux catastrophes à Cuba”.
– “Le ciel était jaune” –
Des hélicoptères étaient à pied d’œuvre pour combattre l’incendie samedi, avec des lances à eau approchées à l’aide de grues.
Ginelva Hernandez, 33 ans, a déclaré qu’elle, son mari et ses trois enfants dormaient lorsqu’ils ont été réveillés par une violente explosion. “On s’est jetés hors du lit. Quand nous sommes sortis dans la rue, le ciel était jaune”, a-t-elle raconté à l’AFP. A ce moment-là, “la peur des gens était incontrôlable”.
Laura Martinez, une habitante proche de la zone sinistrée, a dit à l’AFP avoir “senti la déflagration, comme une onde de choc”.
En entendant une première explosion, Yuney Hernandez, 32 ans, et ses enfants ont fui leur maison située à deux kilomètres du dépôt. Ils sont revenus quelques heures plus tard, puis ils ont entendu d’autres explosions aux premières heures du matin et des bruits “comme si des morceaux du réservoir tombaient”.
Selon Asbel Leal, directeur du commerce et de l’approvisionnement à l’Union cubaine du pétrole (Cupet), le premier réservoir “contenait environ 26.000 mètres cubes de brut domestique, soit environ 50% de sa capacité maximale” au moment de la catastrophe. Le deuxième réservoir contenait 52.000 mètres cubes de mazout.
Cuba n’a jamais été confronté à un incendie de “l’ampleur de celui d’aujourd’hui”, a-t-il dit.
Selon le quotidien officiel Granma, “il y a eu une défaillance du système de paratonnerre qui n’a pas pu résister à la puissance de la décharge électrique”.
Le dépôt alimente la centrale électrique Antonio Guiteras, la plus grande de Cuba, mais le pompage vers la centrale ne s’est pas arrêté, a précisé Granma
Cet incendie survient alors que l’île fait face à l’obsolescence des huit centrales thermoélectriques pour répondre à la demande accrue d’électricité due à la chaleur estivale.
Les autorités doivent procéder à des coupures tournantes pouvant aller jusqu’à 12 heures par jour dans certaines régions du pays, déclenchant la colère d’habitants excédés qui ont organisé une vingtaine de manifestations.
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Black Immigrant Daily News
Cuba a reçu des offres d’assistance de nombreux pays après son appel à l’aide pour faire face au gigantesque incendie d’un dépôt pétrolier frappé par la foudre qui a engendré des explosions dans lesquelles au moins une personne a été tuée, 121 blessées et 17 encore portées disparues.
Quelque 1.900 personnes ont été évacuées de la zone sinistrée, située dans la banlieue de Mantanzas, ville de 140.00 habitants à 100 kilomètres à l’est de La Havane, d’où était visible l’énorme panache de fumée noire obscurcissant le ciel.
“Un corps a été retrouvé sur le site de l’accident”, a déclaré Luis Armando Wong, directeur de la Santé de Matanzas, lors d’une conférence de presse.
Cinq blessés sont dans un état critique, trois dans un état très grave et 28 sérieusement atteints, selon un dernier bilan communiqué sur le compte Twitter de la présidence.
Parmi les blessés figure le ministre de l’Energie, Livan Arronte.
Les 17 personnes disparues sont des pompiers “qui se trouvaient dans la zone la plus proche de l’incendie” lorsqu’une explosion a eu lieu.
L’incendie s’est déclaré vendredi soir quand la foudre a frappé l’un des réservoirs du dépôt pétrolier. Au petit matin, le feu s’est ensuite propagé à un deuxième réservoir.
Face à la difficile maîtrise de l’incendie qui “pourrait prendre du temps”, selon le président cubain Miguel Diaz-Canel, Cuba “a demandé l’aide et les conseils de pays amis ayant une expérience dans le secteur pétrolier”.
Les réponses ne se sont pas fait attendre et le président cubain a exprimé sur Twitter sa “profonde gratitude aux gouvernements du Mexique, du Venezuela, de la Russie, du Nicaragua, de l’Argentine et du Chili, qui ont rapidement offert une aide matérielle par solidarité face à cette situation complexe”.
“Nous sommes également reconnaissants de l’offre d’assistance technique des Etats-Unis”, a-t-il ajouté. Le vice-ministre des Affaires étrangères Carlos Fernandez de Cossio a déclaré que la proposition américaine “est déjà entre les mains de spécialistes pour une coordination adéquate”.
L’ambassade des Etats-Unis à La Havane avait plus tôt affirmé être “en contact” avec les responsables cubains, précisant que, malgré le régime de sanctions en cours contre le parti unique au pouvoir, “la loi américaine autorise les entités et les organisations américaines à fournir des secours et une réponse aux catastrophes à Cuba”.
– “Le ciel était jaune” –
Des hélicoptères étaient à pied d’œuvre pour combattre l’incendie samedi, avec des lances à eau approchées à l’aide de grues.
Ginelva Hernandez, 33 ans, a déclaré qu’elle, son mari et ses trois enfants dormaient lorsqu’ils ont été réveillés par une violente explosion. “On s’est jetés hors du lit. Quand nous sommes sortis dans la rue, le ciel était jaune”, a-t-elle raconté à l’AFP. A ce moment-là, “la peur des gens était incontrôlable”.
Laura Martinez, une habitante proche de la zone sinistrée, a dit à l’AFP avoir “senti la déflagration, comme une onde de choc”.
En entendant une première explosion, Yuney Hernandez, 32 ans, et ses enfants ont fui leur maison située à deux kilomètres du dépôt. Ils sont revenus quelques heures plus tard, puis ils ont entendu d’autres explosions aux premières heures du matin et des bruits “comme si des morceaux du réservoir tombaient”.
Selon Asbel Leal, directeur du commerce et de l’approvisionnement à l’Union cubaine du pétrole (Cupet), le premier réservoir “contenait environ 26.000 mètres cubes de brut domestique, soit environ 50% de sa capacité maximale” au moment de la catastrophe. Le deuxième réservoir contenait 52.000 mètres cubes de mazout.
Cuba n’a jamais été confronté à un incendie de “l’ampleur de celui d’aujourd’hui”, a-t-il dit.
Selon le quotidien officiel Granma, “il y a eu une défaillance du système de paratonnerre qui n’a pas pu résister à la puissance de la décharge électrique”.
Le dépôt alimente la centrale électrique Antonio Guiteras, la plus grande de Cuba, mais le pompage vers la centrale ne s’est pas arrêté, a précisé Granma
Cet incendie survient alors que l’île fait face à l’obsolescence des huit centrales thermoélectriques pour répondre à la demande accrue d’électricité due à la chaleur estivale.
Les autorités doivent procéder à des coupures tournantes pouvant aller jusqu’à 12 heures par jour dans certaines régions du pays, déclenchant la colère d’habitants excédés qui ont organisé une vingtaine de manifestations.
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Black Immigrant Daily News
PC Kristian Genty. Photo courtesy TTPS
A police officer has been charged with the murder of PC Clarence Gilkes and another charged with shooting at an unarmed man with intent to cause harm.
Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard, SC, gave investigators the green light on Friday night to charge PC Khristian Genty with murder and shooting with intent to harm Jehlano Romney and to charge WPC Crystal Williams-Bowman with shooting at Romney with intent to cause harm.
WPC Crystal Williams-Bowman. Photo courtesy TTPS
A third officer, Cpl Kerwin Dominique, who provided crucial evidence to investigator, was released without charge.
Genty and Williams-Bowman, who were last assigned to the Western Division Task Force, were charged at the St Joseph Police Station early Saturday morning. Williams-Bowman was released on $500,000 bail pending her court appearance on Monday. Genty is expected to appear before a Port of Spain magistrate virtually on Monday.
His lawyers Israel Khan, SC, Ulric Skerritt and Arissa Maharaj intend to make an application for him to be released on bail pending the outcome of the matter.
Gilkes, 44, of La Resource Road, D’Abadie, and a member of the Western Division Task Force, was among 12 officers who responded to a report of men armed with rifles at Richplain Road, Diego Martin on April 22.
PC Clarence Gilkes
Gilkes was with three other officers, including Genty and Williams-Bowman, when they confronted Romney on a flight of steps. Romney claimed he was unarmed and that Gilkes and two other officers opened fire without warning but he managed to dodge the bullets.
Gilkes was shot from behind to the neck and collapsed while Romney ran off. The injured officer was taken for treatment but subsequently died. Romney later gave a statement to the Police Complaints Authority and the Professional Standards Bureau.
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Jamaican PM Andrew Holness –
Jamaica’s prime minister Andrew Holness has confirmed his attendance at TT’s 60th independence anniversary celebrations, Foreign Affairs and Caricom Minister Dr Amery Browne announced on Friday.
Browne spoke of Holness’ visit during a reception at Jamaican High Commissioner Arthur Williams’ residence in Port of Spain for Jamaica’s independence jubilee which was commemorated on Saturday.
The itinerary is being finalised and will be shared soon, Browne told Sunday Newsday in a WhatsApp message on Saturday. He added that Holness will arrive on August 28 and will depart on September 1. TT’s Independence Day is August 31. Holness’ visit was first disclosed by Housing Minister Camille Robinson-Regis last Thursday when she announced Government will spend $7.5 million for the celebrations.
On Saturday, Holness led his country in its independence jubilee.
“We celebrate under the theme, Jamaica 60, Reigniting a Nation for Greatness. While we cannot allow the current global crises of a pandemic, war, and inflation to dampen our mood, the government is mindful of the hardships our people are experiencing; therefore, our celebrations must give hope, be meaningful, and uplifting,” he said in an address, reported by the Caribbean News Agency.
“At 60, there must be reflection, introspection, contemplation, and prospection. As leaders, have we been good stewards of our nation? As citizens, have we been law-abiding, productive, and creative? And as a nation, have we been doing our part to advance the welfare of the whole human race? What will our story be in another 60 years?
Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne, right, joins Jamaican High Commissioner Arthur Williams in a toast to Jamaica’s 60th independence anniversary at the commissioner’s residence, Ellerslie Park, Port of Spain on Friday. – SUREASH CHOLAI
“We reflect on the unfurling of the black, green, and gold on August 6th, 1962, a glorious time filled with high hopes and great expectations, the culmination of over 450 years of struggle from enslavement to Emancipation to nationhood. As we began to chart our course on the journey as an independent nation, we would meet with many successes and nationally fulfilling moments. Still, we would also encounter real challenges on our journey.
Holness noted that in retrospect, “it is true that, as Jamaicans, we have not always made the connection between our economic and political choices. For decades we have made political decisions inconsistent with good economic thinking, which have had disastrous social consequences.”
He said his administration is developing a series of legislation to address the social order issues.
These include – new Road Traffic Regulations that will be passed and will come into effect this year; the start of a new bail act and an enhanced security measures act.
Concerning the island’s status, he said that his administration has already commenced work towards becoming a republic.
In his message – leader of the main opposition People’s National Party (PNP), Mark Golding, again called on the administration to recommit to full political independence by “removing the last vestiges of past colonial rule.”
In his message, “Golding said the time to come together to achieve the constitutional reform required to have a Jamaican as our Head of State.”
He said the Opposition continues to be willing and ready to work with the Government to finalise the required legislation, pass it in Parliament and put it to a vote by the people in a referendum, as soon as possible.
“This step is logically connected to another, which is ensuring greater access to justice for our people by embracing the Caribbean Court of Justice as our final court of appeal. There is nothing to stop this proceeding now, even as we go through the steps of becoming a republic.”
He also said it is a time to celebrate the achievements of Jamaica in a plethora of human endeavours – “in academia, music, the arts, education, commerce, cuisine, science and, of course, our sporting glory.”
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Residents of Ibis Gardens, Caroni gather on the Caroni river bank to show how much of it has fallen in on Friday. – Darren Bahaw
Vishanna Phagoo
The drop in water levels of the Caroni River, at Ibis Gardens, has revealed the extend of erosion and residents fear if left untouched the next heavy shower will spell disaster for the entire community.
A significant portion of the southern embankment has collapsed into the riverbed after torrential rains over the last few days and with more rain forecast over the weekend residents fear the worst.
Andre Ramsahai, who lives a few houses away from the potential disaster at Jacobin Drive, said: “The real issue for me comes is if there is heavy rainfalls because then that’s it, I would be done.”
Right now, the bank only has around 18 inches of reinforcement left and Ramsahai said if heavy rainfall continues, the entire bank will be gone.
Personnel from the Housing Development Corporation visited on Saturday to survey the damage and one official said emergency works are necessary to protect the community of over 150 families, some of whom live in one-storey houses.
Ramsahai said the situation could have been avoided if the authorities had addressed their reports made two months ago when the first signs of weakness of the embankment occurred.
“A couple months ago we started seeing the river bank collapsing into the water so we indicated it to the relevant authorities. We spoke to the Ministry of Works and Transport and the reason for not showing up is always the same, there’s no funding.”
He said on Friday, representatives from the ministry visited the area and one official told him that there is nothing that can be done until the ministry acquires more funds for the repairs.
“I told the representative that was not an option because it have no way I could recover from the damage that I am going to experience.”
The collapsed embankment of the Caroni River at Ibis Gardens, Caroni which has sparked fear and concern among the residents on Saturday after the water levels dropped. – Darren Bahaw
Ramsahai, who is the owner of A&N Auto Centre, said if the conditions do not improve he isn’t sure what will happen to his equipment as they cannot be easily moved to higher grounds. He said if the river bank bursts and the water rushes to his home, there would be no way to protect his hydraulic ramps, compressors or generators and his business could be destroyed.
Another resident took it upon himself to make everyone in the area aware of the imminent danger by going door-to-door and showing them videos and pictures of the depleted river bank. He said it was alarming that 20-feet of river bank became 18 inches overnight and the residents must be aware of it.
Jerome Moses said, “If nothing is done to restore the bank, they (the residents) wouldn’t just be flooded out, they would have to go up on the roof.”
He said there would be no protection between the residents and that volume of water. Moses said everyone in the area has been calling the ministry and other relevant agencies, but no one could never relay their concerns.
“Every time you call, they give us another number to someone who is in charge of whichever department and so on but no help. Nobody seems to do anything, it’s like the people in charge of drainage, rivers and waterways in the country are not in charge any more. I don’t know what it is.”
Moses expressed his frustration and urged the residents to understand that if the conditions remain the same, lives will be in danger and treading the water will not be an option.
Chaguanas West MP Dinesh Rambally reassured residents that he is in talks with Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Faris Al-Rawi and the councillors and chairman of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation.
“I am in real-time communication with all of them concerning what has taken place so what I expect and hoping is that the permanent fixtures can get going as early as Monday morning with some remedial steps along the old Caroni River. This is so we don’t have that breach as it was the key source of the large flow and volume of water coming into the village.”
He said he also expects to see the flood slabs along the river wall fixed as that also contributed to the overflowing in the breached areas. Rambally said the work should be completed by Wednesday as it only requires placing 12 to 15 loads of backfill along the river. In addition to building back the river bank, he said the corporation will be working on expanding the outflow drain which is along New Street, Caroni.
On Saturday morning, he and councillor Richard Rampersad were distributing cleaning supplies and drinking water before any major clean-ups can take place.
“The corporation gave me the assurance that it will be deploying a minimum of two cesspool trucks. What will happen is the trucks will go to the homes that were greatly affected try to extract the permitted amount of water,” he said.
Rambally urged residents to understand that it is not “business as usual” when it comes to flooding in Caroni and said people need to be proactive in flood prevention.
“We also need to take certain steps in ensuring that certain homes are fully aware of what is expected of them so that they can implement the necessary evacuation measures.”
Sunday Newsday tried contacting Sinanan and the private contractor Vigai Persad, who had been asked by the ministry to assess the site on Friday, for comments but all attempts were unsuccessful.
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Jereem Richards won his second gold medal in the 200m at the Commonwealth Games on Saturday. –
Jereem Richards broke his personal best and a meet record on his way to defending his men’s 200m title at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games in England, on Saturday.
Richards, who previously had a personal best of 19.83 seconds, won the event in 19.80.
He erased the previous Commonwealth Games record of 19.97, held by Frankie Fredericks of Namibia since 1994.
Zharnel Hughes of England claimed silver in 20.12 and Joseph Amoah of Ghana grabbed bronze in 20.49.
The gold medal run by Richards was TT’s fourth medal at the Commonwealth Games and one week after cyclist Nicholas Paul earned gold in the men’s keirin event.
Paul also won a silver medal and a bronze at the games.
Richards, in an interview immediately after winning the race with SportsMax, remembered his former TT team-mate Deon Lendore.
Lendore, a former top 400m athlete, died in a car accident in Texas in January. Richards and Lendore were part of the TT men’s 4x400m quartet which won gold at the 2019 World Relays.
“Boy, I know Deon is smiling right now,” Richards said.
Since Lendore’s death, Richards has dedicated some of his races to him.
Richards is hoping at the medal ceremony on Sunday, at 5 am local time, the pan version of the national anthem will be played.
“I have one request. If anybody from this meet could hear it I would love to hear the national anthem in the steelpan rendition…that will make my day. That is my favourite anthem, the steelpan one,” he said.
Former president of the TT Olympic Committee Brian Lewis said the pan version of the anthem is supposed to be played at all medal ceremonies for TT athletes. He said the International Olympic Committee has accepted the pan version of the anthem which was done by the National Steel Symphony Orchestra.
“I am advised that it was an error of the Commonwealth Games Federation and Birmingham 2022 that the pan version was not played for Nicholas Paul’s gold medal ceremony,” Lewis said.
Lewis said the TT team in Birmingham, led by chef de mission Diane Henderson, will put measures in place to ensure the pan version is played.
Richards thanked his support team following the race.
“Everybody helped me out this year. I had a big team, a big support team, my family and friends.”
After the race, Richards’s sister Brittney Richards-Nelson wrote on social media, “Forged from the love of liberty. Feeling so proud.”
Richards got out the blocks quickly and heading into the final 100m it was clear it was a two-man race between Richards and Hughes.
Richards had a strong finish as usual and with 40m left the race was over as he opened a huge lead to win comfortably.
Richards was proud of the start he got.
“In terms of the start I have been working on it for awhile now and now I have the confidence and I have the ability to do it.”
Richards controversially won the 200m gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
TT’s Jereem Richards celebrates winning gold alongside bronze medalist Paul Amoah of Ghana, left, and silver medalist Zharnel Hughes of England, right, after the 200m race at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England on Saturday. – AP PHOTOS
In the final stages of the race, Hughes impeded Richards with his arm.
Hughes, who thought he won gold, was disqualified and Richards was given the gold after initially ending in second place.
There was no chance of a repeat of the 2018 controversy as Richards and Hughes did not run next to each other in Saturday’s final.
Asked if he came to Birmingham with a mission, Richards said, “I have been on a mission. I was very conservative throughout the rounds and I just wanted to make a statement. Coach told me to drop the hammer in the final and that is what I wanted to do just drop the hammer.”
Just over two weeks ago, Richards finished sixth in the 2022 World Athletics Championships 200m final in 20.08.
He said the Commonwealth gold makes amends for the disappointment at the World Championships.
“It definitely does make up for it a lot. To leave here with a personal best (and) so close to a national record once again. I will take it down some time. God’s timing is the best timing, but I am just happy. The two major meets for the season are done. Mentally a big weight has come off my chest.”
Speaking more about the 200m national record of 19.77 held by Ato Boldon since 1997, Richards said, “It could be gone this season (because) I still have a few more meets to go, but the main focus is to keep running fast and staying healthy. I want to get the record, but it is not the main focus it will come when it is time to come.”
The Prime Minister congratulated Richards on his achievement.
“Champion gold for Jereem. Congratulations to Jereem Richards for defending the men’s 200-metre title at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England,” Dr Rowley said.
In a media release, Minister of Sport and Community Development Shamfa Cudjoe, said, “Jereem clocked a blistering personal best ultimately winning gold and defending his 200m title in Birmingham. This is a great moment for sport and the athletic world is celebrating right now. It is with great pride that our entire Ministry, the Government as well as the local sporting fraternity, join in celebrating Mr Richard’s latest victory.”
The sport minister also acknowledged the significant contributions made by the TT athletes.
“Team TTO continues to fly the colours of our country proudly around the world and we salute them for their exemplary efforts, grit and determination. You never cease to be an inspiration to the next generation of athletes and young people.”
TT Olympian Alvin Daniel, who shares a close relationship with Richards, was elated for the 200m champion.
Daniel said, “I know he was going to win.”
Both Richards and Daniel are Pt Fortin residents.
“I have seen Jereem workout. I went to look at him in Mahaica Oval. He asked me to come down and check him out…he could take workload.”
Daniel said Richards will be on “top in the world very soon.”
Daniel believes Richards can get an Olympic medal one day. “Definitely (he has the potential). I think he is one of our best chances in the next Olympics.”
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Over $72 million worth of marijuana which left Trinidad and Tobago for Barbados was seized by Bajan authorities on July 29. – Photo courtesy TTPS
A year-long joint operation between the local police and Barbados police led to the seizure of over $72 million worth of marijuana and the arrest of a Colombian national.
A release from the police said since June 2020 local intelligence officers began surveillance of a suspected drug trafficker based in Central Trinidad with regional and international connections.
Investigations showed the suspect and another man left Trinidad and Tobago (TT) on a flight to Barbados in late June 2020 and Bajan authorities were alerted.
On July 29, a shipment of marijuana arrived in Barbados from TT and stored in a stash house. Bajan authorities raided the stash house where they seized 481 kilogrammes of marijuana with an estimated street value of $72, 063, 420.
The Colombian national was held during the raid.
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In this file photo, former independent senator Dana Seetahal SC makes her contribution during a sitting of the Senate in 2006. –
Eight years after the shocking assassination of Dana Seetahal, SC, a former independent senator, prosecutor and magistrate, a call is being made for her to be bestowed this country’s highest honour – the Order of TT (ORTT).
President of the Criminal Bar Association Israel Khan, SC, in a letter to Attorney General Reginald Armour SC, dated August 5, said Seetahal is being nominated to get the top award as this country celebrates the 60th anniversary of independence.
The ORTT may be awarded to any person (citizen as well as non-citizen) who has rendered distinguished and outstanding service to TT. It may be awarded posthumously.
Seetahal, 59, was shot dead along Hamilton Holder Street, Woodbrook on May 4, 2014, moments after she left Ma Pau casino on Tragarete Road en route to her One Woodbrook apartment by an organised gang.
To date, the 10 men accused of her murder are yet to face a judge and jury.
Commenting on the recommendation, Seetahal’s younger sister, Susan Francois, the former head of the Financial Intelligence Unit and Registrar General, said the family is grateful and appreciative of the recommendation by the Criminal Bar Association.
“We look forward to some positive feedback on it.”
The association has also recommended posthumous awards Hummingbird (Gold) medals for Allan Alexander, SC, Desmond Allum, SC, and Theodore Guerra, SC.
In addition, it has recommended that judicial hubs be renamed in honour of former chief justice and president of the Caribbean Court of Justice Michael de la Bastide, QC, former attorney general Karl Hudson Phillips, QC, Frank Solomon, SC, and Seetahal in keeping with the government’s plan to rename streets, parks and other public spaces.
Francois said any acknowledgement of her sister’s efforts to improve the criminal justice system will be appreciated.
Seetahal was awarded the Hummingbird (gold) medal posthumously in 2014 but Francois said her sister was deserving of the nation’s highest award and no one showed up to collect the award as the country’s celebrated its 52nd anniversary of independence.
The association said while Seetahal was awarded the Hummingbird (gold) medal in 2014 “we believe that she paid the ultimate price in pursuit of her work and as such worthy of being posthumously granted the ORTT.”
There are five categories of national awards with the ORTT (formerly the Trinity Cross Medal of the Order of the Trinity) in gold being the highest.
Followed by the Chaconia Medal (gold), (silver) and (bronze); the Hummingbird medal (gold,) (silver) and (bronze); the Public Service Medal of Merit (gold), (silver) and (bronze) and the Medal for the Development of Women (gold), (silver) and (bronze).
According to the Office of the President, every citizen, on being awarded a national award, becomes a member of the distinguished society of TT of which the President is chancellor. Every non-citizen, on being awarded a national award, becomes an honorary member of the distinguished society.
Only citizens of TT are eligible for the award of the Public Service Medal of Merit. Non-citizens are eligible for all other awards.
All national awards may be awarded posthumously, but a deceased recipient does not become a member of the distinguished society.
The National Awards Committee, headed by Chief Justice Ivor Archie, oversees the nomination process and investigates the nominees before making its recommendations to the Prime Minister. Any person or organisation may submit a nomination to the committee, of a citizen for a national award.
The President confers the awards, “on the advice of the Prime Minister given after consideration of the recommendation of the advisory committee.” The awards are made “by instrument signed by the President and sealed with the seal of the Order.” The President hosts the National Awards Ceremony annually on Republic Day, September 24, according to the Office of the President. It was previously held on Independence Day, August 31.
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PSA president Leroy Baptiste. – File photo
PUBLIC Services Association (PSA) president Leroy Baptiste is standing in staunch defense of WASA workers whom he feels are being implicated in acts of vandalism against the authority.
He also accused government of “peddling hate” against WASA workers in order to set the groundwork for public acceptance when workers are sent home – just as they did with Petrotrin – as a result of the transformation of the authority.
At a news conference on Friday, National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds in making a case out for the banning of scrap metals export, alluded to perpetrators having a working knowledge of the state assets that have been vandalised.
Hinds spoke of malicious damage and the industrial climate at WASA in the same sentence, alluding to certain intelligence gathered to draw a conclusion between the two.
“I stand in full defense of WASA workers. I have no such information that WASA workers are trying to destroy its installations. That is nonsensical,” Baptiste told Sunday Newsday.
“All along when cables were being stolen, the scrap iron dealership was being blamed. Suddenly, because you are trying to fire WASA workers, somebody else gets blamed – the TSTT workers, the WASA workers.”
He accused government of putting a “spin” as it expects workers facing the breadline to retaliate.
“The Government is peddling hate, envy, covetousness as its formula to control people and to control public sentiments.
“This is unfortunate because they have done something to make workers unhappy and want to justify their conspiracy theory against WASA workers and their families.
“What he is implying is straightforward continuation of the demonisation of WASA workers.
“They are the ones who said they are going to restructure and send WASA workers home, starting with 426 managers.”
What is amazing, Baptiste said, is that when something good happens, Government takes credit, but when something goes wrong, “Nobody must say Government must go.”
He said if wrong is being perpetrated then the police must do their job and solve the crime.
Hinds said there are some in TT who prefer to maintain the status quo because they benefit directly and that government is not unmindful that in their resistance and adherence of good order and efficiency and no corruption in that state entity, there is push back.
He said some of that push back is evident in the disruption of the free flow of traffic on the road or disrupting systems that distribute water and electricity.
He said some might use these opportunities, “To trade more sinister motives against the State for their own limited, perhaps selfish, perhaps even political purpose.
These matters, he pledged, will be treated as matters of national security.”
NewsAmericasNow.com
