Black Immigrant Daily News

This report was first published by realnewsantigua.com

An infestation of bed bugs, roaches, and ants at Her Majesty’s Prison reportedly has officials there scratching their heads, since relocation of the hundreds of inmates is presenting a challenge.

Inside sources tell REAL News the presence of vermin is so widespread throughout the prison that it will require an intense fumigation of the cells. However, this will mean that the authorities must find somewhere else to house the inmates for their health and safety during the process.

At the time our Newsroom was alerted, no alternative location had been identified, the source says, but consideration was being given to having the institution fumigated wing by wing.

During an outbreak at the Prison at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, infected inmates were relocated to the Defense Force facility at Crabbes Peninsular.

It is speculated that using those premises again would allow the authorities to address the pest problem sooner. But, until a decision on alternative housing is made, the prisoners will have to put up with the discomfort and health challenges the situation presents, the source says.

Several years ago, Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin, the Minister responsible for the Prison, announced that a satellite facility would be established at the Prison Farm to house non-violent offenders, thus easing the overcrowding at the penal institution.

A few pre-fabricated structures were erected and the compound was then expected to be fenced. However, that project was never completed.

Meanwhile, a single prisoner – a United Kingdom national – is housed in what some have described as “luxury” at the former US Air Force Base in Coolidge.

As a condition of his extradition here to face rape charges, the Government agreed that he would not be housed at Her Majesty’s Prison because of the inhumane living conditions there.

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As fundraising efforts for national cyclist Andre Simon continue, one member of the group spearheading the effort, Joshuanette Francis, is encouraging members of the public to support a number of upcoming initiatives this weekend. CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP FOR NEWS UPDATES.

Speaking on the Good Morning Jojo Sports Show, Francis said one such event is a 5am hike to Sleeping Indian.

“We’re hiking this Sunday, so we are inviting the public out because for the past three weeks we have just been amping up how much money we make. In the first week, we made just $180, in week two we made $472, week three we actually partnered with Trifle and Treat who were selling their treats and we also paid $10 so we were able to raise $670 from [Sunday’s] hike. I am inviting the public out because if we moved from one $180 to $670, then this weekend we should be able to hit $1,000,” she said.

Simon was severely injured after he was struck by a vehicle during a training ride on May 8. He was airlifted to the TIRR Memorial Hospital in Texas on July 2 after a mammoth fundraising effort that remains underway.

In an update posted to Facebook at the weekend, his brother Dwayne Simon, who accompanied Andre to Texas, explained that a pressure ulcer on his brother’s posterior region has been interfering with treatment plans.

Francis explained that efforts to raise funds at a number of Carnival-related activities continued over the weekend with the BlueVe fete.

“I wasn’t there personally but someone from the team was actually at those events collecting, and then on Sunday morning we did a third hike for Andre Simon so the different hiking groups have been coming together on Sundays. The 5 AM Hikers, 268 Hikers, WPN, Iguanas and just lots of different groups coming together on a Sunday and all donating $10 to his medical bill,” she said.

Three other cyclists were also struck in the Mother’s Day road accident but were discharged from hospital soon after. Since then, a 39-year-old man from Hatton has been charged with dangerous driving. — OBSERVER

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Una pareja de sexagenarios fue agredida este pasado domingo, tras un incidente ocurrido en el barrio Espino de San Lorenzo.

Según alegan los vecinos, un grupo de personas se reunió en el lugar para chillar gomas y realizar ruidos con sus autos. 

Además , de acuerdo con una entrevista televisiva realizada a los residentes del lugar , esta situación se repite constantemente, por lo que ha afectado la calidad de vida de estos.

De acuerdo con una de las versiones del incidente, el matrimonio fue a exigir el cese del ruido, por lo que fueron agredidos por una mujer con cabello rubio que aparece en las imágenes.

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The ordinary Barbadian will now have the opportunity to invest in their country via Barbados Optional Savings Scheme Plus.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley announced on Saturday, July 16, that Government will be rolling out BOSS Plus following the success of the first tranche which targeted the public service.

BOSS was launched in July 2020 during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, as an “optional national meeting turn” to finance capital expenditure. Public servants were allowed to have a portion of their [gross] pay converted to bonds over an 18-month period. Pensioners were allowed to buy in as well.

Speaking to the media at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre (LESC), Prime Minister Mottley said that it was time for Barbadians to shoulder some of the burdens and “step up to the plate and finance their country”.

“We have done all the things that we need to do, but we also need Barbadians now to step up to the plate and to help finance their country. When we introduced the BOSS bonds, we made it very clear that they would not be subject to any form of restructuring and indeed we did exceptionally well with the BOSS bond.

“After consideration, we have now agreed that we will launch in the next few weeks again BOSS Plus. The difference is, is that BOSS Plus this time will not just be the public sector but will be all Barbadians, all people living in this country, and all institutions operating in this country,” she detailed.

Previously, companies and the wider public would purchase bonds through the Central Bank or a broker.

Mottley emphasised that Barbados was facing a dire excess liquidity problem that needed to be urgently rectified.

“We have a situation where we have excess liquidity in this country – serious excess liquidity. We leave that money in the bank, making cash effectively irrelevant because if it is getting 0.01 per cent, it is being outstripped by inflation many times,” she commented while noting that Government also does not issue treasury bonds anymore.

“I need the average Barbadian household to play their part, whether it is $20, $50 or $200, or $500, $1000 or $5,000 or $10 000 a month, whatever it is or more we believe that now is the time for us to understand that we are all in this together. ” she continued.

Prime Minister Mottley added that the BOSS Programme will continue to be a regular financing feature.

“Government’s financing of its own programme especially at this time…is contingent on as we said with the BOSS Programme, on people stepping up to the plate and helping to carry their own country so that the BOSS Plus Programme will be launched and we hope this will become a regular feature of government financing in this country.”

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