Black Immigrant Daily News

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Three member associations received funding totaling $32,000.00 from the St. Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC) Inc. last Wednesday morning.

The check handover ceremony took place in the conference room at Olympic House in La Clery, Castries, where Alfred Emmanuel, President of SLOC Inc., made the presentations.

Habib Chreiki, Secretary of the Saint Lucia Golf Association, received a check for $15,000.00 towards Saint Lucia’s hosting of the Eastern Caribbean Golf Amateur Championship from October 8-9.

Iesha Emile, Administrative Assistant of the Saint Lucia Tennis Association, received a check for $5,000.00 towards the hosting of a local tournament in December.

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Sanya Antoine, First Vice-President of the St. Lucia Netball Association, received a check for $12,000.00 that will assist the Association’s participation in a major tournament in Jamaica next month.

Emmanuel noted that between the previously-held check presentation ceremony and lastWednesday’s, three others members received funding from SLOC Inc. They are as follows:

 Saint Lucia Taekwondo Federation (for its summer camp for children in August, and theiradministrative grant, totaling $10,500.00)

 Saint Lucia National Table Tennis Association (for their participation in a youth tournament held in Guyana, totaling $12,000.00)

 Saint Lucia Karate Federation (for its participation in a karate championship in Birmingham, England, totaling $10,595.91, subject to be reduced due to mitigating circumstances)

Emmanuel reiterated that while SLOC Inc. remains committed to assisting members, theorganization’s limitations must be acknowledged. He said some requests from members far exceed the SLOC Inc’s ability to be of assistance.

Emmanuel also reminded members to make reasonable submissions and to be committed to the cause by aiming for excellence.

“When you go out there to represent your sport and your nation, you would want people to remember you out there as a bunch of athletes that really put up a fight,” he stated on Wednesday.

“You don’t necessarily have to win a medal, because medals don’t come overnight, (but) by medium- to long- term planning. But you would not want persons to remember you at the tournament for not even winning a set. So we’re calling on members to plan properly.”

Emmanuel said that since January, SLOC Inc. has made contribution totaling $429,727.91 to assist members — not inclusive of costs associated with the Caribbean Games or Commonwealth Games.

That figure is the combined amount issued directly to members, he said.

Meanwhile, representatives from two of the associations that received checks last Wednesday expressed gratitude to the SLOC Inc. for its continued support.

“The money received today will help in hosting that ECG tournament and coaching some of our players,” said Habib Chreiki. “We have a team of twelve people and we’re also looking to source some new equipment so that they’ll be at the best for the tournament.”

“(These funds) will go a long way in assisting us in participating in the World Netball Championship Qualifiers in Jamaica,” said Sanya Antoine. “We have 15 young ladies taking part in the tournament. Two countries need to come out on top, and, hopefully, Saint Lucia will be one of these teams.”

SOURCE: St. Lucia Olympic Committee. Headline photo: (from left to right) Representatives from the three member associations that received checks last Wednesday — Habib Chreiki, Sanya Antoine and Iesha Emile.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Every day animals in Barbados are abused and abandoned by their owners and nothing is done. Firmly holding this belief, animal activist Debbie Funk of K9 Friends wants abusers to be publicly humiliated and feel the full weight of stronger laws.

K9 Friends is a dog rehoming and neutering charity established and funded by British television personality and record executive Simon Cowell.

Speaking to Loop News, Funk pointed out that the abuse and neglect of pets in Barbados has escalated recently and she called on authorities to revisit the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals legislation.

Her comments come following a viral video showing a dog dying in the hands of its owner at a south coast beach and pictures on the Ocean Acres Animal Sanctuary Facebook page of several dogs living in deplorable conditions.

“They should never, ever be allowed to have another animal under their care; that is the way I see it happening in the UK and all the big countries. If you are caught being cruel to an animal, you are not ever allowed to have an animal again and you are fined, you are imprisoned. People back in the UK will be given community service to do and make an exhibition of them,” Funk told Loop News.

“It needs to be made public who these people are and photographed in the newspapers and the television. That is what needs to be done and hopefully [bring] some shame,” she continued.

While referring to a 2020 case where two men were arrested for setting a monkey on fire, Funk maintained that culprits would only get ” a slap on the wrist” from the Government.

According to Section 3 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, any person who wantonly and cruelly beats, ill-treats, starves, overdrives, overloads, abuses, tortures, infuriates, teases, terrifies or causes unnecessary mutilation or suffering to, or otherwise maltreats an animal or causes or procures to be done an act referred previously or permits any animal to be infuriated, teased, terrified or caused any unnecessary suffering is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $1,000 or to imprisonment for 12 months or both.

Funk lamented that these incidents were occurring daily across the island but she posits that they are being ignored by authorities. She stressed that non-governmental organisations such as K9 Friends and others have persistently petitioned the Government but it seems to have fallen on deaf ears.

“Every single day I go on social media, someone has posted more cruelty [and] more cruelty and nobody is doing anything about it. We can do so much but we cannot change the laws and numerous emails have gone off [and] petitions have been signed.

“…There is no lack of support from the community…many people are willing to help but Government needs to step into Animal Control who are not doing their job,” she claimed.

While she acknowledged that educating the masses would help to change attitudes, Funk noted that changing mindsets and behaviour took time. As an immediate short-term measure, however, she suggested that individuals spay and neuter their cats and dogs.

“Spaying and neutering is certainly a big issue here [in Barbados],” she said.

“We definitely have got to stop these breeders, just breeding and breeding. No one is interested in buying a puppy, there are too many dogs in kennels and shelters that need homes. The breeding has got to stop! They breed them and then they can’t find homes so they dump them, so spay and neuter and you won’t get that.”

She revealed that K9 Friends has a neutering clinic which will be able to assist. Funk stated that accommodations will be made for financially strapped persons.

“If you cannot afford to pay for the spaying and neutering of your cat or dog, they will investigate. They will ask questions – Do you work or have any financial issues? If people are generally not in a financial position to do this, they will do that. They will take the dogs and the cats and they will even come and collect them for you,” she explained.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Rédaction web
Jeudi 15 Septembre 2022 – 19h11

L’arrivée de la tempête Fiona perturbe également les liaisons maritimes entre la Guadeloupe, Marie-Galante et la Dominique.

Sur le même sujet

  Qu’est ce que l’octroi de mer …

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Black Immigrant Daily News

During the launch of ATL Automotive’s Sportscar Saturdays, Loop News, scored the process breakdown from ATL Auto’s Aftersales Manager Mpho Spencer Selowa, who talked about support, servicing and all things ‘aftersales’.

Why? You ask? For ATL Automotive clientele, and BMW owners, in particular, the true test of luxury is not just in the state-of-the-art whip, but also in the post-sale customer experience.

“Aftersales basically starts when you purchase the car…the handover is done from the sales team in the presentation of the car to us, who will be maintaining your vehicle throughout the lifespan of the car, and if we do it well enough, up until your next purchase”.

The process includes an introduction to the service advisors, a service advisor supervisor, and on occasion, the aftersales manager.

Like many other checks and balances systems, the BMW Aftersales process is simple; it requires pre-booking, and a detailed complaint from the client, to inform the servicing team.

But, before confirmation, here are some things a client may need to know.

Eight steps to aftersales servicing:

1 Book your car with the bookings clerk on-site or over the phone, who will in turn advise you on the time slot to take in your vehicle, be it a specific issue, or for routine servicing.

2 Prior to showing up for your scheduled appointment, owners are contacted with a reminder on the date and time of the appointment and/or other requirements.

3 On the day, a service advisor receives the client at the dealership, takes additional details, records complaint/s, and, if necessary, assign a team member.

4 Within 24 hours, the vehicle is transported to the workshop. “We attend to it from there…service it, fix it…whatever we need to [do] with regards to the repair order.”

5 The car is then tested by a quality controller to ensure all noted issues are resolved.

6 Vehicle goes to washstand where it’s washed and checked for cleanliness then handed over to the service advisor.

7 The client is contacted on behalf of the aftersales team to schedule a date for pick-up. The client is presented with the vehicle and given a full explanation of what was done and then advised of any parts that may have been put on special order.

8 The client receives the vehicle. Thereafter, a follow-up call is made by a customer advocate to gauge the client’s experience for quality control purposes.

BMW Head of Business Sloane Jackson introduces the MINI 3-Door Cooper SE, an all-electric vehicle at Atl Autobahn, Kingston, in May. (Photo: File)

Most unusual request… a customer who insisted on sitting in on the servicing. “The customer actually took a chair, [chuckles] pull up with a newspaper, and sat next to the [technician] to watch them work”.

Selowa noted that in this case, you may find a technician “not taking too kindly to it – you know, feeling like he’s under a microscope”.

But, Selowa urges his team members to comply. “If the request is not unreasonable, then by all means, the customer can look at [their] car as it’s worked on”.

In other words, “the customer is king…the customer puts food on our table”.

If the team is unable to service your vehicle…

“As with everything in the department, there are levels of escalation, we now have a master-tech/supervisor in the workshop who oversees the technicians and their work, and gets involved in the repair where necessary”.

If the master tech is unable to resolve the issue, a technical case is flagged and notified by the regional manufacturer in Brazil.

In the event that the technicians in Brazil are unable to address the issue, the buck stops at Munich, Bavaria, Germany – the home of the BMW.

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News

A lighted flambeau is placed on bloodstains in the yard of a house in Sangre Grande where seven people were shot and wounded while attending a wake on Wednesday night. PHOTO BY SUREASH CHOLAI –

TWO children, aged three and six, were among seven people shot and wounded on Wednesday night as they were attending the wake in Sangre Grande, for a man who was killed by police last week.

Relatives of a man who was killed last week, were lamenting on Thursday that they could not even meet and grieve in peace.

Police said the relatives and friends of Ronnel Alexander were at the family’s home at Blake Avenue, Damarie Hill, at around 10.30 pm, when a car drove up to the house.

Police said a man wearing a hoodie got out of the car with an assault rifle and shot at the mourners who were sitting in the gallery.

The two boys and five adults were shot in the attack. Investigators said one of the adults was 60. Passers-by took the wounded to hospital, where they remained up to Thursday afternoon.

On Thursday, Newsday visited the house where the shooting happened and spoke with several people who said they were part of the group of mourners attending the wake. They said they were still shaken by the violence.

RIDDLED: A man points the bullet holes in a car which was shot as a gunman fired on mourners at a wake in Sangre Grande on Wednesday night. PHOTO BY SUREASH CHOLAI –

A man, who asked not to to be named, likened the gun attack to a horror movie as he said the shooting happened without warning. He questioned why a gunman would want to target people at wake.

“These were innocent people who came to visit, lime and reminisce. Children were at the wake and just so bullets started to fly.

“I still surprised this didn’t end up being a multiple murder. People were screaming and diving for cover to protect their children. It was like a horror movie,” the man said.

The man said when the shooting started, he thought it was fireworks being set off.

A woman who said she too was at the wake, said a bullet struck close to where she was sitting. The woman knocked criminals for not having any regard even for children as she added that the gunman fired indiscriminately at the mourners.

Newsday was told that following the shooting incident, Alexander’s family are considering a quick burial instead of a funeral service at a Church, as they are fearing that service could also be targeted by gunmen.

“I don’t feel safe here. I’m just feeling to sell (my property) and move out of this area. I’m frightened to even keep a funeral now because you don’t know if they will come to the funeral and shoot it up too,” said a relative of Alexander.

“I have to get somewhere to go, I can’t stay here, my mother is shaken, she is elderly and she has a heart problem next thing they come to do something again.”

Newsday was told that one of the boys wounded in the shooting, underwent emergency surgery on Thursday because bullets has shattered the bone in his leg in two places.

One of the mourners, who was grazed by a bullet, said while he does not live in Sangre Grande, he too is concerned for his safety and may not return to the area.

Eastern Division police said while no one suffered life-threatening injuries in the shooting, they vowed to thoroughly investigate and follow all possible leads.

“We intend to communicate with the family and see how best we can introduce more patrols in and around the area to prevent further bloodshed. It’s not something we are going to take lightly,” a senior police source said.

Sangre Grande CID officers are continuing enquiries.

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