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Some of the police officers who responded to search for suspects in Rich Plain Road, Diego Martin on April 22, after PC Clarence Gilkes was shot and killed. File photo/Angelo Marcelle

THE Police Complaints Authority (PCA) has forwarded a file to both the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Office of the Attorney General, after an investigation found that officers who raided a mosque in Rich Plain, Diego Martin in April, may have committed not only criminal offences but also breaches to the Constitution.

This was confirmed in a press release issued by the PCA on Monday.

The release said that the PCA began investigations into the conduct of officers from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and the Western Division Task Force who participated in exercises in Rich Plain between April 22-23.

During those exercises, one of the officers – PC Clarence Gilkes – was shot dead.

The PCA said that it investigated the officers’ conduct during a raid on the Masjid al Hudaa and during the course of the investigation, the PCA received information and other evidence pointing to police officers assaulting members of the Islamic community who were present at the mosque and also desecrating that place of worship.

The PCA also learnt that the party of officers involved in the raid on the mosque, was involved in exercise hours earlier, in which PC Gilkes was killed.

The PCA said it was of the view that several criminal offences may have been committed and as such, it referred the matter to the DPP as well as the Acting Police Commissioner for action for the related disciplinary offences, on June 27.

The release added that the PCA’s dossier on its investigations into the police officers in question was also forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General as there may have been breaches to the Constitution.

Gilkes, 44, was shot and killed after officers received a report of men with assault rifles in the Rich Plain area.

According to the official police account, Gilkes was killed when gunmen shot at him and other officers. However, an autopsy later revealed he was shot in the neck from and that the bullet which ended his life, was issued by the TTPS.

An earlier PCA release, issued a week ago, said it found that officers involved in the Rich Plain raid, had misled acting CoP McDonald Jacob in terms of what really went on which led to PC Gilkes’ death.

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The National Council on Public Transportation(NCOPT) is seeking the Saint Lucia government’s assistance in addressing discrepancies in the new bus fares that went into effect recently.

NCOPT President Godfrey Ferdinand explained that in some instances where the fare should be $1.50, the figure on the official rate sheet is $1.75.

He said in other instances, instead of $1.75, the fare on the sheet is $2.00.

“Some of it is due to typo errors,” Ferdinand told St Lucia Times, adding that there was also a need to address some boundary issues.

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And he disclosed that the NCOPT was in the process of highlighting the errors to the Ministry of Transport to get the matter rectified.

Ferdinand explained that for some fare discrepancies, some operators would adhere to the fee before the government granted the increase.

But he said most bus operators stick to what they know is the correct fare.

“Obviously you would get some troublesome passengers that would create issues for everything and that’s why we want the government to correct it,” the NCOPT President stated.

“In some areas, very few, maybe about three to four areas we have received serious complaints. However generally the commuters and the operators are working together because some of these areas are community routes so they would know whether the fare was to go up by 25 cents or 50 cents or a dollar,” Ferdinand noted.

“On the long routes persons would be maybe a bit confused as to whether they should be paying the dollar or the 50 cents between, let’s say Castries to Vieux Fort or Castries To Soufriere. So what’s the fare for Canaries? What’s the fare for the Desruisseaux Gap coming from Castries?”

“Some of these things are what we are trying to change,” he observed.

Ferdinand revealed that the new fare structure went through the bus associations, the NCOPT, the Ministry of Transport, the Attorney General’s Office, and then to the printery.

“Somewhere along the line you could have some errors especially if one does not understand the concept of how this thing is done. We tried to reduce some of the errors, but obviously it didn’t work out,” the NCOPT President told St Lucia Times.

In addition, Ferdinand asserted that all fare adjustments have contained errors.

“It’s just that this time around there are a bit too many,” he declared.

In this regard, he appealed to the public and bus operators to work with the NCOPT while corrections were made.

“Ninety-five percent of the operators would work with the public,” he told St Lucia Times.

On the other hand, Ferdinand acknowledged that some bus operators would see the situation as an opportunity to engage in price-gouging, which would negatively impact the public transport sector.

Headline photo: Stock image

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The Cayman Islands Cadet Corps (CICC) welcomed just over 35 cadets from contingents around the region for its 20th Anniversary Cadet Camp.

Representatives from the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force (JCCF), Turks and Caicos Islands Cadet Corps (TCICC), and Barbados Cadet Corps (BCC) are attending the camp which will run from 2-16 July 2022 at the Clifton Hunter High School, with scheduled rotations through East End Civic Centre and the Agricultural Grounds.

The two-week camp forms part of CICC’s yearlong 20th Anniversary Celebrations of the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps. Local cadets came from both Grand Cayman and Sister Islands. This year’s camp theme is “20 years of youth development, utilising the past to fortify the future.”

Over the next two weeks, cadets from all contingents will engage in activities such as orienteering, field/camp craft, adventurous training, archery, watermanship, culinary arts, first aid, drill, and personal hygiene, among others.

Training will focus on: building team spirit through a set of highly competitive activities. Standardising cadet training across the Caribbean Region will be important through Cayman Cadets working alongside their counterparts.

Speaking at the Opening ceremony on Sunday, 3 July, CICC Acting Commandant Lt. Col. Errol Brathwaite welcomed the Cadets to the 20th Anniversary Camp and noted: “This is an exciting time, as we gather together from across the region for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal over the next two weeks is to learn and build capacity together, sharing various levels of skill while executing various tasks with a high level of precision.”

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the participating countries for their continued support of CICCs development. As CICC continues to celebrate our 20th anniversary, through this camp we will build on the Corps’ great impact on Cayman Islands’ youth and support for our nation’s wider community.

Lt. Col. Brathwaite remarked.

Cadetting has already proven to be beneficial to the Cayman Islands, and its economy, through “Cadet Tourism.” The CICC hosted the Caribbean Cadet Commandants Conference and Caribbean Cadet Camp in 2012, with groups from individual Caribbean territories and the United Kingdom in attendance.

Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Sabrina Turner, commented:

The Ministry of Home Affairs is committed through CICC to the development and mentorship of Cayman’s young men and women across all three islands. Programmes like the Cadet Corps align with the Ministry’s priority of building a safer, stronger, inclusive, and resilient community.

“I encourage our young people from ages 11- 17 years to serve our community, and build leadership skills through joining and participating in the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps,” the Minister added.

Now celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the CICC continues to empower youth with the tools and life skills for personal development and growth. The cadets play a key role in the development of the Cayman Islands’ resilience and national security, across all three Islands.

In addition, over the years many young Caymanian cadets have matriculated into employment opportunities in entities such as Cayman Islands Coast Guard, Cayman Islands Fire Service, Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, Customs and Border Control, Cayman Islands Regiment, Department of Public Safety Communications (911) and Hazard Management Cayman Islands. The Ministry of Home Affairs, alongside the Cadet Corps, is also strengthening the process by which Cadets may undertake a career in the uniformed services, as part of a broader strategy of enhancing public safety.

CICC will conclude its 20th Anniversary Camp on 15 July 2022 with a closing and awards ceremony, which will highlight the achievements of an outstanding team and individual performances during the camp.

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Dushi!! Welcome to Curacao, an island that ignites your senses with its riot of colour everywhere and beautiful backdrops for the perfect destination wedding.

An autonomous country within the Dutch Kingdom, Curacao is located just outside of the hurricane belt which makes it ideal for those looking to tie the knot in the Caribbean during the hurricane season.

Summer is said to be the best time to get married on the island as the rainy season usually is heaviest around October.

Curacao is serviced by major airlines out of the United States – American Airlines, JetBlue, United, from Canada – WestJet, Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, from Europe with Belgium Air, KLM and TUI, from Central America with Copa Airlines, South America with Avianca, Sarpa, Wingo, Surinam Airways, Fly All Ways and from the Caribbean by Caribbean Airlines, Surinam Air, WinAir, and other smaller airlines.

Curacao has a number of stunning beaches with white sand and crystal clear water, coves, marine sites that are popular for diving, historic houses, the oldest surviving synagogue in the Americas, The Mikv? Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, in Willemstad, museums, nightlife, restaurants and several other activities for you and your bridal party.

A beach in Curacao. Photo: iStock

If you are considering tying the knot on this Dutch island, the first thing you need to know is the legal requirements.

It is advised that you liaise with a wedding planner on the destination to help guide you through the process.

The couple must sign and must send a written request to the municipality informing them that you want to get married along with birth certificates, and an international declaration of not being married issued by the civil registry of your country. The documents must be submitted within six months of your proposed wedding date.

If you are divorced or widowed, you must submit a copy of the certificate of divorce or death of the spouse. The certification must be carried out by the embassy of the Netherlands in your country of residence

If you decide to bring a witness, he or she must be a minimum of 21 years old. In order to register a witness submit their full name, address and date of birth. The witness will need a current copy of their passport.

For more information visit: https://www.curacao.com/

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