Black Immigrant Daily News

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The Department of Infrastructure, Ports and Transport wishes to inform the public that the Rockhall – Pavee intersection will be closed to vehicular traffic from Wednesday, November 2nd, 2022.

 This closure is necessary in order to effect urgent replacement of a damaged culvert at that intersection, which has severely compromised the structural integrity of that section of road, risking collapse at any point in time.

As a result, motorists will be unable to enter Rockhall via the Pavee Road, and vice versa until the repair works have been completed.

The estimated time for completion is two (2) weeks.

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With consideration given to the considerable use of both Rockall and Pavee as main thoroughfares for many motorists, a traffic management plan will be communicated to the public in the coming days.

The Department of Infrastructure, Ports and Transport regrets any inconveniences caused as a result of this closure.

SOURCE: Department of Infrastructure, Ports and Transport

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Each year, the Jamaica Fire Brigade joins the rest of the world in observing Fire and Life Safety Awareness Week to raise awareness of the importance of being prepared in the event of a fire.

This year, it is being observed between Sunday, October 23 and Saturday, October 29, under the theme “Preserving the Nation through Life Safety and Fire Prevention”, with a focus on the disabilities and access and functional needs community.

According to Sean Martin, Chief Fire Prevention Officer, “The Brigade will be using this opportunity to engage primarily with persons with disabilities and their caregivers to improve the levels of fire safety being experienced by this vulnerable group.”

Martin continued, “we are pleased to have formed partnerships with public and private stakeholders, such as Seprod that is providing support in the form of products from their distribution line.”

Seprod Foundation answered the call and has offered support by providing over 200,000 worth of products to be distributed to children’s homes and households that have been affected by fire, and by assisting in raising awareness about the importance of fire safety and prevention. The products were handed over to the Jamaica Fire Brigade on October 24, 2022, to support the activities for the rest of the week.

Richard Pandohie, CEO of the Seprod Group of Companies and Director of Seprod Foundation commented: “We continue to be heart-broken by the cases of families being devastated by the loss of their loved ones due to fire; as recently as September, 3 children died after a fire destroyed their home. We want to stop these tragedies, and this is why the Seprod Foundation is working with the Jamaica Fire Brigade during Fire and Life Safety Awareness week to highlight the steps that each of us can take to ensure the safety of our lives and that of our families and colleagues. We also want to salute the men and women in our Fire Brigade for the sacrifices that they make on a daily basis.”

About one year ago, Seprod experienced a fire that destroyed the Facey Commodity warehouse and offices at Newport West.

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File photo: The Board of Inland Revenue building in Port of Spain.

ANOTHER assistant commissioner of the Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) is threatening the State with legal action, alleging she was bypassed for promotion as chairman in favour of a junior officer.

On Wednesday, attorneys for Sabetaa Lall sent a pre-action protocol letter to the Office of the Attorney General, setting out the alleged “unlawful and unconstitutional” conduct of the State.

Attorneys Dinesh Rambally, Kiel Taklalsingh, Stefan Ramkissoon, Kristy Mohan, and Rhea Khan said Lall was the best person for the job.

Taklalsingh said because of the powers the chairman of the BIR possesses in prosecuting citizens, searching and seizing property, and accessing private financial information, any decision to appoint a chairman must be transparent.

He said Lall, who is due to retire in 2024, was appointed assistant commissioner in 2015, and since 2018, she has acted as commissioner and continues to do so.

Taklalsingh alleged after a recommendation for another senior commissioner to act as chairman was rescinded two weeks after it was made in December 2020, the Ministry of Finance’s permanent secretary recommended a field auditor and acting assistant commissioner to act as chairman ahead of four more senior commissioners, including Lall.

Another of the four acting commissioners bypassed was Rohonie Ramkissoon, who recently won her challenge of a decision by the Finance Minister not to recommend her as chairman of the BIR in 2021.

Justice Margaret Mohammed held Minister Colm Imbert acted unlawfully and irrationally when he decided not to recommend Ramkissoon. Imbert has said he intends to appeal the decision.

In the pre-action letter, Talkalsingh said after all four bypassed commissioners wrote to the Public Service Commission together, a memo was sent out rescinding the acting appointment, and interviews were held in February 2021. At that meeting, Lall was asked about the misappropriation of funds at the cashier’s unit of the BIR, which, at the time was her responsibility.

Lall said she was taken by surprise, since she was told not she would be called on to give an explanation. Her lawyer also said no allegation of impropriety has ever been levelled against her in relation to the missing funds.

Taklalsingh said while Lall responded, she did not know it would be used against her as a reason to bypass her.

The letter also said a recommendation was made a second time and she was again bypassed.

“We are of the considered view that our client has proper grounds to challenge the lawfulness and constitutionality of the continuing failure of the Minister of Finance to consider her for promotion to the post of commissioner.”

He said the decision to repeatedly bypass Lall was unfair, irrational, and unconstitutional.

“… To say the BIR and its chairman should be insulated from political influence and pressure and ought not to be beholden to a political officer is an understatement.”

He said the decision not to consider Lall for appointment “violently collides” with the constitutional provisions for the public service which are meant to “insulate members of the civil service from interference.”

“The assessment of taxes and validity of refunds are important functions which must be performed independently and be free of political suasion or influence.”

He said no minister can use “half-baked, unformed allegations and/or the purported need for investigations,” to disqualify anyone from serving as chairman of the BIR. Taklalsingh said solidly rational and cogent reasons must be provided for not making a recommendation and the process of dealing with any information must be lawfully fair.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Invest SVG will host a ceremony this afternoon to signal the culmination of the Everything Vincy Expo, at the Geest Cargo Terminal in Kingstown.

The Investment Agency has been hosting the Expo, to showcase the Goods and Services produced here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Camillo Gonsalves is encouraging the population to continue to support local entrepreneurs.

https://www.nbcsvg.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/SUPPORT-LOCAL.mp3

The closing ceremony of the Everything Vincy Expo will be held from five this afternoon. Then from 8pm an event dubbed Fashion De Music will be held.

Exhibitors at the Everything Vincy Expo say they are grateful for the opportunity provided by Invest SVG to showcase their products.

NBC news spoke to Shanette Charles of Shanny’s Prod who said the exposure has done well for her business which is still fairly new.

https://www.nbcsvg.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/CAKE-GOOD.mp3

Ms. Charles also shared her greatest challenge as an entrepreneur and she offered advice to young people who are interested in starting their own business.

https://www.nbcsvg.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BUSINESS-ADVICE.mp3

That was Shanette Charles of Shanny’s Prod- one of the exhibitors taking part in the Everything Vincy Expo hosted by Invest SVG.

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