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Government will be enforcing harsher penalties for those guilty of using illegal firearms.

During his presentation on the Firearms (Amendment) Bill 2022 on Friday, Attorney General Dale Marshall announced offenders could possibly face life imprisonment if found guilty of using an illegal firearm in more than one crime.

The Attorney General explained that according to the amended legislation that a first-time offender can receive a minimum of 10 years, however, an individual on their second or subsequent offence can be sentenced to life imprisonment.

“We say in this particular bill that a person who’s been found guilty of an offence, of a fireable offence, shall on conviction on indictment, in the case of a first offence, be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than 10 years, and not more than 20. In the case of a second or subsequent offence, be sentenced to imprisonment for life, sir, or a lesser term not being 20 years,” Marshall stated.

The Attorney General indicated that exceptions will be made in certain cases, such as if the offender was under the age of 18 at the time.

“The judge can impose imprisonment of a lesser term, if the person who committed the offence was under the age of 18, at the time of the commission of the offence.

“If the person who committed the offence has not been previously convicted of an indictable offence of a violent nature…or if the court is of the opinion that there are other exceptional circumstances relating to the offence, or to the person convicted of the offence, this justifies us not doing so,” he shared.

Marshall also declared that under the amendment, offenders will now serve sentences consecutively.

“[The Act] says this notwithstanding any law to the contrary a sentence of imprisonment imposed on a person convicted of an indictable offence under this Act shall be served consecutively to any other sentence of imprisonment imposed for an offence arising out of the same event or a series of events.

So the bottom line is if you find yourself convicted of more than one offence under this Act, we’re not saying you’re going to prison for this term, we’re saying you’re serving two terms – one after the next,” he revealed.

“You are man enough to commit two offences, well feel two sets of punishment – consecutively.”

The Attorney General asserted that the Government will not be handling criminals with care or “softly”. He stressed that this will be further evidenced with the Firearms (Amendment) Bill 2022.

“People are saying ‘oh y’all, y’all soft’. No Sir. We are not soft anymore. We never were soft but the point is, we are saying now that our level of tolerance for the criminal and his foolishness has now vanished to the point where we are prepared to say that you can be subject to a sentence of life imprisonment on a second firearm offence,” he emphasised.

“… it’s not just about punishing the individual, it has to be about sending a message to people who may feel that they can do this and get away with it,” Marshall continued.

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The gun and packet of cocaine found by police after a chase through El Socorro. A 28-year-old Barataria man was shot by police during the chase. Photo courtesy TTSP

A Barataria man who police said was transporting drugs and a gun, is warded in a serious condition at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex after police shot him on Friday morning.

Police said at about 11.50 am officers assigned to the North Eastern Division Gang and Intelligence Unit were on patrol when they heard a brown Nissan B14 was transporting narcotics and a gun.

They later saw the car speeding near the Maritime Roundabout, Morvant. It slammed into a marked police car along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway.

The officer chased the car, following it into El Socorro. Police said the car hit several other vehicles as the driver tried to evade the police.

They said twice the driver pointed a gun at them and the second time, they shot back. The 28-year-old man, from Seventh Street, Barataria crashed into a wall along Jogie Road.

Police later found a loaded gun and cocaine wrapped in black tape in the car.

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Senior Minister Stephenson King has urged surveyors to build respect for their profession while lauding them for their contribution to national development.

He said aside from competence and qualifications, surveyors must have a good reputation so that people throughout the country can respect them.

“As being reputable, as being dependable and of course as delivering quality service to your clients,” the Castries North MP told his audience.

However, he explained that to achieve this, the surveyors must recognise that they are not alone.

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“You belong to a fraternity – a fraternity that must be respected must be factored into the overall architecture of national development,” King stated.

King, Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Ports, Transport, Physical Development, and Urban Renewal, spoke on Thursday.

He addressed the opening ceremony of a secretariat for the Institute of Surveyors (St. Lucia Inc. at Desir Avenue, Castries.

The Minister asserted that the development of the surveying profession was not merely about having an office.

In this regard, the former Prime Minister spoke of the need for continuous training and development, seeking affiliation with international bodies and continuing to aspire.

“As you train and become a professional, the world around you is turning and developing and the dynamics of the profession are changing,” King stated.

In addition, he explained that if the “powers that be” do not understand the challenges facing surveyors, then the surveyors are failing in their responsibility to highlight those challenges.

He urged the surveyors to become the eyes and ears of the Minister to enhance the profession by way of legislation and other measures.

And the Minister said he would invite the surveyors to meet him soon to discuss issues they needed addressing.

They included amendments to the Land Survey and the Land Registry Acts.

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door Ivan Cairo PARAMARIBO — Beweringen van directeur Erlan Sleur van milieuorganisatie Probios dat Staatsolie bij haar operaties in Saramacca

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AI Forum, a leading research and information source on Artificial Intelligence, has launched an annual conference focused on several hot-button industry topics, such as the intersection of AI and human rights and how AI is disrupting the global economy.

The all-day event is set for the Grand Cayman Marriott Resort on 28 November and will feature senior and experienced AI industry professionals from top-tier organisations including Google, Meta, IBM, Morgan Stanley and Harvard Medical School.

Attendees will be able to join sessions and take advantage of in-person networking opportunities.

Ian Gilmour, chair of AI Forum’s Advisory Board, said that AI Forum’s first annual conference will provide an opportunity to meet AI thought leaders in the fields of enterprise, financial services, healthcare and education.

“The Cayman Islands will deliver a stunning backdrop for the event. We are delighted to be working closely with Cayman’s public and private sectors as this world-class international financial centre adds artificial intelligence to existing sophisticated capabilities in financial services and technology,” he said.

Andre Ebanks — Minister of Financial Services and Commerce, and Minister of Innovation, Investment and Social Development — will be providing the opening address.

“I am thrilled to support events that showcase the Cayman Islands as a centre of excellence in technology and innovation. AI is emerging as a powerful tool in so many areas of our professional and personal lives, including financial services, healthcare and education, and the Cayman Islands is poised to develop in this area, which presents potentially significant opportunities for young aspiring Caymanians,” the minister said.

“I look forward to meeting the delegates and sharing important updates from the Ministry of Financial Services & Commerce as well as the Ministry of Investment, Innovation and Social Development,” he added.

Focal points of the day include presentations from Aditi Joshi of Google and Utpal Mangla on the power of AI and Edge Computing and why the combination of these two technologies will disrupt multiple industries.

Joshi has conducted privacy reviews for Google products and contributed to the US National Privacy Framework drafted by the White House federal agency NIST, leading a Roundtable on AI Legislation. Mangla is a recognised global leader of IBM’s Telco, Media, Entertainment (TME) Industry.

Other highlights include Dr Terri Horton, a widely recognised thought leader on the future of work speaking on The Workforce of the Future. Dr Horton was included in the Onalytica 2022 Who’s Who in the Future of Work as a key opinion leader and in 2022 was ranked by Thinkers360 as a Top 25 thought leader on the future of work.

Rasmus H?ggkvist, the project leader of AI GEN (the youth arm of AI Forum) will be introducing the global network for youth and students. Through his Tiktok channel “Schoolmentors” he has helped over 10 per cent of Swedish youth in school and aided the Swedish government in education policy.

The conference will also feature reports and discussions on the state of AI in healthcare, education and financial services.

To register for the all-day event and for further information on the speakers and conference agenda visit www.conference.ai-forum.com

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