Black Immigrant Daily News
UPDATE: 3 females who died from St James crash identified as Americans
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
More than 160 migrant boys and girls who study at LLI Chaguanas learn the traditions of TT. Photo by Grevic Alvarado
Migrant children studying English at the Langdons Language Institute (LLI) in Chaguanas celebrated Divali, the Hindu festival of lights, on Friday.
More than 160 boys and girls of various ages carried out traditional activities.
The school’s director Susan Langdon said the children of migrants were mostly dressed in traditional East Indian wear for Hindu festivals.
They took part in rangoli competitions and learned how to decorate the deyas. They shared Hindu sweets made by the representatives and teachers and enjoyed the traditional music of the teacher Deo Nanan who delighted the children playing the tabla and the dhantal.
“These are activities framed in the educational plan of our institution for boys and girls. The Divali festivities are Trinidad and Tobago traditions our students should and want to know about,” said Langdon.
For lunch the boys and girls ate roti.
“Parents have been collaborators in everything. The teachers and staff of our institution have also been involved in every activity so that the students know every detail of the Divali,” she said.
The students of the Langdons Language Institute (LLI) of Chaguanas carried out traditional activities of the Divali celebrations together with their teachers. Photo by Grevic Alvarado
LLI is a language academy endorsed by the University of Cambridge. For several years they have been working on the education of migrant children who have not had the opportunity to enter the TT educational system.
These migrant children are studying their traditional subjects and are also getting to know the TT culture.
Maria Suarez, mother of two students, said she wants her children to know the TT culture.
“TT has opened its doors for us so Venezuelans can have a better quality of life and in gratitude for that we respect and value their culture, which is beautiful. My children are happy to wear their Divali outfits,” said Suarez.
She said she will continue to teach her children the TT traditions.
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
Acting CoP Mc Donald Jacob.
Acting Commissioner of Police Mc Donald Jacob is seeking to assure the public that the police service is prepared to maintain law and order in the season of light.
In a statement on Sunday in which he wished the Hindu community a happy Divali, Jacob lamented there are still those who are bent on pursuing darkness.
The statement came just hours after four people, including a three-year-old child and a woman, were killed in a drive-by shooting in Diego Martin. Two other men were shot dead in separate incidents at Diamond Village, near San Fernando, and Bel Eau Road, Belmont.
Jacob said the community spirit and togetherness shown during Divali is the embodiment of what is good about this cosmopolitan country.
“After two years of somewhat muted Divali celebrations, the
lifting of covid restrictions is symbolic, as it holds great meaning and
significance. The darkness that covid brought is on the decline,
allowing members of the Hindu community to truly celebrate the victory
of light over darkness.”
He said the service is ready with “our police lights” and will be highly visible, as divisional commanders have been tasked to heighten patrols to act as a deterrent to criminals.
“While it is impossible to be everywhere all the time, we have been using the Active Direct Patrol Grid system, which has been
quite successful in apprehending suspects and the seizure of narcotics
and illegal firearms.
“This weekend we have applied our intelligence data
to guide specific strategies which are being implemented to mitigate
criminal activity throughout the country.”
He said the police will use its lawful authority to ensure light prevails over darkness.
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) reported that, on October 22, officers received a report of an incident which had taken place at about 2:20am the same day where a man, who was in a vehicle outside a bar on Shedden Road, was robbed and assaulted.
According to the RCIPS, the victim was approached by three masked men who assaulted him and stole jewellery. The men then fled the location in a vehicle.
One of the suspects is described as being of dark complexion, medium build, about 5’11” tall, and was wearing a ski mask and a black jacket.
Another was about 6’1″ tall, of slim build, and wearing a mask covering his nose and chin.
The third man was of larger build, about 5’11” tall and was wearing a full mask.
Shortly afterwards, officers located a vehicle fitting the description of the one used by the suspects at a location on Canal Point Drive.
Officers approached the vehicle and spoke to the driver who fit the description of one of the suspects.
The man, age 23 of George Town, was arrested on suspicion of robbery. He remains in custody as investigations continue.
Investigators are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident or have any information contact George Town CID at 949-4222.
Anonymous tips can be provided directly to the RCIPS via the RCIPS Confidential Tip Line at 949-7777, or via the RCIPS website.
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
A toddler was among four killed in a car in Diego Martin on Sunday morning. The car was sprayed with bullets by gunmen. Photo by Roger Jacob
A three-year-old boy was among four people murdered in an early-morning shooting in Diego Martin on Sunday.
Around 1.20 am, Four Roads CID and Western Division Task Force responded to reports of a car being riddled with bullets at Winnie Mohammed Road, Diego Martin. Police said four occupants of the vehicle were killed and two others taken to hospital for injuries.
The deceased were identified as three-year-old Nazim Owen of La Puerta, Diego Martin; Chelsea Julien, 27, of Bagatelle, Diego Martin; Akil Keron of La Puerta Diego Martin and Marcus “Markie” Noel also of La Puerta.
The murders prompted acting CoP McDonald Jacob to issue a statement on the matter.
Jacobs offered his deepest condolences to the victims’ family and friends.
He said he intends to offer timely justice and not just condolences and counselling from the police’s Victim and Witness Support Unit.
“Yes, the crime scene investigators, forensics personnel, homicide detectives, investigators are all out there, working assiduously to find and bring in the perpetrators. If there is CCTV footage we will use it, witnesses will be interviewed, thorough investigations are under way, and, once again, I am appealing to anyone who has information that can lead to the capture and arrest of these murderers, we need you to come forward,” he said.
He also condemned the “erroneous rhetoric” of not being able to trust the police.
On October 15, Jomol Modeste, 9, was killed in a drive-by shooting while playing with friends at the Africa Recreation Grounds, Chaguanas.
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian warplane slammed into a residential building in the Siberian city of Irkutsk on Sunday, killing both crewmembers, authorities said. It was the second time in less than a week that a combat jet crashed in a residential area in Russia.
The Irkutsk region’s governor, Igor Kobzev, said the Su-30 fighter jet came down on a private, two-story building housing two families. He said that there were no casualties on the ground as the building’s five residents were out at the moment of the crash.
He said the residents would be offered temporary accommodation and compensation.
The cause of the crash wasn’t immediately known and an official probe has started. On Oct. 17, an Su-34 bomber crashed near an apartment building in the Sea of Azov port of Yeysk and exploded in a giant fireball, killing 15 and injuring another 19.
The crashes might reflect the growing strain that the fighting in Ukraine has put on the Russian air force.
The United Aircraft Corporation, a state-controlled conglomerate of Russian aircraft-making plants, said in a statement that the plane in Sunday’s incident came down during a training flight before its delivery to the air force. The jet carried no weapons during the flight.
Surveillance camera videos posted on Russian social networks showed the fighter in a nearly vertical dive and then exploding. Other videos showed the building engulfed by flames and firefighters deployed to extinguish the blaze.
Irkutsk, a major industrial centre of more than 600,000 in eastern Siberia, is home to an aircraft factory producing Su-30s, a supersonic twin-engine, two-seat fighter that has been a key component of the Russian air force. China, India and many other countries also use the planes.
Sunday’s crash was the 11th reported noncombat crash of a Russian warplane since Moscow sent its troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24. Military experts have noted that as the number of Russian military flights increased sharply during the fighting, so did the number of crashes.
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
Shaneil Muir is calling out fellow artist Mr. Vegas and her ex-manager Richie Flores after the latter did an interview claiming that he didn’t owe her money.
The dancehall singer hinted in her Instagram Live this week that she was experiencing issues with her manager, leading many to believe that her decision to step away from dancehall music had something to do with her problems with Flores. On Friday, Shaneil Muir lashed out at Mr. Vegas after his interview on Instagram live with Flores.
“Mr vegas since you have become a mediator I appreciate your intervention so long as you can help support the truth with evidence and authentic documentation so that richie flores does not also taint you as a liar and instigator,” Muir said on her Instagram account on Friday.
In another graphic, she wrote, “For the clarity of doubt please present your exhibits as AUTHENTIC EVIDENCE to support your claim of these accounts that Rebel Ace and its director Mr Richard Flores have assured the masses that he has and that you have seen.”
In the Live with Mr. Vegas, Flores claimed that he had been paying Muir’s Road Manager for her tour throughout the time they worked together as well as the booking agent.
Flores confirmed that Muir terminated him as her manager in October, but he did not state her reason for doing so.
It seems that money is at the center of the breakdown, as Flores said that the artist asked that 100% of the funds from her shows be sent to her on October 4. He said that Muir was not receiving 100% of her funds because of “incidentals” that he kept. “Incidentals may happen, an artist may miss a flight… may miss a show and then you would have to return the deposit to the promoter as your responsibility as the booking agent.”
Flores claimed that his company Rebel Ace which managed her bookings and shows, had secured bookings up to 2023. The manager hinted that he was accused of using Muir’s money to go to Paris, which led to the fallout.
“There’s been some insinuating that I use Shaneil money to go to Paris. This is not the case. Right. Me and my wife celebrate the same birthday. My wife work full time, I work full time. We both have jobs. I mean I shouldn’t have to try to explain myself but the fact that people would insinuate that I would take Shaneil’s money is ludicrous.”
In the meantime, Flores says that he was told by Muir on October 4 that he was not authorized to accept funds on her behalf, and the artist later terminated his services on October 10.
The manager added that Shaneil owes him money for the shows that were booked for her up to 2023. On Thursday, the artist shared that she was going to honor her obligations to those promoters, which showed more than a dozen performances in the Caribbean and the United States from October to December and two shows in February 2023.
In the meantime, Flores handed over $4,000 to Muir on October 13 after his company deducted 30% of the monies it held- 20% for management fees and 10% for booking fees. The artist had received 50% of the booking fee from promoters.
Muir has reportedly sent letters from her lawyers demanding that Flores return the 20% management fees he has collected as that is future income for work he has not done. However, her letter says he may keep the 10% booking fee.
Flores is, however, adamant that he owes her anything.
Meanwhile, Muir has reportedly hired a new manager, Cara Vickers, and a lawyer who has sent him a letter accusing him of collecting the remaining funds for a show last week. He denied that he collected any fees from any promoter in Jamaica.
“I’ve never robbed Shaneil, I’ve never taken any money from Shaneil, I was always fair to Shaneil and I think Shaneil is one of the most talented artists out there in the whole industry,” Flores said.
On Friday, Shaneil Muir called out her ex-manager, whom she said has not responded to the lawyer’s letter.
“It’s so funny how you find LIVE INTERVIEW hiding your face and you have yet to respond to my lawyer regarding the matter, after giving me only 24 hrs to respond to your cease and desist initially,” she said in a statement posted on her Instagram Story.
“Fire de a muss muss tail him tink a cool breeze,” Flores added.
“Fool man but you can’t fool God. “I’ve known Shaneil long before her success” YES! You were strategic in your planning. MasterMind!” she added in another Instagram Story.
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
This month, the Cayman Islands’ financial services industry received some good news about Cayman-based investment funds whose assets were frozen under regulation 64 of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the “Russia Regulations”) as extended to the Cayman Islands (with modifications) (the “Modified Regulations”) by the Russia (Sanctions) (Overseas Territories) Order 2020.
This news, which came in the form of a licence issued by the Governor of the Cayman Islands on October 4, 2022 (the “Licence”), allows certain investors to redeem or withdraw their interests from these investment funds.
In addition, these investment funds may pay out disbursements to cover basic needs, including fees of service providers.
Limits on redemption or withdrawals
To facilitate the wishes of investors who wish to exit, the Licence states that the investment funds (or a person who is empowered to direct the business of the investment fund, or act on its behalf) may redeem, withdraw or otherwise deal with a share, trust unit, partnership interest or other right that carries an entitlement to participate in the profits or gains of the investment fund.
However, such redemptions or withdrawals or dealings cannot be made in respect of a person who is designated from time to time by the Secretary of State under the Russia Regulations (“Designated Person”) or in circumstances where it can be shown that there is control (directly or indirectly) by a Designated Person.
Further, no funds or economic resources shall be made available directly or indirectly to, or for the benefit of, a Designated Person or any person (including any individual, body of persons corporate or unincorporate, any organisation and any association or combination of persons) which is owned or controlled directly or indirectly by a Designated Person.
With respect to all of the foregoing, the relevant redemption, withdrawal or other dealing must be in accordance with the Licence and the investment fund’s constitutional and contractual documents.
Paying disbursements
In addition to these permitted redemptions or withdrawals, the Licence states that investment funds may pay the following expenses:
insurance premiums, audit fees, accounting fees, regulatory fees, corporate services and registered office fees, director fees, professional service provider fees (including legal fees) and any other reasonable routine expensesreasonable fees or reasonable service charges arising from the routine holding and maintenance of the investment fund’s frozen funds or economic resources
In connection with the foregoing, the investment fund or the fund manager must keep accurate, complete and readable records, on paper or electronically, of any activity purporting to have been permitted under the Licence for a minimum of six (6) years.
Notification Requirements
In relation to the redemption and fee payment permissions, the investment fund or the investment fund’s manager (defined as a person who is empowered to direct the business of the investment fund, or act on its behalf) must do the following:
report to the Governor (which may be provided by email to GovernorsOffice.CaymantBfcdo.oov.uk) as soon as practicable the first time this Licence is relied upon, and, subsequently, must report to the Governor on the 16th of every month setting out any activities carried out in the preceding month where the investment fund is regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (“CIMA”), the investment fund or the fund manager must notify CIMA of its use of the Licence within three business days of such use
It should be noted, however, that any notification provided above does not constitute verification by the Governor that the activity purporting to be permitted under the Licence is permitted.
Consequences for breach
According to the Licence, failure to comply with any conditions attaching to the Licence may lead to prosecution under the Modified Regulations.
In addition, the permissions granted under the Licence do not authorize any act which the person carrying out the act knows, or has reasonable grounds for suspecting, will result in funds or economic resources, being dealt with or made available in breach of the Modified Regulations.
Licence expiration date and possible Licence amendments
Those having the benefit of the Licence should also be aware that, while the Licence takes effect from October 4, 2022, it expires on April 4, 2023 (the Licence, once issued, is also not transferable to any other party).
In addition, stakeholders should note that the Governor may vary, revoke or suspend the Licence at any time, which may prove to be beneficial to the financial services industry if the Governor decides to vary the Licence to allow investment funds to take certain actions in relation to sanctioned investors.
Such actions, if deemed prudent by the Governor, could include amendments to the wording of the Licence to include “permitted dealing,” which would allow the following (subject to the terms of the entity’s limited partnership agreement, trust deed, articles of association or other governing document):
permitting the relevant investment fund to effect a compulsory redemption of shares, interests or units held in the names of (or controlled by) sanctioned investors and placing those investors in a liquidating trust or other special purpose vehicle whose assets and activities would be frozen (regarding this, no persons connected to sanctioned investors or other sanctioned persons should be appointed as directors or trustees or general partners of the new vehicle)permitting directors or trustees or general partners (not connected to sanctioned investors or other sanctioned persons) to designate separate share classes, units or partnership interests. In this scenario, sanctioned investors would be redeemed out of existing share classes and placed in newly designated classes or side pockets. All dealings in these newly designated share classes and side pockets could then be prohibited (regarding this, the directors (or trustees or general partners) of the relevant investment fund may need to consider whether it is feasible to, or how to, attribute a portion of the assets, being frozen assets, to the side pockets)
These scenarios for future permitted dealing might make it easier for investment funds to continue rather than to simply collapse or experience permanent uncertainty just because of the existence of sanctioned investors.
(Note that none of the foregoing is legal advice and the Cayman Islands’ legal counsel for the relevant investment fund must be consulted in connection with the ability to deal with any share, interest or unit in the relevant Cayman fund subject to sanctions or otherwise.)
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) reported that, shortly after 2:00pm on October 22, officers responded to a report of an armed robbery outside an address on Kennedy Drive in George Town.
According to the RCIPS, it was reported that two men approached a group of persons at the location, brandishing a firearm and robbed them of a bag containing cash. The men then fled, with one riding a bicycle while the other was on foot.
One of the suspects was described as wearing a light-coloured long sleeved shirt with red shoes and black pants, while the second was wearing dark clothing.
Later that day officers arrested one man, age 22 of George Town, on suspicion of robbery in relation to the incident. He remains in custody as investigations continue.
Investigators are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident or have any information contact George Town CID at 949-4222.
Anonymous tips can be provided directly to the RCIPS via the RCIPS Confidential Tip Line at 949-7777, or via the RCIPS website.
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
NEW YORK (AP) — More than three years after Manhattan prosecutors started investigating Donald Trump — after going to the Supreme Court twice to gain access to his tax records — the only criminal trial to arise from their efforts is about to begin.
No, the former president isn’t going on trial. His company is.
The Trump Organization, the holding company for Trump’s buildings, golf courses and other assets, is accused of helping some top executives avoid income taxes on compensation they got in addition to their salaries, like rent-free apartments and luxury cars.
Trump signed some of the checks at the center of the case but he is not charged with anything and is not expected to testify or attend the trial, which starts Monday with jury selection.
If convicted, the Trump Organization could be fined more than $1 million — but that’s not the only potential fallout.
Trump’s ardent supporters aren’t likely to abandon him, no matter the outcome, but a guilty verdict could hamper his company’s ability to get loans and make deals. New York City, for one, could use the legal cloud as new justification for seeking to oust the company from running a city-owned golf course.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, has said that his office’s investigation of Trump is “active and ongoing,” and that no final decision has been made on whether he could face criminal charges in the future.
Trump, a Republican, has decried the probe as a “political witch hunt.”
The Trump Organization has said it did nothing wrong and that it looks forward “to having our day in court.”
Judge Juan Manuel Merchan expects the criminal tax fraud trial, heavy on financial records and expert testimony, to take at least four weeks once a jury is seated. Given Trump’s fame as a businessman and polarizing politician, it could take a while to find jurors who feel they can judge the case impartially.
The star witness for the prosecution is expected to be Allen Weisselberg, one of Trump’s most trusted senior executives.
Weisselberg pleaded guilty in August to taking in over $1.7 million worth of untaxed perks from the company, including school tuition for his grandchildren, a Manhattan apartment and Mercedes cars for him and his wife.
His testimony comes as part of a plea agreement that requires him to serve up to five months in New York City’s Rikers Island jail complex, though he could be released after a little more than three with good behavior. The former Trump Organization chief financial officer must also pay nearly $2 million in taxes, penalties and interest and complete five years of probation.
Weisselberg, 75, has intimate knowledge of the Trump Organization’s financial dealings from nearly five decades at the company, but he is not expected to implicate Trump or any members of the Trump family in his testimony.
n pleading guilty, Weisselberg pinned blame for the scheme on himself and other top Trump Organization executives, including senior vice president and controller, Jeffrey McConney.
McConney was granted limited immunity to testify last year before a grand jury and could also make an appearance on the witness stand at the trial. The company’s director of security, Matthew Calamari Jr., the son of chief operating officer Matthew Calamari Sr., also received immunity for grand jury testimony.
When the Trump Organization and Weisselberg were indicted in 2021, prosecutors called the tax scheme “sweeping and audacious” and said it was “orchestrated by the most senior executives.”
Besides Weisselberg, two other Trump Organization executives, who were not identified by name, also received substantial under-the-table compensation, including lodging and the payment of automobile leases, the indictment said.
“The purpose of the scheme was to compensate Weisselberg and other Trump Organization executives in a manner that was ‘off the books,’” the indictment said.
The Trump Organization is the entity through which the former president manages his many ventures, including his real estate investments, his many marketing deals and his TV pursuits.
Trump’s sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, have been in charge of day-to-day operations since he became president. Because the criminal trial involves charges against the corporate entity, not any individuals, the Trumps won’t be held personally liable if a jury returns a guilty verdict.
The criminal case is one of two legal cases working their way through the New York courts that threaten to chip away at the gold-plated fa?ade of Trump’s empire.
Last month, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a civil lawsuit accusing Trump and the Trump Organization of misleading banks and others for years about the value of his assets. The civil suit seeks $250 million and a permanent ban on Trump doing business in the state.
A court hearing is scheduled in that matter for Oct. 31 as James seeks an independent monitor to oversee the Trump Organization’s activities after she alleged the company was taking steps to dodge potential penalties, such as incorporating a new entity named Trump Organization II.
Those aren’t the only legal challenges Trump faces as he weighs a potential comeback campaign for president.
Last week, Trump gave sworn deposition testimony in a lawsuit brought by magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll, who says he raped her in the mid-1990s in a department store dressing room.
Meanwhile, the FBI is continuing to investigate Trump’s storage of sensitive government documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
A special grand jury in Georgia is investigating whether Trump and others attempted to influence state election officials.
On Friday, the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection issued a subpoena to Trump.
By MICHAEL R. SISAK, Associated Press
NewsAmericasNow.com