Black Immigrant Daily News

Despite facing five serious criminal offences and two counts of theft, accused Henry Lewis was so mannerly in his interaction with the Chief Magistrate that it left an impression on the judicial official.

After today, September 14, reading the charges and remanding the accused to HMP Dodds to reappear on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes told Courtroom 5 at the Supreme Court, “I wish some of the other accused that would come, would learn [manners] from him”.

When 25-year-old Lewis was given his remand date, Chief Magistrate Weekes said, “Because you got the firearm matters, there is nothing I can do for you. Alright?” and Lewis replied, “Very well sir! Enjoy the rest of your day right. Hear sir?”

Besides the indictable offences, Lewis pleaded not guilty to the two counts of Theft. The two counts of theft occurred on August 12 and August 13, 2022, and the total value of the items and money is BBD $1,360.

Lewis told the Chief Magistrate that he understood the other charges brought against him, but there was some confusion when the murder charge was read initially. Chief Magistrate Weekes read the third charge “that on August 30, 2022, you murdered Rommel Trotman….” Loudly and speedily, Lewis interrupted the court and asked whilst pointing to his chest, “I murdered or I get accused?”

Taking a minute to clarify for the accused, who remains innocent until proven guilty in the court of law, Chief Magistrate Weekes reread the theft charges and showed Lewis that in the language of the court the charges are read in that way, whereby he states that “the police say you stole…” and as such the murder charge reads, “they say that you murdered…” Calmer now, Lewis responded, “Okay, I now understand.”

Chief Magistrate stressed to the mannerly accused, “I am not saying that you did anything”.

Moving on to the fourth charge of two counts of endangering the life of Raheim Forde by way of reckless conduct on September 4, 2022, Chief Magistrate Weekes read the charge and asked, “You understand that one?” To which Lewis said, “Correct is right sir.”

Chief Magistrate Weekes even paused and asked Lewis if he was ever in the Barbados Defence Force because of his mannerly responses besides the slight misunderstanding earlier.

In regards to the other three firearm charges where within District ‘A’ he is accused of acting in contravention of the Firearms Act, Lewis is charged that on September 4, he did use a firearm and he is not the owner of a licence; he is charged with that on September 6 he did have in his possession a firearm and he does not possess a licence; and also on September 6, that he had three rounds of ammunition on his person without a permit; Lewis was not able to enter a plea for these offences.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

door Shanavon Arsomedjo PARAMARIBO — Hij heeft het weer gedaan. Met zijn goede vibe en het muzikale talent dat hij

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is inviting members of the public to actively wear blue on Friday, September 23.

This in support of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, which has been designated as Blue Day.

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Risk Factor Programme Development Officer in the NCD and Injury Prevention Unit at the Ministry, Dr Cathi-Ann Williams, told JIS News that Blue Day is a significant part of the month’s activities.

“On September 23, we encourage our health care workers and the public to wear blue to raise awareness around prostate cancer and also to honour prostate cancer survivors and their caregivers,” Dr Williams said.

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Risk Factor Programme Development Officer in the NCD and Injury Prevention Unit in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr Cathi-Ann Williams. (Photo: Contributed)

Blue is the colour that has been officially designated for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, celebrated annually during September.

Williams also outlined various screening activities that will take place across the island as the ministry seeks to encourage men to get screened.

“As it relates to screening and access to screening, we are partnering with the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS) and other entities to ensure that this is available in the public sphere, more so in this month,” Dr Williams said.

“We have some dates, so far, from the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) for prostate cancer screening for the public, and the Cancer Society is working with all the parishes as well to have screening activities, those dates will be made available, once confirmed,” she added.

According to Dr Williams, these sessions will create an opportunity for some men, particularly those in the working class, to get their screening done closer to home.

“We are really encouraging our men to come and get screened. They should be able to make these extra sessions to ensure that they have the necessary screening that they need,” she said.

The Programme Development Officer also highlighted the media engagement which will be heightened during the month. This, she said, will be done using print, television, and social media.

“We are working, as well, with Digicel to send out SMS messaging around prostate cancer awareness and the importance of screening,” Dr Willimas stated.

Online Prostate Cancer Awareness sessions will be held with team members from the Jamaica Public Service Company on Tuesday, September 13, and Tuesday, September 20.

Screening sessions in WRHA, through the JCS, have been confirmed for Saturday, September 24, and Friday, September 30, in St James.

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FREEDOM SOON: The capybara in the trunk of its rescuer Ricardo Meade’s car shortly before it was released in the Winston Nanan Caroni Bird Sanctuary on Wednesday. –

A DISORIENTED capybara was rescued from certain death in downtown Port of Spain on Wednesday morning and later released, thanks to the heroics of environmentalist Ricardo Meade.

Meade, director of the El Socorro Centre for Wildlife Conservation, was in the city at the time and was called by police to handle the situation.

He met the visibly frightened animal opposite First Citizens Bank on the Brian Lara Promenade. The capybara took off and eluded Meade and several bystanders for about ten minutes but they eventually caught it after it ran into a glass window at RBC, which left it dazed.

It was tied down, placed in the trunk of Meade’s car, and after approval, taken to the Winston Nanan Caroni Bird Sanctuary where it was released.

“We decided to ease the animal’s stress by releasing it because they do hyperventilate,” Meads said.

“It’s a very hot day. The animal was drenched in sweat and it was clearly very uncomfortable.”

Meade was told the animal was struck by a vehicle but, apart from sustaining some bumps and scratches, did not appear to have any broken bones or life-threatening injuries. It would likely have been fatally struck if left free to roam for much longer, he said.

Although the capybara’s body shape resembles that of a wild pig, it is part of the rodent family. In fact, it is the largest rodent in the world and is of the genus hydrochoerus.

It is native to South America but has been spotted in Trinidad in increasing frequency.

“With coastal developments and man manipulating the coastal areas, the animals are being forced into other areas,” Meade explained. There are several ways the capybara could have found itself downtown.

“It could have escaped from someone who was transporting it. People capture them and other exotic animals and they sometimes escape from the back of trucks, and so on. It could have jumped out on Wrightson Road, on the promenade, anywhere around there.”

Alternatively, he added, “It could have escaped from someone who lives in the area or an institution. Or it could literally have come down from by the Beetham Gardens, by the water sewerage treatment plant – they are known to be around there. So they could have skipped Sea Lots and reached to Port of Spain.”

There were videos circulating online showing capybara walking in groups at night in what appears to be the Beetham Gardens or its immediate vicinity.

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Police are urging witnesses of a horrid act of animal abuse to come forward.

A video circulated on social media shows a man at a south coast beach drowning a dog, leading to screams from visitors and locals for him to stop.

Several eyewitness accounts were shared on social media and police are urging persons to make a report.

Police public relations, acting inspector Rodney Inniss informed the media today that an official investigation into the matter has been launched.

“I wish to confirm that the video clip circulating on social media showing a man and a drowning dog at a beach has been reported to the Hastings -Worthing Police Station,” Inniss stated.

He added: “We are aware of the wide spread public discussions and ultimate concerns. We are encouraging any one who may have witnessed this incident to come forward and make a report to any police station.”

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