Black Immigrant Daily News

Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 31, 2022 (SKNIS): Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris, on the 50th anniversary of the MV Christena disaster at a special sitting of the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), made the announcement that it was fitting to erect a suitable memorial in Basseterre, similar to the memorial in Charlestown, Nevis, in recognition of those who had lost their lives in the tragic disaster of August 1, 1970.

“I want to pledge further that my government will, before the next commemorative event, next year, properly establish an appropriate memorial, in honour of the memory of those who perished,” Prime Minister Harris said at the special sitting of the NIA in 2020.

Mr. Calvin Pemberton was tasked with undertaking the project, plans were put in place and discussions were held with survivors of the disaster, the management team of the Heritage Society and the Urban Development Corporation. The site chosen was deemed most appropriate, having regard to historical factors and the construction of the monument began. However, the completion of the monument was curtailed because of the COVID-19 pandemic that interfered with labour and the sourcing of materials for the project. Commendations and gratitude are extended to those workers who executed the project.

Prime Minister Harris and his Cabinet respect and honour the memory of those who perished in the disaster and offer condolences to the families who are still mourning the loss of their loved ones.

The MV Christena disaster is the single greatest catastrophe to have occurred in St. Kitts and Nevis. On August 1, 1970, the MV Christena sank in the Narrows between the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis after encountering difficulty. 233 persons died and 90 survived.

The Christena monument is completed but will be commissioned at a later date.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The St Catherine-based ‘Williams Farm’ has been putting fresh, locally grown food on the tables of Jamaicans for generations.

Now its youngest proprietor, Trey Williams, has decided to carve out his niche in the family business by focusing his efforts on tilapia farming.

Under the keen maintenance of the 26-year-old, the family’s farm boasts 13 one-acre fishponds, each containing about 15,000 tilapia, some of different breeds.

Each one-acre pond on the Williams Farm can contain up to 15,000 tilapia. The freshwater fish is versatile and tolerant of different aquaculture environments. (Photo: JIS)

Williams’ responsibilities include feeding the fish twice each day and seeing to the upkeep of the ponds, to prevent overcrowding and pest infestation before reaping day.

Speaking with JIS News, the third-generation farmer explained that the business was started by his grandfather who passed it on to his father and so, “I grew up in farming on a whole”.

He is a past student of St Jago High School, where he showed interest in business subjects, but did not know just what his future would entail.

By the time he turned 20, “I was into the chicken coop [side of the business] with grandma and then she said: ‘Why don’t you go and invest some of your money in the fish farm with your dad and see if you can help the business to grow more?’.”

He reluctantly took that advice. “I was sceptical about it at first, but she really convinced me and this has been my thing ever since. I took my time and fell in love with it,” he reflects.

Tilapia, which is a freshwater fish that inhabits shallow streams, ponds, rivers, and lakes, is versatile and tolerant of different aquaculture environments. It can be farmed in brackish or salt water and in cage systems or ponds, similar to the ones operated by the Williams family.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) have been calling for an increase in tilapia farming to boost local fish production and to relieve the stress on reef fish. There is also a growing domestic demand for the freshwater delight.

Trey Williams, 26, feeds tilapia in one of the 13 fishponds on the Williams Family farm in St Catherine. (Photo: JIS)

Backed by his own successes, Williams is encouraging others, particularly youngsters, to get involved in the venture, deeming it a ‘good investment’ with guaranteed returns.

“Fish is like chicken… if fish is for sale, somebody is going to want to buy fish,” he argued.

“It takes a lot of resources, but if you can get it started, I would tell you to do it,” Mr. Williams adds.

He admitted that there are a few limitations that come with the practice.

“Some time last year, we ended up losing five ponds of fish because of the rain,” he lamented.

Those ponds are now restored, thanks in part to the NFA, which provided fish and feed. He also received an award from the organisation on Fisherman’s Day, recognising him as a young fish farmer.

Overall, the outgoing young man said of his main economic activity that “when you win, you win”, and noted that more than 4,000 pounds of tilapia can be harvested in one catch.

This is sold to higglers who journey from far, having heard the good news of the Williams family and, of course, the deliciousness and viability of tilapia.

Williams disclosed that there are plans to expand the family farm, which should include more ponds and additional ways to earn a living from the increasingly popular and in-demand fish.

— JIS

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Black Immigrant Daily News

News

Otis Morrison drowned while at Clifton Hill beach, Point Fortin.

GOOD Samaritan Otis Morrison drowned after rescuing an 11-year-old from a mishap at sea on Emancipation Day.

Reports said the Point Fortin father was at Guapo Beach, (formerly Clifton Hill Beach) on Monday when the girl fell off a jet ski and called out for help.

Without hesitation, Morrison, 30 of Salick Trace, Gonzales, Guapo, rushed to save the child. She was rescued.

But while saving her, Morrison reportedly got into difficulties. Other swimmers pulled him out of the water and tried to resuscitate him, but he was unresponsive.

Morrison was taken to the nearby Point Fortin Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Investigations are taking place.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Massy Group have confirmed that they will be the title sponsor for the inaugural Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) which gets underway on 31 August in St Kitts.

The Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) will feature three teams, the Barbados Royals, Guyana Amazon Warriors, and the Trinbago Knight Riders. The teams will play each other in four exciting Twenty20 matches at Warner Park, one of the fastest-scoring grounds in world cricket. The teams will be captained by Hayley Matthews (Barbados Royals), Stafanie Taylor (Guyana Amazon Warriors) and Deandra Dottin (Trinbago Knight Riders).

Marc Rostant, Anisa Mohammed, Canisha Isaac, Reniece Boyce, Karishma Ramharack and Jean Pierre Du Coudray celebrate the Massy WCPL partnership

Each of the three Massy WCPL teams will have the best players from the region as well as exciting overseas players to round out their squads as women’s cricket is given huge exposure across the Caribbean and around the world.

“As one of the largest employers in the region, a significant percentage of our workforce is comprised of women.  For some companies such as Massy Stores which operates from 59 locations across the English-speaking Caribbean, the workforce is on average 70% female.  That means that creating opportunities for women to grow and develop is integral to our business and inherent to our purpose.  With sponsorship support which we hope will continue to grow for years to come, we believe that CPL will continue to develop this tournament to create opportunities for professional, Caribbean, female athletes,” Senior Vice President, Massy Motors commented Marc Rostant related on behalf of the company.

CPL’s Commercial Director, Jamie Stewart stated, “When we set out to create the Women’s CPL, it was important to find a partner that would help build the profile and stature of the game and players around the region, with the ultimate goal of making them household faces. In Massy, one of the region’s great companies, we feel the WCPL has the perfect partner. Massy Group, via their stories spanning the eastern Caribbean, touch more people each day than any other company in the region. We thank the Group and the Stores and Auto divisions for believing in the vision, and look forward to working with them to give the region’s female stars the support and exposure they deserve.”

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Black Immigrant Daily News

One of Barbados’ most recent homicide victims, Michael Blackett, had a long rap sheet.

The 27-year-old of Flat Rock, St George was facing numerous charges including three murder charges.

The murder charges were read when he was 21 years old.

He appeared at the District A Magistrates Court on Tuesday, November 17, 2015, charged with Murder – The death of Charles Ellis. He was shot on May 5, 2015 at Nelson Street, St Michael; Murder – The death of Kemal Leacock. He was shot on August 14, 2015, at Bottom Close, Wildey, St Michael; and Murder – Shooting death of Ashem Telemaque. He was shot on August 4, 2015, at a bar at Forde’s Road, St Michael.

The 21-year-old Blackett was also charged with Two counts of Wounding with Intent – Shooting and wounding of a man at Parkinson Field, Pinelands, St Michael, on January 22, 2015; and Shooting and wounding of a man at Forde’s Road, St Michael, on August 4, 2015 (same incident where Telemaque was shot).

Unemployed at the time, Blackett was not required to plead to the five indictable matters and was remanded until November 23, 2015, where he is expected to appear in Criminal Court No. 2 before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant.

Then at age 26, he faced fresh charges.

Blackett was jointly charged with another man with the following offences which occurred on July 16, 2020: Violent disorder and three counts of endangering life.

He was also charged along with two men and one woman, with the offence of Arson which occurred on August 5, 2020.

He appeared at the District ‘A’ Magistrates Court on Saturday, August 29, 2020. Appearing with those he was jointly charged with at the District ‘A’ Magistrates Court before Magistrate Douglas Frederick, they were all remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison at Dodds, St Philip. They were scheduled to reappear on September 25, 2020.

Blackett’s lifeless body was discovered on the Emancipation Day bank holiday, August 2, 2022, along with the body of 22-year-old Loris Malik Rasheed Gittens of Bottom Close, Wildey, St Michael. According to police, Gittens was known for acts of violence.

Police are calling the deaths unnatural deaths until post-mortems are completed.

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