Black Immigrant Daily News

Sports

West Indies head coach Phil Simmons

West Indies batsmen should fare better against India when Friday’s One-Day International (ODI) series opener bowls off at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain from 9.30am (TT time).

So said Phil Simmons, WI head coach, who believes the Oval pitch is a welcomed improvement for the hosts ahead of a nervy three-match series against the number three-ranked ODI nation.

Simmons was responding to questions at Wednesday’s virtual press conference, where much emphasis was placed on the quality of the Oval’s surface.

This comes after scathing criticism from WI ODI captain Nicholas Pooran on the poor quality of Guyana’s Providence Stadium pitch, which he claimed was a crucial factor in the team’s recent 3-0 series loss at the hands of Bangladesh.

Against India, WI play a three-match ODI series at the Oval and then head south to the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tabouba for the venue’s first, T20 international.

Altogether, five T20Is will be played with two at Warner Park, St Kitts and two at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium, Florida.

Simmons visited both venues in Trinidad and was satisfied with what he saw.

“The first difference is the surface here looks like some work has been put into it and it’s been prepared. It looks good. The two wickets that we’re going to play these three games on look really good the last couple days we’ve been there. We’ll wait and see how they play on Friday,” he said.

The coach expects a better display with the bat from his team, which failed to fire against the Bangladeshi and resulted in low, losing scores of 149/9. 108 and 178 respectively on the Providence pitch.

“We expect a better batting performance. We don’t want to make excuses. In the last game (against Bangladesh), we showed what we should have shown in the first two games, not hiding the fact they were bad cricket wickets on the whole.

“But we expect different. The wickets look good. Yes it’s a stronger (Indian) bowling team but we expect better batting performances from the squad,” he said.

So far, the regional squad has put in two intense batting sessions at the north venue. He’s pleased with his players’ efforts thus far and confirmed that “the guys seem to be switched on again”.

He still believes WI has the firepower to take on the mighty India team, who are without the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah for the ODI series. Bumrah will feature for the T20.

“I think that we have batsmen who can bat and bat for long periods. It’s just about putting things together and making that the batting holds strong. We have guys at the top.

“Shai Hope has played Test cricket, Kyle Mayers play Test cricket and you can’t question Pooran’s batting, he showed it in the last (match against Bangladesh). We have guys who bat long but it’s just about putting it together in an ODI scenario,” he added.

Simmons emphasized the importance of batting out the entire 50-over innings.

“The main thing is how we bat our 50 overs, and that’s coming over as clear as daylight. We have to bat our 50 overs and we have to put innings and partnerships together. Someone always has to be scoring a 100 to hold the team together.

“The bowling and fielding have been improving daily. We rank ourselves right now very high in the fielding. Yes, people might say we should have gotten more wickets (against Bangladesh) but we always bowled on the better half of the wicket,” he closed.

WI ODI Team: Nicholas Pooran (captain), Shai Hope (vice-captain), Shamarh Brooks, Keacy Carty, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Jayden Seales. Reserves: Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr.

INDIA ODI Team: Shikhar Dhawan (captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

El gobernador Pedro Rafael Pierluisi Urrutia reaccionó el martes a las objeciones de la Junta de Control Fiscal (JCF) quienes le solicitaron detener la aplicación de la Ley 41-2022 de enmiendas a la Reforma Laboral y aseguró que mantendrá la ley en vigor.

“El gobierno le suplirá a la Junta toda la información solicitada, pero mantendrá la Ley en vigor. Esto es así, ya que la Ley PROMESA no faculta a la Junta a paralizar la implementación de una ley, sino más bien le permite recurrir al Tribunal Federal a impugnar la misma. De ocurrir eso, el gobierno defenderá las enmiendas a la Reforma Laboral ante el Tribunal. Como he dicho en repetidas ocasiones, el propósito principal de esa legislación es aumentar la participación laboral, incluyendo en los proyectos de la reconstrucción en curso, lo cual es clave para el desarrollo económico de Puerto Rico”, dijo el gobernador en declaraciones escritas.  

El presidente de la JCF, David Skeel le envió una misiva tanto al gobernador, al director ejecutivo de la Autoridad de Asesoría Financiera y Agencia Fiscal (AAFAF), Omar Marrero Díaz, como a los presidentes legislativos, José Luis Dalmau Santiago y Rafael “Tatito” Hernández Montañez para que detengan la Ley 41 sobre las enmiendas a la Reforma Laboral.

“La Ley 41 tiene un amplio impacto en el mercado laboral, incluyendo la reversión de la presunción en casos de despido injustificado, de modo que el empleador tiene la carga de demostrar el despido de un empleado fue justificado; acortar el período de prueba para los nuevos empleados; aumentar la duración del plazo de prescripción para ciertas acciones contra los empleadores; y expandir los beneficios obligatorios de licencia por enfermedad, vacaciones y bonos de Navidad proporcionados por el empleador. El 13 de junio de 2022, la Junta envió una carta al Gobernador y expresó sus graves preocupaciones sobre el entonces Proyecto de la Cámara 1244, específicamente, su impacto en la economía, los ingresos del Estado Libre Asociado, e inconsistencia con el Plan Fiscal del Estado Libre Asociado 2022 certificado (el “Plan Fiscal”), y notificó al Gobierno que el Proyecto de la Cámara 1244 perjudicaría y/o anularía los propósitos de PROMESA en violación de § 108(a)(2). A pesar de las preocupaciones de la Junta, el gobernador promulgó la Ley 41 el 20 de junio de 2022”, reza la misiva.

“Es evidente que el Gobierno no ha llevado a cabo el análisis necesario (ya sea antes o después de la aprobación de la Ley 41) y, por razones discutidos a continuación, no ha proporcionado la certificación y la estimación formal requerida por la Sección 204(a) de PROMESA. Como se explica más adelante, la Certificación AAFAF se basa en el argumento de que el propósito de la Ley 41 es aumentar la oferta y la participación laboral, lo cual es demostrablemente falso. Ley 41 y su exposición de motivos en ninguna parte menciona ese propósito. Más bien, establece que el propósito de la Ley 41 es revertir las recientes reformas laborales destinadas a aumentar el empleo y mejorar la economía, para mejorar los derechos laborales de los empleados del sector privado. Al hacerlo, la Ley 41 recrea desincentivos a la inversión y creación de empleo en Puerto Rico”, argumenta la carta.

“A diferencia del Gobierno, la Junta ha contratado a un destacado economista para realizar un análisis económico de la Ley 41 y examinar la Comunicación. A partir de ese análisis económico así como su propia evaluación, y de conformidad con la Sección 204(a)(3) de PROMESA, la Junta le notifica a usted, así como al Gobernador y a la Legislatura, que el Gobernador no ha presentado la certificación requerida y estimación formal para la Ley 41. De conformidad con la Sección 204(a)(4) de PROMESA, la Junta ordena al Gobernador que proporcione la estimación y certificación formal que falta. Debido a la inminente fecha de vigencia de la Ley (20 de julio de 2022 para ciertos empleadores), debemos solicitar que estos documentos faltantes se proporcionen a más tardar el 22 de julio de 2022. Si el Gobierno certifica que la ley no es significativamente inconsistente con el Plan Fiscal, le pedimos que explique por qué eso es así a la luz de las preocupaciones planteadas a continuación.

Además, dada la determinación de la Junta de que la Ley menoscaba y/o anula los propósitos de PROMESA, el Gobierno debe suspender inmediatamente la implementación de la ley y cumplimiento, al menos hasta que el Gobierno y la Junta de Supervisión hayan intercambiado sus puntos de vista con respecto a la Ley 41 y la Junta de Control cambia su determinación (que no puede ocurrir). También instamos al Gobierno a que emita una declaración pública confirmando dicha suspensión a evitar confusiones para los empleadores privados que se preparan para la implementación de la ley”, continúa la misiva.

Asimismo, la Junta solicitó al gobernador a emitir una declaración pública confirmando dicha suspensión para evitar confusiones para los empleadores privados prepararse para la implementación de la ley a pesar de que se ha determinado que perjudica y/o derrota los propósitos de PROMESA.

“Tenga en cuenta que la Junta se reserva el derecho de tomar las medidas que considere necesarias, de conformidad con las Secciones 104(k), 108(a) y 204 de PROMESA, incluida la búsqueda de remedios para impedir la implementación y ejecución de la Ley 41, así como anular la ley. Esperamos dicha acción será innecesaria. Esperamos seguir trabajando juntos en beneficio del pueblo de Puerto Rico”, dijo el presidente de la JCF, David Skeel, en la carta.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The Barbados Revenue Authority is confirming publicly that the matter of a missing cheque for $6.7 million has been clarified and rectified.

Seeking to put to bed this unjust accusation in the Auditor General Report for the Financial Year ended March 31, 2021, according to BRA there is no $6 million difference.

there is no unreconciled difference in this regard and all cheques were accounted for

The BRA, in a press statement has stated that, “In summary, the report indicated that there was a difference of $6.7 million between two reports produced by the Authority namely, the Treasury/Bridge Street Mall Cashier Report dated September 22, 2020 and the Treasury/Bridge Street Mall Central Bank Cheque listing for the same date.

The transaction referred to was entered at the Oistins location and not at the Bridge Street Mall location. The amount under review of $6.7m, from a single cheque, can therefore be found in the Oistins Cashiers Report which reconciled to the Oistins Central Bank Cheque listing dated September 21, 2020 and not September 22, 2020. Therefore, there is no unreconciled difference in this regard and all cheques were accounted for, and all funds deposited.”

And furthermore, the BRA stressed that all accounts are settled. “The consolidated information from the Cashiers Reports and the combined Central Bank Cheque listings across all locations reveal that all balances for the dates noted reconciled and no discrepancies were found.”

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Meet Jaycees Queen Show Crown Contender- Miss Antigua and Barbuda – Briana Anthony

The formula for a great life according to Miss Briana Anthony can be summed up into this scripture verse: Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the lord, plans to prosper you, plans to give you hope and future.

Ms. Anthony is an aspiring philanthropist who hopes to adopt the children’s ward at Sir Lester Bird Medical Center one day. She is always finding ways to give back by either purchasing “back to school” supplies for a few children in her community or becoming the founding member of her community’s girls club where she is a mentor. Briana is passionate about Mental Health and Wellness and will use her voice to bring awareness. It is her dream to form her own NGO which caters to battered women, especially those with children.

Briana’s biggest inspiration is GOD; she believes that God is everywhere and within us. She is currently enrolled in the University of the West Indies pursuing a degree in Human Resource Management. Briana also works at the Ministry of Health Wellness and the Environment. Working in various departments has made her into a well-rounded individual.

Briana hopes to be the change she wants to see. She is enthusiastic in living her future intentionally to be of service to other and to really make a difference. The formula for a great life according to Miss Briana Anthony can be summed up into this scripture verse: Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the lord, plans to prosper you, plans to give you hope and future.

Ms. Anthony is an aspiring philanthropist who hopes to adopt the children’s ward at Sir Lester Bird Medical Center one day. She is always finding ways to give back by either purchasing “back to school” supplies for a few children in her community or becoming the founding member of her community’s girls club where she is a mentor. Briana is passionate about Mental Health and Wellness and will use her voice to bring awareness. It is her dream to form her own NGO which caters to battered women, especially those with children.

Briana’s biggest inspiration is GOD; she believes that God is everywhere and within us. She is currently enrolled in the University of the West Indies pursuing a degree in Human Resource Management. Briana also works at the Ministry of Health Wellness and the Environment. Working in various departments has made her into a well-rounded individual.

Briana hopes to be the change she wants to see. She is enthusiastic in living her future intentionally to be of service to other and to really make a difference.

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News

Ex-AG Anand Ramlogan. –

EVEN if former attorney general Anand Ramlogan, SC, is successful in his constitutional claim in his witness-tampering case, the prosecution of the matter can still proceed, lead prosecutor Edward Jenkins, QC, maintains.

Jenkins made the comment at the first hearing of the constitutional claim filed by Ramlogan before Justice Nadia Kangaloo on Wednesday.

Ramlogan has complained about the authority of the police to gather certain evidence the prosecution intends to use in its prosecution of allegations against him, and has also raised an issue of apparent bias on the part of a High Court judge who signed off on certain warrants to the police.

He says his constitutional rights have been infringed.

The matter has been adjourned to November 4, at which time further directions are expected to be given by Kangaloo for a full hearing of the matter. The preliminary inquiry into the witness-tampering allegations was expected to begin on July 11 before Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle.

However, before it could get going, she was told Ramlogan was raising an issue only the High Court could determine under section 14.4 of the Constitution. The chief magistrate referred the matter to the High Court and it was assigned to Kangaloo.

As a result, the trial for the inquiry in the lower court was put on hold. A hearing will be held there on September 19, to determine the status of the constitutional claim before the High Court.

On Wednesday, Jenkins pressed Kangaloo to proceed with the matter before her as soon as possible since there was no stay of the proceedings before the chief magistrate.

But, he noted, even if Ramlogan was successful in his constitutional claim, it will not be the end of the prosecution’s case.

However, one of Ramlogan’s attorneys in the High Court matter, Kent Samlal, said they can only file a formal claim once Ramlogan’s lead counsel Peter Carter, QC, is admitted to practise in Trinidad.

He said they have written to the Office of the Attorney General seeking to have the minister make an order for Carter’s special admission.

“We are awaiting word on that.”

Samlal said it was only when Carter is formally admitted he can properly begin his work which includes the filing of a fixed-date claim.

In his complaint, which will form the backbone of his constitutional claim, Ramlogan says his rights have been contravened because of the unlawful issuance of warrants for the interception of communication data as it related to phone calls.

He contends the police wrongfully used the warrant process, and the signing-off on five interception orders by then High Court judge Justice Gillian Lucky in 2019 was on the basis of apparent bias.

“These constitutional issues are deeply profound and have far-reaching consequences. Not only do they impact the criminal law jurisdiction in terms of evidence gathering, charging, and the prosecution of alleged criminal activity, but they also, and most importantly, impact the sacrosanct constitutional rights of citizens, essentially to be free from unlawful interference by the State and to receive a fair trial,” the complaint reads.

It contends in relation to telephone calls, information of who was called, the number of the call, the duration of the call, and the contents of the conversations are private.

On the apparent bias point, Ramlogan contends he and Lucky had a “public disagreement” over the leak of a Police Complaints Authority (PCA) report on a revamped flying squad. Ramlogan was the AG at the time while Lucky was the PCA director.

“There was a heated and controversial war of words,” between the two, the complaint, filed in the magistrates’ court on July 11 said. It referenced newspaper articles on the alleged public spat.

Ramlogan was charged in 2017 on charges of misbehaviour in public office and obstruction of justice.

The case against him surrounds an allegation by director of the Police Complaints Authority David West that he was approached by Ramlogan to withdraw his witness statement in a defamation case against then Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley in 2014.

Ramlogan’s complaint says West revealed in his witness statement in the criminal proceedings it was Lucky who recommended him as PCA director.

It is for these reasons he contends the interception orders made by Lucky were unlawfully granted and are invalid because there was apparent bias, and the judge should not have considered the police’s applications.

He also complained of “material non-disclosure” on the part of the prosecution.

Ramlogan is accused of obstructing justice by using threats and bribery to persuade West to not give evidence in his (Ramlogan) defamation case against Rowley.

He is also accused of misbehaving in public office by improperly trying for West not to testify on Rowley’s behalf.

The offences allegedly occurred in October 2014, while former police commissioner Gary Griffith, who is also a witness in the case, was serving as national security minister.

Shortly after former acting police commissioner Stephen Williams initiated an investigation into the allegations in February 2015, then prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar advised the President to revoke Ramlogan and Griffith’s appointments.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Kangaloo gave Ramlogan until October 10 to file and serve his claim.

Jenkins agreed, saying he would not want to prejudice Ramlogan’s position. Ramlogan’s attorneys are also expected to apply for a transcript of the proceedings on July 11 to clarify the issue of if a stay was granted by the chief magistrate.

Also appearing with Jenkins is deputy DPP Tricia Hudlin-Cooper.

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