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SASOD Guyana welcomes Antigua court decision to decriminalize same-sex intimacy

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Antigua News Room

SASOD Guyana welcomes the decision of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court following the conclusion of a challenge brought by a gay man against the state, who argued that the Sexual Offences Act (of 1995) contained several unconstitutional and discriminatory sections. CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP FOR NEWS UPDATES.

According to the Court’s ruling, sections 12 and 15 of the Sexual Offences Act which prohibited several acts of same-sex intimacy were deemed by the Court to be unconstitutional and discriminatory.

SASOD Guyana emphatically celebrates with the people of Antigua and Barbuda, civil society and other partners who contributed to the success of the legal challenge.

Celebrating the victory, Co-Chair of the Caribbean Forum for Liberation and Acceptance of Genders and Sexualities (CariFLAGS) Lucien Govaard, stated that “we reiterate that it is time governments in the region let go of these colonial structures as they have no place in a modern, diverse, and developing Caribbean.”

The leader of the regional LGBTIQ+ network went on the urge regional leaders to “tackle these issues as a united region, one Caribbean, where all our peoples can live without fear, discrimination, harassment, or violence.”

Similarly, the Caribbean Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Observatory and the Caribbean Family Planning Affiliation (CFPA) are urging Caribbean Governments to repeal discriminatory laws that continue to marginalize and infringe upon the human rights of LGBTIQ+ people and to firmly adopt and promote a culture of inclusion and respect for all people.

The Court’s decision in Antigua and Barbuda follows rulings in Belize (2016) and in Trinidad and Tobago (2018) where similar legal provisions were struck down. There are currently ongoing constitutional challenges of the same nature in St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis and Barbados, where final rulings are expected to be handed down by the end of the year.

SASOD Guyana notes that there are now fewer Caribbean nations where these archaic laws remain on the books.

Joel Simpson, Managing Director of SASOD Guyana, reminded that “We have been lobbying and working with the Government of Guyana for over 19 years to remove these discriminatory and dangerous laws here in Guyana. We remain among a rapidly decreasing number of Caribbean nations that continue to allow these colonial remnants to endanger the lives of LGBTIQ+ people, in spite of the human rights implications.”

Simpson went on to state that “we hope that the Guyana government can see that this issue is now practically settled law. These provisions are discriminatory and unconstitutional, and they must go! We hope the government is encouraged to table legislation in the National Assembly to repeal similar provisions which criminalize same-sex intimacy in our law books.” CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP FOR NEWS UPDATES.

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Car of visiting Surinamese businessman broken into, valuables stolen

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: INews Guyana

A parked car belonging to a visiting Surinamese businessman was broken into and his valuables stolen, police said.

The incident occurred sometime between 21:00 hours and 23:00 hours on Thursday in the vicinity of Umana Yana, Georgetown.

Reports are that the businessman, 53-year-old Rakeesh Kalloe of Paramaribo, came to Guyana in the company of his friend, who is another Surinamese businessman, to conduct business. At the time, they were using a motor vehicle owned and driven by Kalloe.

On the day in question, the businessman parked the vehicle on High Street in the vicinity of Umana Yana after which he and his friend went into the Pegasus hotel where they had dinner.

On returning to the vehicle at about 23:00 hours, they observed that the back window glass was broken.

Upon checking, it was discovered that several articles were missing. These include: one brown leather bag valued US$800, which contained one (1) vaccination paper, one black wallet valued $50 Euros, one entrance visa, one silver grey Lenovo laptop valued $800 Euros, and one bottle Hennessey whiskey valued US$70.

The Suriname businessman made a report to the Police.

The Guyana Police Force said investigations are ongoing.

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Shooting victim makes his way to QEH, police investigating | Loop Barbados

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Barbados News

After reports of a morning shooting were flying around on social media, police have confirmed that the Station Hill incident reportedly happened on Friday, July 8.

Police at District A station received information that a 22-year-old man from Savannah Road, Bush Hall, St Michael received two gunshot injuries whilst standing at a location next to a canal in Goddings Road, St Michael.

The incident occurred about 8:45 pm on Friday, July 9, 2022.

This matter was reported about 10:42 pm when the injured party presented to the A&E department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

The shooting happened hours after the Attorney General hosted a press conference on the crime spike and warned all persons living on the wrong side of the law.

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Touchstone projects high gas yield from Cascadura field

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

News

Christopher George, left, Touchstone Exploration general manager, operations, along with senior workers and Ramps Logistics Ltd general manager Javed Razack at the unveiling of new equipment, Forest Reserve, Fyzabad on Friday. – MARVIN HAMILTON

By 2023, the Touchstone Exploration (Trinidad) Ltd Cascadura Field project is expected to produce up to 200 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) of natural gas with the aid of its new separators.

On Friday, the company revealed the equipment, which was housed at its Forest Reserve Road, Fyzabad office. The large CAS-1 ST1 and CAS DEEP-1 horizontal separators and the vertical flash separator were shipped from Stettler Alberta, Canada, while the vapour recovery units were shipped from Midland Texas, USA.

Touchstone said, when Cascadura starts production, it was expected to start at 60 mmscf/d and then ramped up to 90 mmscf/d by end of 2022 from the two existing wells.

Exploration manager Xavier Moonan said, “The Cascadura field, from getting all that data from these two wells, we were able to establish that there’s potentially 700 billion cubic feet in place. That’s impressive in onshore gas fields. That makes it actually the largest onshore gas field ever discovered in Trinidad.

“Natural gas will go to Point Lisas but there are also liquids (condensate) which will go via a pipeline, that we will construct southward and that’s where we will be able to add oil production to the country as well.”

To assist with the current natural gas supply, Moonan said the National Gas Company (NGC) will be building a 20-inch 1.6km long gas pipeline which would tie the Cascadura facility to their 30-inch Beachfield-Phoenix Park gas pipeline to supply gas to downstream users at Point Lisas.

General manager of operations Christopher George said Touchstone was awaiting relevant approvals, such as its certificate of environmental clearance (CEC) and environmental impact assessment (EIA) from the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) before the separators were installed.

“Initially the determination time would have been June 30. However, we would have had review assessment reports that the EMA will get back to us with if there are any additional questions or things that needed to be addressed. We would have had to have those that came from the EMA and as a result of that the termination period from the end would have been shifted.

“We are hoping to have a very quick turnaround in terms of having that approved. We’re just preparing our final review assessment report to be sent back to the EMA and then they will have their review done. Only then will we be able to know what the determination regarding the EIA is.”

George added that the magnitude of the production from the Cascadura facility, once maintained, can be enough to run one of Atlantic’s LNG plants, thereby tremendously benefiting TT.

The equipment was brought in by Ramps Logistics and its vice president of shared services Javed Razack said with the challenges in freight and shipping, the cost of bringing in the equipment was hefty.

“In the current global supply chain environment, we understand that moving things around is quite difficult, it has been like that since covid19, and it continues to be quite difficult given the war in Ukraine.

“The cost factor for the logistics alone would be in the vicinity of US$250,000. Freight has exponentially increased its cost in the last couple of years. Unfortunately, the logistics costs have increased project costs by quite a lot. We’ve done our best to try to keep it down and work with our partners to minimise costs on this project.”

Touchstone said the separators were a major milestone towards establishing the Cascadura facility which was TT’s first onshore liquids-rich natural gas project in 20 years and a significant leap for the development of the oil and gas industry.

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Hundreds of Region 6 residents capitalising on BIT programmes

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: INews Guyana
Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton speaking with students of of Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Centre

Almost 300 young people in Region Six, (East Corentyne-Berbice) have commenced various training programmes offered by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT).

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, M.P., made this disclosure on Wednesday, following interactions with participants of various training centres during a-two-day outreach to the region.

He said he wants each participant to benefit from the technical job opportunities which will be made available in the oil and gas industry.

Minister Hamilton said the interest shown by the region, thus far, demonstrates citizens’ desire to take advantage of training opportunities provided by the government.

He noted the launch of the first-ever garment construction programme in the Plegt Anker village, East Bank Berbice which will also be taken to Mara, as well as Orealla and Siparuta, villages along the Corentyne River.

Minister Hamilton with commercial food preparation students stationed at Humanitarian Mission-Guyana Incorporated

He also lauded the increased involvement of women in male-dominated fields, which he believes is a good start for the region, and the country, as a whole.

The training programmes, the minister stated, are the beginning of what citizens should expect from the government to help transform their lives. He said the government will remain committed to broadening its reach, to provide BIT programmes to ensure a skilled workforce for current and emerging sectors.

“We have about six, seven programmes that are important for us to train persons in large numbers in Regions Five and Six and so many of those programmes are approved,” he noted.

In May, the minister along with his technical team hosted a skills training consultation with several stakeholders to identify the skill gap in the region, resulting in the series of training programmes being provided currently.

Since August 2020, over 4000 people have been trained in areas such as small engine repairs, electrical installation, heavy-duty equipment operation, air conditioner and refrigeration repairs, mechanics, welding and fabrication. [Department of Public Information]

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“You are not to fabricate and concoct” evidence – AG to new Police Prosecutors

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: INews Guyana
The Police ranks who completed the internationally recognised prosecutorial course sharing a photo with Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards; Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, and Assistant Police Commissioner Calvin Brutus, along with other senior members of the GPF

…says Govt working to strengthen State’s investigative, forensic capacities

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, has cautioned 27 Police ranks and two officers from the Government Analyst-Food & Drug Department, who recently graduated from the first-ever Elementary Prosecutors’ Course, against prioritising securing convictions over advancing justice and ensuring fair trials.

He issued the caution while delivering the feature address at a graduation ceremony held for the ranks at Nations University’s campus.

The rigorous six-month course, a collaborative effort between the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and Nations University, was attended by persons holding various ranks, from Assistant Superintendent to Constable. It is aimed at equipping ranks with the necessary procedural and substantive laws related to criminal prosecutions. The purpose and objective of this training is to improve the efficiency of Police ranks in executing their prosecutorial duties.

Emphasising that justice is not a one-way street, Legal Affairs Minister Nandlall said, “Sometimes we feel that only the accused have rights, or only the defendant has rights; that is not true, that is not the law.” According to him, the State and victims of crimes also have an interest in every case.

“The public has an interest in every case. And those interests must be balanced before there can be justice in accordance with the law. As prosecutors, you are ministers of justice. You are not to be concerned about winning, your job is to present the evidence available… [If] you don’t have the evidence, then you don’t have the ability; you are not to fabricate and concoct. You have a serious responsibility as a minister of justice,” the senior counsel advised the graduates.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, as he delivered remarks at the graduation ceremony

As Summary Court Prosecutors, the Policemen and women will be assigned to prosecute matters at the various Magistrates’ Courts where most of the criminal cases are disposed of. In congratulating the graduates on their remarkable achievement, the Attorney General told them that they have chosen a “sound beginning” because they have decided to become part of their country’s legal system — the machinery which administers and enforces the rule of law.

Against this backdrop, he reminded them that the rule of law is the foundation upon which modern society rests, and it is vital to the economic, social, commercial, transformational and other changes taking place in Guyana. “But none of it is possible, and will be possible, unless we have law and order prevailing in this society, unless the rule of law is respected, and unless we have a legal system that delivers justice to our people in accordance with law.”

Strengthen

He assured the law enforcement officers that the Government is working to improve the State’s investigative and forensic capacities by securing personnel in the areas of crime scene investigation, ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting expertise, and other forensic facts. These, he noted, are just a fraction of what is planned to strengthen the country’s investigative capacity.

According to the Senior Counsel, one has to presume that the Police and legal institutions are acting upon evidence-based on legal principles. He, therefore, pointed out that “we must allow the systems to work. That is what justice is. Justice is not dependent upon one’s opinion.”

One of the newly trained police prosecutors receiving his certificate

The AG has, accordingly, encouraged the Police ranks to discharge their duties in a manner that would make the public confident that the justice system would protect their rights.

While the Government desires to have a lawyer prosecute cases in the lower courts, Nandlall admitted, this ideal is far from reality; so, in the meanwhile, initiatives like this will be used. He, nevertheless, said the programme offered through Nations University is “far more superior” to the prosecutors’ training programme run by the Police Force.

The programme is internationally recognised, as the course content, assessment, and grading process were vetted by ABMA Education — an awarding organisation in the United Kingdom offering QFQUAL Regulated and professional qualifications in the UK and internationally.

It is being accepted by the University of London (UoL) as an entry requirement into its Bachelor of Laws programme, which is being offered by Nations University.

Last October, the Police Force and Nations University signed the first-of-its-kind Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to undertake prosecutorial training for Police ranks.

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Masked men attack, stabbed 19-Y-O mechanic

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: INews Guyana

A 19-year-old male is currently hospitalised with stabbed wounds after he was attacked by two masked men.

The incident occurred at about 00:35h somewhere between Lodge Housing Scheme and Meadow Brook Drive, Georgetown.

Injured is Nichlous Niles Greeves, a Mechanic of Stevedore Housing Scheme, North Ruimveldt.

According to police reports, Greeves was in the company of three friends and they were walking from Meadow Brook Drive. However, as they approached Lodge Housing Scheme, the teenager stopped to urinate while his friends proceeded ahead of him.

At that time, the two perpetrators approached him from behind. They had a scuffle and one of the perpetrators, who was armed with a pair of scissors, dealt Greeves two stabs – one to his face and one under his arm.

The teenager then raised an alarm and his friends came to his rescue. The two perpetrators managed to escape in an unknown direction on foot.

The injured lad was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was treated by a doctor on duty and admitted as a patient in the Male Ward. His condition is regarded as stable.

investigation in progress.

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Pierre ‘Deeply Saddened By Tragic Death’ Of Former Japanese Prime Minister – St. Lucia Times News

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: St. Lucia Times News

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Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has joined other leaders in expressing condolences on the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who was assassinated on Friday.

Pierre extended ‘sincerest condolences’ to Abe’s family and the Government and people of Japan on behalf of the Government and people of Saint Lucia.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic death of the former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Our world cannot continue to be plagued by such brutal and senseless violence,” Pierre wrote on Facebook.

“Rest well former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,” the Saint Lucia Prime Minister wrote.

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Abe was giving a speech for a candidate in Nara, a city in western Japan, just ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary elections, when a man shot him with a handmade firearm.

Local reports said police arrested a 41-year-old suspect who confessed to the crime.

But his motive was unclear.

The fatal shooting of the 67-year-old Abe sent shockwaves through Japan which has very tight gun control laws.

And world leaders past and present have been expressing their condolences while hailing the former Prime Minister’s contribution to the development of his country.

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Educación inicia proceso de entrega de documentos para reclutamiento especial de docentes

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Radio Isla TV

El secretario del Departamento de Educación (DE), Eliezer Ramos Parés anunció que este lunes 11 de julio se recibirán los documentos de los candidatos que aspiren a pertenecer a la plantilla de educadores de la agencia, con el fin de completar el proceso de reclutamiento en cada una de las regiones educativas. La entrega de documentos está abierta a todas las categorías docentes que incluyen Educación Especial, Español, Inglés, Educación Física, Bellas Artes, Matemáticas, Ciencias, Bibliotecarios y Consejeros, entre otras categorías.

“Con el fin de tener toda nuestra plantilla de docentes completa para el reinicio de clases en agosto, todas las Oficinas Regionales Educativas están activando un proceso de entrega de documentos para aquellos que interesen pertenecer a nuestro sistema de educación pública. El fin es que contemos con todos los recursos disponibles para ofrecerle a nuestros estudiantes una experiencia educativa de primera. Confiamos en que, en este proceso, los candidatos interesados, de todas las regiones educativas, tengan la oportunidad de hacerse disponibles para unirse al equipo del Departamento de Educación”, dijo Ramos Parés en declaraciones escritas.

Para esta entrega de documentos, cualifican aquellas personas que posean un certificado de maestro en la categoría a la que aspiran. De la misma manera, los candidatos que comparezcan a las convocatorias y que no tengan certificado regular de maestro en la categoría del puesto, deberán cumplir con los requisitos mínimos de 60 créditos conducentes al grado de bachillerato, de los cuales nueve deben ser en cursos de la especialidad del puesto vacante que se cubrirá.

Los documentos a entregar son: transcripción de créditos oficial (original y copia), copia de las certificaciones emitidas por el Departamento de Educación y evidencia de licencia y colegiación vigente, en los casos que apliquen.

Cada Oficina Regional Educativa cuenta con lugares específicos para la entrega de documentos. Los lugares por región, son los siguientes:

Región Arecibo: Oficina Regional, en el Centro Gubernamental, Edificio B, en Arecibo

Región Bayamón: Oficina Regional, Corujo Industrial Park, Hato Tejas, en Bayamón

Región Caguas: Aibonito y Barranquitas: Escuela Rafael Pons Flores, en Aibonito

Arroyo, Guayama y Salinas: Escuela Especializada Bilingüe Simón Madera, en Guayama

Aguas Buenas, Cayey, Cidra y Comerío: Escuela Intermedia Dr. Ramón Emeterio Betances, en Cayey

Caguas y Gurabo: Escuela Especializada Antonio S. Paoli, en Caguas

Región Humacao: Humacao, Juncos, Las Piedras- Escuela Alfonso Díaz Lebrón, en Juncos

Loíza, Rio Grande, Canóvanas, Luquillo- Escuela Félix Sánchez Cruz, en Río Grande

Ceiba, Naguabo, Fajardo- Escuela don Luis Muñoz Marín, en Ceiba

Yabucoa, Maunabo, Patillas, San Lorenzo- Escuela Andrés Sandín, en Yabucoa

Culebra- Escuela Ecológica de Culebra

Vieques- Escuela María M. Simmons

Región Mayagüez: Escuela Libre de Música, en Mayagüez

Región Ponce: Oficina Regional, Antiguo Instituto Tecnológico de Ponce (detrás de Ikea, Ponce Mall)

Región San Juan: San Juan y Guaynabo: Oficina Regional, en la Ave. César González, Hato Rey

Carolina y Trujillo Alto: Escuela Medardo Carrazo, en Trujillo Alto

“Contamos con que nuestros docentes e interesados en pertenecer al DE acudan a este llamado, ya que estamos adelantando el proceso de reclutamiento con el fin de que se puedan incorporar previo al inicio de clases, preparen sus planes de trabajo y estén listos para recibir a sus estudiantes en agosto”, concluyó Ramos Parés.

El calendario escolar establece que el 12 de agosto comienza el curso escolar para los docentes. El 16 de agosto es la Casa Abierta para padres, madres y encargados; y el 17 de agosto se integrarán todos los estudiantes matriculados en el sistema público.

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COVID-19: 14 muertos y 354 hospitalizados

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Radio Isla TV

El informe preliminar de COVID-19 del Departamento de Salud (DS) reportó el sábado 14 muertos y 354 personas hospitalizadas.

El total de muertes atribuidas es de 4,624.

Hay 318 adultos hospitalizados y 36 menores. El monitoreo cubre el periodo del 23 de junio al 7 de julio de 2022.

La tasa de positividad está a 30.54 por ciento.

Se reportan 14 defunciones adicionales a causa del COVID-19. Unas 354 personas están hospitalizadas; 318 adultos y 36 pediátricos. Al medio día se ofrece una actualización de los datos que incluye el status de vacunación; https://t.co/8KaFLZcGta

— Departamento de Salud de Puerto Rico (@desaludpr) July 9, 2022

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