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Another murder in Lake I

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Amandala Newspaper

by Charles Gladden

BELIZE CITY, Wed. July 6, 2022
On Tuesday, at around 9:40 p.m., Tyrone King, a 26-year-old resident of Giles Street, was killed in the home where he lives behind the Charles Bartlett Hyde building in the Lake Independence area of Belize City by a gunman who entered the house after he opened the door. According to initial police reports, when King opened the front door of the house, someone entered the living room area and fired two shots at his back. When police arrived at the scene moments later, they found a motionless King, with two gunshot wounds, bent over a sofa inside the home. While canvassing the area, police found three expended shells.
King’s sister, Shakera Reyna-Forrester, has indicated that the house where her brother was killed was not his, but that he had been residing there with his common-law wife. Forrester also told reporters that although her brother had a couple of run-ins with several individuals, he hadn’t told his family about any threats that had been made to his life.
“Tyrone has had run-in with people, and I would say as a family we would talk; he would share, but it’s not as if he came to us and said x person wanted me dead or y has it out for me. But we know that, of course, he did not make the best decisions in life, but we don’t know who exactly is responsible. We don’t know why they would want to do it. Everything is just up in the air for us right now,” Forrester said.
This isn’t the first time King’s family has lost a loved one due to gun violence. Back in 2016, Forrester’s only child, Tyler Savery, a 7-year-old, was killed while he was on a bicycle being ridden by his cousin, Porshan Pipersburgh, 21, as they headed to Moon Clusters café at the end of the school day. And two years before the child’s tragic death, Savery’s father, Leon Savery, was also killed near Saint Mary’s Primary School.
Recently, Forrester’s other brother, Aaron, passed away due to natural causes; however, in 2017 he was also the victim of a shooting, but survived that attempt to take his life.
“… in 2017 Aaron was shot eight times, and by God’s grace he survived, then he became ill and he recently passed. And now, we have Tyrone passing, and now we had in 2016 Tyler and before that, we had his dad. So the family has experienced quite an amount of blow…,” Forrester told reporters.
Forrester further told members of the local media that she doesn’t expect much justice to be served to the family by the country’s law enforcement personnel and judicial system, since that system failed her previously after the death of her only son and will likely fail her again in the aftermath of her brother’s death.
“I expect nothing of them, because they have done nothing for us, and they keep doing nothing for us… In fact, I could tell you that, I wasn’t here last night when my brother was shot. I wasn’t in the house where he was when he was attacked. But I was able to see the exact position that my brother was in when he was gunned down. I was able to see exactly how many bullet holes [were] on his body. I was able to see the entire crime scene, even though I was not there, and why was that? Because we have police officers leaking pictures of the murder victims on their personal phones, on whatever group chat they are in. So if you’re asking me, what do I expect? I expect nothing, the same way they did nothing for Tyler who died innocently,” she said.
Police are currently conducting an investigation in an effort to determine the motive for the murder of King.

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Allyson Major’s accused killer walks; Min. Musa: it doesn’t end there

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Amandala Newspaper

Police corporal Kent Martinez, who had been charged with manslaughter by negligence for the shooting death of well-known teacher Allyson Major, was acquitted of all charges on Monday. But the quest for justice is not over, says Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa.

by Khaila Gentle

BELIZE CITY, Mon. July 4, 2022
Corporal Kent Martinez was accused of firing the shot that hit Allyson Major once in the head during a high-speed chase through the streets of downtown Belize City in 2019—ultimately causing the 36-year-old teacher’s death. But following a trial in the Supreme Court this week, the police corporal has been acquitted of all charges.
On Monday, July 4, Supreme Court Justice Ricardo O’Neil Sandcroft found Martinez not guilty of manslaughter by negligence due to insufficient evidence—indicating agreement with the no-case submission that had been made by Martinez’s attorney, Oscar Selgado. Justice Sandcroft directed a jury of nine to return with a not-guilty verdict, stating, “Evidence must be sure so that the prosecution makes you sure. Selgado made a no-case submission that the burden of proof was not met. So, you must return a not guilty verdict.”
This was because ballistic evidence provided by the National Forensic Science Laboratory could not link Martinez to the bullet that caused Major’s death. According to Oscar Selgado, pieces of the bullet that were removed from Major’s body “did not bear sufficient description and information” to be compared to any of the shells that had been recovered at the scene of the shooting.
In response to the outcome of the trial, Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Kareem Musa has stated that he—much like Major’s friends, family, and a vast percentage of the Belizean populace—is extremely disappointed.
“It certainly opens up a wound which has not at all healed. And to hear that, in fact, this officer who was charged is now able to walk free and that the family has not received the justice that they deserve, like I said, it’s very disappointing to hear,” said Hon. Musa in an interview on Tuesday.
Musa pointed out the fact that a critical piece of evidence had been deemed inadmissible in the trial: surveillance footage that allegedly shows an officer pointing his weapon in the direction of Allyson Major. As a result, the Minister is hoping that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) can find grounds for the case to be appealed.
“I would hope that the DPP would explore the possibility and take a very hard and serious look to see whether there was an error in law in denying the admissibility of that particular piece of evidence, which, like I said, would be very crucial in a case like this,” he stated.
During the interview, Minister Musa condemned the killing of Major along with the fact that, apart from being charged criminally, Corporal Martinez had not faced disciplinary action—nor had any of the other officers who were involved in the shooting.
“There is also the issue of the tribunal disciplinary hearing possibly against not just one but several officers, because I have no doubt in my mind, not a single doubt, that the police killed Allyson Major—not a doubt in my mind. I do not think a civilian was standing on the street side that day and fired a shot at Allyson Major. I do not think that,” said Hon. Musa, who hopes that the police can continue to investigate the matter internally.
On July 16, 2019, Allyson Major was shot once in the head while driving his vehicle as he was chased by police officers down Regent Street in Belize City.
According to court papers, the police had reported that a “burgundy double-color van” was seen on George Street and that, upon following the van, they observed the driver throwing packages out of the vehicle. A chase ensued, during which shots were fired. Shortly after, the van crashed into a bus near the Swing Bridge, and Allyson Major was found inside, bleeding from the back of the head. He was later transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) but died a day later on Wednesday, July 17. No drugs or guns were found in his possession.
Several days later, Corporal Kent Martinez was arraigned and charged with manslaughter following an investigation by the Office of the DPP, which reportedly found that the bullet that caused Major’s death came from Martinez’s 9mm service weapon.
Major’s family is currently awaiting a date for a civil suit being filed against the Government of Belize for the unlawful killing. Hon. Kareem Musa—who was previously the attorney representing the family in the suit—has said that, regardless of this most recent verdict, it is not too late for Martinez, as well as the other officers who were involved in the incident, to face disciplinary action:
“The question is, why did the department not take any action back then three years ago against this officer—or these officers? Like I said, it was not just one officer chasing after Allyson Major—maybe it was one officer who shot him, but several vehicles were in chase of Allyson Major that day, and so we have to look at that and to see who should be charged. It’s not too late for that—to charge them tribunally. Because the last message that I would want to send, even though this did not happen under our term in office, the last message that I would want to send as Minister is that it is okay for you to kill someone unjustifiably like this and then the following day be able to walk on the streets in your uniform again. That is not acceptable,” he said.
Back in 2019, Corporal Martinez was represented by attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley, who had the following to say:
“When things like that happen, the decent thing to do in our society is that the authorities are to publicly apologize for the loss of life. They should not put the family through any lengthy court proceedings…pay compensation to the family…for losing a father and a husband. That is the proper, decent thing to do.”
The court verdict, which has proven devastating to the Major family, comes just a few days before the first anniversary of the murder of another civilian at the hands of a police officer. On July 14, 2021, teenager Laddie Gillett was shot and killed while on a beach in Placencia, allegedly by police officer Kareem Martinez. That officer was dismissed and is awaiting trial.

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GoB addresses concerns of private land owners in Toledo

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Amandala Newspaper

Maya leaders say the release from GoB is “extremely distressing and regrettable” and offers no tangible assistance to the parties involved.

BELIZE CITY, Wed. July 6, 2022
The hopes recently expressed by the judges of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) – that the Government of Belize (GoB) and Maya Leaders Alliance rebuild confidence in each other through dialogue in order to ensure the successful implementation of an FPIC (Free, Prior and Informed Consent) protocol — is in peril following a release from the government and a response letter from the Maya leaders regarding the interest of private land owners within communal lands. 
The Government of Belize released a statement yesterday morning which indicates that private land owners and entities have made complaints to the government due to increasing concerns on the part of those landowners “that their private landowner rights are being infringed due to the Maya Land Rights Judgement of 2015.”
“There is the perception that some alcaldes, village councils, and other Maya leaders have become emboldened in their dealings with private landowners,” the release from GoB states. 
Minister of Human Development and Indigenous People’s Affairs, Hon. Dolores Balderamos Garcia, has stated that the Prime Minister, Hon. John Briceño, has since given some of those landowners an audience, and has been made aware of the key concerns of those parties. Those landowners, who have received titles to lands which neighbor or lie within communally owned territory, are now seeking to clarify their rights of ownership, and the Prime Minister has since directed the ministry to facilitate those landowners, some of whom have been contacted by the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs CEO, Tanya Santos, said Hon. Balderamos Garcia in an interview this week.

The statement released by the government remarks, “It is of grave concern to these landowners that some village leaders and Maya leaders are of the view that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Consent Order has bestowed absolute rights on them. While the Government of Belize fully recognizes the need to implement the ruling of Belize’s highest court, the government must seek to achieve a balancing act between the customary land rights of Maya people and the right to private land ownership, both of which are protected by the Constitution.”

The president of the Toledo Alcaldes Association (TAA), Domingo Bah, in a letter sent to Minister Balderamos Garcia, said that the release came as a surprise to the Maya leaders, since both sides had committed to desisting from issuing such public statements on matters affecting the Consent Order.

Readers would recall that at a recent CCJ hearing related to the process of implementing the FPIC protocol, the CCJ justices had lamented the acrimony that was evident in the statements made by the government of Belize and the Maya leaders—particularly remarks which tended to diminish the legitimacy of the role of the Maya Leaders Alliance as a representative of the Maya people in the implementation of the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) Protocol. The court had asked the parties to find a way to rebuild confidence in each other and directed that meetings be held to forward the finalization of the Implementation Road Map for the Consent Order.  

No report has yet been issued on those sit-downs between the parties, and now, with this latest release being viewed as yet another divisive public statement, the Maya leaders are asking the government to recall and honor the commitment to constructive dialogue. In essence, they say that this release simply rehashes old and ongoing conflicts between the private landowners and the Maya communities.

 The allegation against some Maya village leaders is that they have been aggressively attempting to infringe on the rights of private landowners who hold title to lands which they believe should be owned by Maya communities. The government release urges Maya leaders not to conduct themselves as if the private owners do not have rights but acknowledges that the Maya villages have a right to request that government and private landowners, “refrain from further surveys, leases and land transfers” until the legal framework is agreed upon and implemented.

“What village leaders and Maya leaders may NOT do is conduct themselves as if private owners do not continue to enjoy their rights of ownership to their land. Existing roadways, easements, shared access, etc. cannot arbitrarily be fettered by alcaldes and village chairmen as they see fit,” the release states. 

The letter to Minister Balderamos Garcia from the Toledo Alcalde Alliance (TAA) states that recommendations have been handed down by an expert witness to address these standing issues within the implementation process and that the statement issued by GoB provides no context of the history between the parties.

“The Government is aware that these are not new, or unexpected. Yet, the release presents these as exceptional and intrinsically unjust to private landowners, no matter of context, impact, or history between the parties,” the letter from the TAA states.

The TAA further noted that court-appointed expert witness Dean Rosa Celorio issued clear recommendations to address the issues, but the Government has refused to implement those.

“It failed to inform the public that paragraph 4 of the Consent Order also states that the village’s consent must be obtained before carrying out any activities on the lands claimed by a Maya village,” the letter stated.
As previously mentioned, the release from GoB did note that “village leaders and Maya leaders are within their rights to respectfully request that government and private landowners refrain from further surveys, leases, and land transfers until a comprehensive legal framework can be adopted and administrative measures put in place.”

It further noted that these issues were not meant to be resolved with certainty by the parties and that a resolution mechanism to resolve the issues is a part of the implementation road map process.

The letter from the TAA states, “As we work toward shifting our tone and manner of communication and rebuilding trust and confidence between the parties, it is extremely distressing and regrettable that the Government had issued this statement to the public without even attempting to inquire about these issues with us or address a particular dispute. The release simply makes broad and sweeping statements that present a skewed portrayal of the relationship between the village and these purported private landowners. “

The government, on the other hand, stated in its release that “The Government of Belize and all relevant ministries are committed to the protection of individual land rights, the recognition of Maya customary land tenure, and the processes that are necessary for balancing these competing interests where necessary. Additionally, the government is moving to put in place the legislative and administrative framework that the CCJ Consent ruling has directed. The government reiterates that it is vital that ALL parties concerned operate in a completely professional and respectful manner, thereby acknowledging the rights of one another. “

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Churches await writ of referendum

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Amandala Newspaper

“So, we are about to see what kind of government we have, and the church will not be afraid to show the nation what kind of government we have, depending on their reaction to the results of the referendum. As I’ve said before, we have skin in the game, and we are not going anywhere,” stated Pastor Louis Wade today. 

by Marco Lopez 

BELIZE CITY, Thurs. July 7, 2022
This week, it was announced that the number of signatures of Belizean voters that had been garnered by the churches met the 10% threshold to trigger a referendum on the legalization of cannabis. Today, a joint press release from the churches, under an umbrella moniker, the “Belize Coalition of Churches”, thanked the Belizean people, organizers, and benefactors who made what they call an “unprecedented moment possible.” Indeed, the churches achieved a historic feat by triggering the referendum, and today, Pastor Louis Wade told local media that they are now doubling down on their efforts to convince the public to oppose marijuana legalization
within the next 60 days—the period of time that will likely elapse before the referendum is held.
“We believe that time is on our side. When we went into the street, we had extended dialogue with the citizens of this nation, and they have their reasons for forcing the government to a referendum, and they have their reason why they will vote no. We believe, however, that since the period of time that we went out on the streets, there is new information which shows us even more why we should reject marijuana legalization in Belize,” Pastor Louis Wade said.

Wade, who expressed the churches’ belief that the government has not put forward a strong argument for the legalization of cannabis and creation of a cannabis industry, said that they want the opportunity to share the vital pieces of information they have with the public.

In pointing to what the churches consider one of the major shortfalls in GoB’s plan to lay the groundwork for a cannabis industry, Wade said, “They are simply talking about economic, but they have not shown us where the Police Department, for example, at the present moment, is able to regulate a marijuana industry…” He claimed that, according to information they’ve received from the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), the Government of Belize has stopped representatives from that entity from going out to test cannabis fields.

“We also know that the committee has not met for almost a year and a half, since this government came to office,” Wade claimed. He asserted that right now, the government has been able to “talk”, but “has not demonstrated the ability to regulate marijuana as we speak”. “And so,” he went on to say, “we will be putting our campaign forward as soon as the Governor-General makes the writ and releases it. We are confident that Belizeans know the damage that marijuana has done in their community and their household.”

The efforts of the churches to convince members of the public to oppose the legalization of marijuana via a referendum vote, is taking place within a local legal framework that, according to the Bar Association, does not render the referendum results binding—meaning that the government is not legally required to comply with the results. When asked today by AMANDALA what the churches hope to achieve by the non-binding demonstration of democracy, Pastor Wade responded that the government’s course of action following the referendum will show its true colors.

“We did not elect demi-gods; we elected people who said they would be servants of the people, and I believe that should the people of Belize speak to say we do not want marijuana legalized, I believe that, whether or not the government thinks it is powerful enough or popular enough, I think the question is whether or not they will be humble enough to be able to say ‘we stand corrected’. So, we are about to see what kind of government we have, and the church will not be afraid to show the nation what kind of government we have, depending on their reaction to the results of the referendum. As I’ve said before, we have skin in the game, and we are not going anywhere,” said Wade.

He said that this process is not the church imposing its position on the masses, but that the churches have taken on a leadership role in the democratic process, and the people, according to Wade, have given them the mantle, adding that this issue is just one of many that need to be put to the people through a referendum.  

“This is a good time,” Wade said. He continued, “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: there are many other issues that need to be put before the people of Belize in referenda. We should not be afraid of this process, because it is the purest form of hearing the voice of the people on any issues, especially on controversial issues. “

Pastor Wade claimed that the government is attempting a wholesale “liberalization” of the country and culture in regard to marijuana use in Belize.

 ”The exact word of Minister Musa, on a program called Taboo, was that his objective was to legalize recreation marijuana absolutely, no restrictions, if he would have his way. So the current agenda is an ultra-liberalization of drugs in Belize. There is no way we will endorse that,” Wade said.

Those remarks were made by Wade in response to a question posed by AMANDALA regarding the church’s position on the legalization of industrial hemp. It is well known that industrial hemp is the plant species of Cannabis that produces a non-psychoactive quantity of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). According to international standards, hemp plants contain 0.3 percent or less THC.

Wade, however, pointed to a challenge being faced by local hemp growers within the global hemp market: the difficulty in ensuring that the THC content in their hemp plants does not exceed 0.3 percent—which would result in those plants being classified as marijuana and thus being subject to destruction. He suggested that this was one of the key reasons for the push to legalize cannabis.

“Whenever the plant passes the CBD test and the THC test, where the content is particular level then there are industrial uses for that product. The problem in Belize is the testing of hemp. One of the reasons why they are trying to legalize it is because the hemp industry in Belize is having a problem keeping the THC content below the legal level,” Wade said.

“This is why we cannot simply rubber-stamp the hemp industry in Belize, because we are unable to regulate it. There is a problem in the hemp industry in Belize right now, in industrial hemp, where the farmers are unable to control THC content. That is why the government is seeking to blanket-legalize marijuana, because then at that point the quantity of THC in your plant becomes irrelevant,” Wade claimed.

However, when Minister of New Growth Industries, Hon. Kareem Musa, appeared on an episode of the Taboo talk show, that was produced by Color Blind production and aired in early May, he gave a brief outline of the steps taken by the government to roll out an industry so far.

“The point is, we are now going to adult use, cannabis, and so we are not there at full legalization. What we are legalizing is the industry around it, and so we are creating all of these licenses, and so you do have to get a license in order to cultivate. You do need a license to be a dispensary, to be a security provider, to be a consumption lodge. And that’s another thing, cause I heard you discussing smoking out in public. That is still not going to be legal, smoking in public… You still have to still smoke at a private residence or in a consumption lodge, and it does not mean that you can have any amount of cannabis that you want … It’s now 28 grams, and I know people might think that’s a big jump… it really isn’t. So, there are certain things that we still have to understand, that it is not full-blown legalization. We’re not there yet,” Hon. Musa had said.   

Hon. Musa had also stated that some key objectives that GoB is aiming to achieve through legalization are increased revenue generation for the government, and the opening of mainstream cultivation for farmers who currently make a living through illegal cultivation of marijuana. The social equity license, which allows small players to become involved in the industry and which is included in Belize’s draft legislation, is a novel one, Hon. Musa said.

“We are one of the few countries in the world that actually have a social equity license, and I can tell you that in the US, a lot of the states are now following suit, because they realize that it’s not just about big business. This thing has a social impact as well…,” Hon. Musa said.

All parties await the Governor-General, Dame Froyla Tzalam’s release of the writ of referendum, which is expected to take place sometime before the end of this month. 

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Hip-Hip-Hooray for Hennessy lovers! | Loop Jamaica

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News | Loop News
Loop Lifestyle

44 minutes ago

J Wray & Nephew Ltd Regional Marketing Manager Kamal Powell (L) reached for his first sip of the evening, whipped up by bartender Andrew McKenzie.

NEWYou can now listen to Loop News articles!

What do artiste manager Romeich Major, dancehall veteran Bounty Killer, and JLP Councilor Andrew Bellamy have in common? A united love for Hennessy.

The cognac connoisseurs along with a select group of ‘hennfluencers’ received special bottles of Hennessy XO for their efforts in driving the brand’s portfolio locally.

All awardees are capable of selling or promoting Hennessy through their businesses, while others influence consumption in many ways.

Some members of the Hennessy global team were also present for the affair and were just as ecstatic about the synergy of the brand in Jamaica – it’s like no other.

The awardees comprised of Artiste Manager Romeich Major; and the owners of Janga’s Sound Bar and Grill, Ron Young and Jordan Weller; owner of the Ultimate Ultra Lounge Owen Reid; Clive Grannell; owner of Pier One Restaurant & Bar, Jason Russell; Owner of Miles Wholesale and Retail Liquor Store, Ian Miles; JLP Councilor Andrew Bellamy, and Hennessy’s top influencer Bounty Killer.

The veteran dancehall artiste teased patrons with a performance of a medley of hits that included his ’91 song Living Dangerously featuring Barrington Levy. This undoubtedly left patrons rocking and singing along.

Throughout the evening, guests were refreshed with signature Hennessy cocktails that were paired with hors d’oeuvres of a Jam-Mex fusion.

Other specially invited guests included Brian ‘Ribbie’ Chung, owner of Ribbiz Ocean Lounge and Ultra Lounge; fashion designer Errice Alicia, attorney-at-law and media personality Talia Soares, and Sharon Burke, president of Solid Agency Management, among others.

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Laventille man in court for murder

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

News

Gabriel Mark. – COURTESY TTPS

A 35-year-old man has appeared before a Port of Spain magistrate, charged with murdering Dexter Benjamin last Saturday.

Gabriel Mark of Laventille was before Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle in the Port of Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

The matter was adjourned to August 30.

Benjamin, 51, was at his Laventille home when he allegedly got into an altercation with a man known to him and was stabbed and died at the scene. The male suspect was arrested that day by officers of the Port of Spain Division (PoSD).

Investigations were supervised by Insps Lynch and Mongroo, both of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations (HBI), Region One, with help from officers of the PoSD.

Mark was charged by PC Ramsawak, also of HBI Region One, on Wednesday, after advice received from Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard, SC.

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Erin man, boy 17, charged with Venezuelan’s murder

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

News

File photo

An adult man and a minor, both from Rancho Quemado in Erin, were jointly charged with the murder of 24-year-old Venezuelan Andres David Lopez.

The two, 25 and 17, were also expected to be charged with three counts of robbery which arose from the same alleged incident.

Police from the Homicide Bureau Region III got instructions from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on Friday afternoon.

Sgt Forbes supervised the investigations, and legal officer Kyrn Lewis presented a file for advice.

Lopez, a labourer who lived at New Grant, died on June 30 at the San Fernando General Hospital.

Two days earlier, at around 1 am, bandits shot him near a burger and gyro cart in a carpark at Naparima Mayaro Road, Princes Town.

The police said Lopez and another man were buying food from the roadside business.

Lopez was originally from Tucupita.

Two gunmen approached the owners, a married couple, and announced a robbery.

One hit the male owner with a gunbutt and stole cash and a cellphone.

The gunmen also robbed Lopez and the other customer of cash, cellphones, and other personal belongings.

The criminals ran off, and Lopez chased them. The gunmen shot him in the head and continued running.

Lopez was taken to the Princes Town District Health Facility then transferred to the hospital.

Princes Town police responded and arrested the minor in the area the same day.

Sgt Dookie of Homicide Bureau Region III led the investigations.

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Three die of covid19, 143 more infected

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

News

Image courtesy CDC

THREE more people have died of covid19, said the Ministry of Health in its daily update on Friday, while 143 more were infected from Wednesday-Thursday.

The dead are two elderly males and an elderly female. Two of them had multiple comorbidities, and one had a single comorbidity. These included diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and cancer.

Trinidad and Tobago now has 6,173 active cases.

Since the virus reached TT in March 2020, some 4,024 people have died. Of these, 3,336 were not fully vaccinated, 294 were fully vaccinated, and 390 deaths occurred before May 24, 2021 when vaccination began.

Of all covid19 patients between July 22, 2021 and July 6, some 15,672 (80.6 per cent) were not fully vaccinated; 3,777 (19.4 per cent) per cent were fully vaccinated.

During the pandemic, 168,039 patients have tested positive, of whom 157,842 recovered.

At present, 6,081 are in home self-isolation, 92 in hospital and none in step-down facilities.

To date, 777,656 people have been tested, of whom 326,460 were tested at private facilities and 451,196 at public facilities.

Of TT’s population, 51.0 per cent are now fully vaccinated, namely 714,526 people, compared to 685,474 who have had no doses or just a first dose.

Of those people who are fully vaccinated, some 656,967 had the second dose of a two-dose regime and 57,559 a single-dose regime. Some 693,974 people have had the first of a two-dose regime. Some 166,558 have had a booster dose.

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Police detain eight illegal immigrants entering TT

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

News

File photo

EIGHT people who had attempted to enter Trinidad illegally were detained by police officers of the South Western Division on Wednesday.

A police statement on Friday said, “Officers were able to locate eight individuals who were trying to gain unauthorised entry into the country.”

The eight were held and taken for medical care.

“The joint, intelligence-led search exercise along the south coast and forested areas, was coordinated by Senior Supt Norton, ASP Mathura, Insp Marcelle and Insp (acting) Rampallard and supervised by Sgts Rollocks and Breedy.

“It also included officers of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Air Support Unit, the Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard, the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force.” The police said the action was part of continued joint efforts to secure the nation’s borders.

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Succesvolle dag volleyalselecties op Trinidad

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: De Ware Tijd Online

door John Zaalman PARAMARIBO — In navolging van de overwinningen van de nationale U21 en U19 jongens volleybalselecties hebben ook

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